Research Methods in Computer Science

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Research Methodsin Computer Science

• James Gain
• jgain_at_cs.uct.ac.za

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Administrivia

• Recommended Textbook
• Martin S Olivier, Information Technology
  Research A Practical Guide for
  Computer Science and
  Informatics (2nd ed.) Van
  Schaik, 2004
• 2 Credits (16 lectures)
• 2 Assignments
• Literature Survey
• Project Proposal
• Computing Knowledge Required
• Online access (library, search engines, databases
  and publications)
• Microsoft Project (or similar project planning
  tool)
• Spreadsheet

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This Course

• What is the Purpose of these Lectures?
• Gain skills that are valuable (and valued)
  outside academia
• Prepare for your honours projects
• Learn about research-oriented careers
• Both theoretical (what is the idea?)
• and practical side (how do you do your projects?)

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This Course

• Understand research in Computer Science
• Gain methods to plan and propose research
  projects
• Specifically your honours project
• Know how to conduct your own research
• in an ethical and professional manner
• Learn to communicate your results

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Topics I

• Introduction 3
• Designing a research project
• Ethics
• Pitfalls
• The research process
• Surveys and Getting Information
• Project Management 2
• Experimental Computer Science 3
• Models
• Prototypes
• Algorithms
• Experiments

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Topics II

• Role of Mathematics 1
• Designing User Evaluation Experiments 2
• Statistics
• Qualitative Research 2
• Case Studies
• Arguments
• Action Research
• Ethnography
• Writing 3
• Reporting Results
• Submitting a Paper
• Presenting a Paper
• Preparing a Poster