Research Basics

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Scientific Method

  1. State the problem

  2. Form a hypothesis

  3. Test the hypothesis -- design experiment, design necessary materials, conduct experiment, collect data

  4. Draw conclusions -- analyze data, accept/reject hypothesis, communicate results

Experimental Design

Hypotheses -- alternative hypothesis vs null hypothesis

Create experimental systems, software, languages, tasks, etc.

We often focus on these systems, software, languages, etc. But, these are means to research ... NOT research!

Independent vs dependent variables

Control vs experimental group

Repetition

Avoid bias

Data must be objective ... not subjective

Statistical analysis of data -- null hypothesis may never be rejected with certainty ... just probability

alpha level of rejection (statistical significance)

Publish results (even unsuccessful ones)

Research Basics -- Group Presentations

  1. "Literature Search" -- familiarizing yourself with previous research

  2. Observations and anecdotal data -- steps toward generating hypotheses, surveys, case studies

  3. Hypothesis testing -- alternative (H1), null (H0), alpha levels

  4. Experimental design --
    O X O
    O -- O

  5. Measurement scales, types of validity (for example, construct validity, internal validity)

  6. Statistical analysis -- correlation, analysis of variance, parametric, non-parametric, ....

  7. Publishing research results

  8. Types of bias in research

  9. What are "research ethics"? (Conducting experiments, treatment of subjects, reporting results)

  10. Writing research proposals for approval and/or funding

  11. Report on research project(s) of one or more CS faculty. What questions are being researched? What work is being done? What has been built to support the research?