Research Methodology

Instructor Dr. Thippaya Chintakovid

What is research? gather information to answer a question that solves a problem Problem Question Information

Research Process Source: Research Methods: The Basics What are you going to do? Why are you going to do it? How are you going to do it? When are you going to do it?

Research Process Source: Research Methods: The Basics

Getting started to conduct research Research Methodology

Finding a topic -Start with your interest -Skim a recent textbook -Talk to other students -Consult your teacher -Find information on the Internet -Find information in the library (domain- dependent dictionary, encyclopedia) -Conferences, Journals -Locate easily available resources

Finding a topic - Example -Search ‘research topics in HCI’ -Conferences on Human-Computer Interaction -CHI -CSCW

Broad topic vs. Focused topic Too broad: The history of commercial aviation Narrower topic: The crucial contribution of the military in the development of the DC-3 in the early years of commercial aviation

From a focused topic to questions -Reports should not offer only random bits of information -Information should be gathered and presented in relation to an interesting question -Find out what you don’t know about a topic

From a focused topic to questions -Find out what you don’t know about a topic -Ask who, what, when, where, how and why -Identify the parts and how they interrelate -Identify its characteristics (variations)

From a focused topic to questions -Evaluate your questions -How and Why questions may invite deeper research -Group smaller questions into larger ones * A question narrows your search to only relevant data for its answer

Interesting questions vs. significant questions -What makes this question worth asking? SO WHAT?

Identifying a Research Problem Practitioners in the field may encounter difficulties or problems in their daily work that need to be researched. Graduate students on campus may have to search to find a “problem” they can research for their thesis or class project. Whatever the situation, the identification and selection of a research problem is the first step in the research process.

Practical Problems vs. Research Problems A research problem = what you do not know or understand but you must know or understand before you can solve practical problem

Practical Problems vs. Research Problems Practical Problem Research Answer Research Question Research Problem

Practical Problems vs. Research Problems Research Problem Incomplete knowledge or flawed understanding Practical Problem Some unhappy conditions

Nature of practical problems Conditions (any state) I missed the bus. The hole in the ozone layer is growing. Costs of the conditions (unhappiness) I will be late for work and may lose my job. Many will die from skin cancer.

Nature of research problems Conditions (not knowing or understanding) I don’t know about gender differences in learning styles. Costs of the conditions (abstract) I may not be able to create learning materials suitable for male and female students.

Factors to consider in Selecting a Research Problem The topic should be important (significant) Writing a thesis or dissertation is an exercise to learn how to conduct research. However, graduate students can learn the research process on an important topic just as easy as learning the research process on a piddle topic!

More Factors to Consider… Consider the feasibility of the project. How much time do you have available? Do you really want to do a longitudinal study that will take 3 years to complete for a MS thesis? How difficult is it? Are data available? How much will it cost?

More Factors… Make sure the topic is ethical to study.

Factors to Consider in Selecting a Research Problem You should have a personal interest in the topic. By the time you are done, you may really be tired of the topic

More Factors to Consider… The “newness” of the topic may hold you interest longer, however there is some value in repeating previous research

More Factors… Make sure the research question is clear.

Project Planner

Keeping research journal What do you write in your research journal? Interesting questions Problems Possible solutions References to read Notes on articles and papers you’ve read

Keeping research journal Notes on papers you’ve read What was the research topic? How did they study it? What did they find? Ideas authors suggested for further research What was striking about the article? Your own ideas