1. INFO 4990: Research Methods DECO3008 BDesComp Prep Honours Administrivia (March 2005)

2. Overview Who: A unit for students beginning to do guided research in IT and design computing –Honours, MIT Research track in School of IT –3rd year students in BDesComp considering Honours in Year 4 –also welcome: MSc or PhD students who want more explicit guidance Goal: To understand what research methods are used in IT and design computing and to place your own research in this field Purpose: To learn to find and evaluate research on your topic and to present your own research plan or results for evaluation by others

3. Assessment Database search –10% for a summary of your preliminary search for relevant literature Literature Review –30% for a literature review suitable as a chapter of your thesis or thesis proposal Research Results/Proposal –60% for a report that includes the literature review, a description of your own research method, and a plan for completing your research or a description of your research results Participation –Attendance and participation are required to pass

4. Typical Research Methods Engineering/ Prototyping Methods Mathematical Modelling and Proof Methods Simulation Methods Experimental Methods Survey Methods Qualitative/Interpretive Methods