Introduction to research Methodology in Information Systems and Computing Discipline

1. Dr. Pallawi Bulakh
M.Sc. M.Phil., Ph.D., NET
( Computer Science and Applications)e

2. Unit 1: Purpose and Products of Research
1.1 Information Systems and Computing Disciplines
1.2 Research (products and outcomes)
1.3 Finding and choosing research topics
1.4 Evaluating the purpose and products of research

3. Information
Systems and
Computing
Disciplines
 What is IS?
 IS as a discipline is concerned with the development and use of
information systems by individuals, groups, organizations and
society, where usually those information systems involve the use of
computers.
 Other names for IS are
 Business computing
 MIS
 IS is particularly concerned with the real-world social and
organizational context in which information systems are developed
and used.

4. Computing Disciplines
 The computing discipline includes computer science, software
engineering, information technology (IT), web development,
computer games, computer animation and multimedia.
 It is concerned with the development and use of computer-
based products, but it tends to concentrate primarily on the
technological rather than the social aspects.

5. Information systems and computing
disciplines
 IS and computing have developed as separate disciplines,
 They are both concerned with the analysis, development and
use of computer-based products
 There is a large area of overlap between them,

6. Objectives of RM in
computing
 The the kinds of research questions addressed in IS and computing;
 The research approaches used in IS and computing;
 Examples of previous research from the IS and computing literature.

7. Comparing Research in IS & Computing
 IS has a long tradition of carrying
out field research.
 The findings of IS research can be
used as evidence to support the
effective development and use cf
information systems
 Almost all computing research was
concerned only with developing
computer-based products.
 The findings of this will help new
computing researchers carry out such
design and creation research, and to
analyse and evaluate the work of other
computing researchers.

8. Research: What is it?
 Research is a process to
discover new knowledge to
find answers to a question
 Re + Search

9. Defining Research
 Research is the creation of new knowledge, using an appropriate
process, to the satisfaction of the users of the research.

10. Research?
 Clifford Woody: Research-
 defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis/objectives;
 collecting, organizing and evaluating data;
 making deductions and reaching conclusions;
 testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating
hypothesis/objectives
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11. Objectives of the Unit
 Understand the meaning of research.
 Distinguish between different kinds of researches.
 Understand the importance, need and significance of the research.
 Understand research design and the process of research design.
 Formulate a research problem and state it as a hypothesis.

12. Why do research?
 Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits
 Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems
 Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
 Desire to be of service to society
 Desire to get respectability
 Directives of government, employment conditions etc.
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13. Why do research?...
 Validate intuition
 Improve methods
 Demands of the Job
 For publication/patent
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14. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
• Systematic- All steps must be inter related- one to another
• Logical- Agreeing with the principles of logic
• Empirical-Conclusions should be based on evidences/observations
• Objectivity- It must answer the research questions
• Replicable- reproducible
• Transmittable
• Quality control- Accurate measurements
• All well designed and conducted research has potential application

15. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH…
• Objectivity- It must answer the research questions
• Replicable- reproducible
• Transmittable
• Quality control- Accurate measurements
• All well designed and conducted research has potential application
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16. The 6Ps of Research
 Purpose: the reason for doing the research, the topic of
interest,
 why it is important or useful to study this, the specific
research question(s) asked and the objectives set.
 Research without a purpose is unlikely to be good
research.

17.  Products: the outcomes of research, especially your
contribution to knowledge about your subject area. Your
contribution can be an answer to your original research
question(s) but can also include unexpected findings.
 Your thesis, dissertation, conference paper or journal article is
also a product of your research.
The 6Ps of Research

18.  Process: the sequence of activities undertaken in any research project.
 The process involves
 identifying one or more research topics,
 establishing a conceptual framework (the way you choose to think about your research
topic), the selection and
 use of a research strategy and data generation methods, the analysis of data
 drawing of conclusions, including recognizing any limitations in your own research.
The 6Ps of Research

19.  Participants: these include those whom you directly involve in your research,
for example by interviewing them or observing them, and also those who are
indirectly involved, such as the editors to whom you submit a research paper.
 It is important that you deal with all these people legally and ethically, that is,
you do not do anything
 that might annoy them or cause them harm (physically, mentally or socially).
 You yourself as a researcher are also a research participant.
The 6Ps of Research

20.  Paradigm: a pattern or model or shared way of thinking.
Managers sometimes talk of the need for a ‘paradigm shift’
to mean that a new way of thinking is required.
 In computing, we talk about programming language
paradigms, for example, a group of languages that share a set
of characteristics, such as the object-oriented paradigm
The 6Ps of Research

21.  Presentation: the means by which the research
is disseminated and explained to others.
 It is important that the presentation is carried
out professionally
The 6Ps of Research

22.  Find several definitions of ‘research’ from
dictionaries, books on research methods and
from friends, family or colleagues, and then
compare them to the one given in this chapter.
What conclusions can you draw about the
concept of ‘research’?
Assignment

23. Reasons for doing research
1. To add to the body of knowledge
2. To solve a problem.
3. To find out what happens
4. To find the evidence to inform practice
5. To develop a greater understanding of
6. people and their world
7. To predict, plan an¢ control
8. To contribute to other people’s well-being
9. Some people
10. To contribute to personal needs
11. Some people see doing research,
12. To test or disprove a theory
13. To come up with a better way
14. To understand another person’s point of view
15. create more interest in the researcher

24. Possible Products — the Outcomes of
Research
 new or improved product
 A new theory
 A re-interpretation of an existing theory
 New or improved research tool or technique
 A new or improved model or perspective
 An in-depth study of a particular situation
 An exploration of a topic, area or field
 A critical analysis
 Unanticipated outcomes

25. Finding And Selecting Research Topic
 How to get started?
 How to find a research topic?
 Follow a structured approach
 Find out what others have done.
 Traverse the research community and wider
world.

26. Sources Of Research Ideas
 Suggestions from staff in your department.
 Past research students’ work.
 Recent conference and journal papers, especially the sections.
 Current events reported in the media.
 Needs expressed by potential clients.
 Calls for conference papers or special issues of journals on a
particular theme.
 People making assumptions or assertions with little supporting
evidence.

27. Brainstorming and clustering
 It is often helpful to discuss ideas with a group of
colleagues, using brainstorming and clustering
techniques.
 Give the group some background information on
 yourself:
•your interests;
•what subjects you liked or disliked studying;
•your strengths and weaknesses;
•what might motivate you to do research.

28. Selecting the topic
 Having found some potential research topics, you
have to choose one.
 Topic of your interest and topic that is academically
feasible.
 Reframe the potential topic as a research question.
 Find out what it needs to address the research
question.

29.  Find out the series of objectives to explore the
research question.


30. Feasibility study
 Is the research likeiy to offer something new for
your target users?
 Does the topic have ‘symmetry of potential
outcomes’?
 Will your research still contribute something to
knowledge, even if you do not
 complete all of the technical product in the time
available?

31.  Is there a theory (or set of ideas) that will help
you structure your approach, at least in the
beginning?
 Is the research and its outcomes likely to be of
sufficient scope to meet your course
Requirements?

32.  Can the research be carried out in the time
available?
 Does the research topic fit in with your own
motivations, strengths and weaknesses,likes and
dislikes?
 Does the research meet your own learning
objectives?

33.  Do you have the necessary resources?
 Can you approach the topic without too much
bias?
 Will the research be safe and ethical?

34. Evaluating the Purpose and
Products of Research
 How do the researchers describe the purpose of their research? Who are the
potential users of it?
 What reasons (if any) do the authors give as their motivation for this
research?
 Which of the reasons listed in this chapter do you think might apply? a
 What were the outcomes (products) of the research? Classify them by type.
 How well do you think the authors have explained and justified their
purpose and products?