Admas University
School of Postgraduate Studies
Course Outline
Course Title: Research Methods in Computer Science
Course Code: CS 606
Credit Hours: 2 hrs
Prerequisite: None
Course Description
This course will present the meaning of research; Ontology and epistemology of research; types of
research methods; preparing a research proposal; reading and assessing literature; research ethics;
report writing, publication and presentation. Brief survey and introduction of the major research
areas in Computer Science. Students are required to read various research papers and discuss them
during classes. In addition to reading articles, students need to be introduced to some software
tools that help them in doing research: organize papers, experiment and analyze data, etc.
Course Objective
After completing the course, students will be able to:
Understand scientific research process in Computer Science
Identify different research methods and approaches in Computer Science
Identify assumptions, limitations and premises of different research methods
Know research dissemination mechanisms in Computer Science.
Course Contents
1-Introduction to scientific Research
• What is research
• Types Of Research
• The concept of Methodology, Knowledge, Belief, Justification & Truth
2-Hypothesis Testing
Inference: Induction & deduction
Hypothetical Deduction methods
Confirmation & Falsification
3-Research problem, Literature Review/Survey
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Identifying research problems,
Making Literature reviews
Survey
4: Research Method
Data collection methods
Statistical & Analysis Methods ()
Introduction to statistics
Types and forms of variables
Types of data (nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio data);
Statistical tools:
Statistical analysis
5: Observation, Measurement, and Experiments
Observation: Narrow view Vs wide view (Direct Vs Indirect)
Operationalization
Measurement
Improvement Strategies
Experimental overview
What/why/how to experiment
6: Modeling
What is modeling
How to learns with modeling
What are models
Mapping model (In to targets):
Models from (and for) theories
7: Risks in Research
Background
Risk analysis
What is risk in research
Uncertainty, ignorance and Probability
Values in risk
Acceptable risk
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8: Research Reporting and Presentation
Writing research papers
• Purpose, Nature and Evaluation
• Content and format
Research publication & presentation
9: Research Ethics
What is research ethics and why is it important?
Engineering code of conduct
Normative ethics: consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics
Applied ethics
Informed consent
Scientific misconduct
Authorship
Scientific openness
Textbook
John W Creswell Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative and mixed methods approaches
3rd Ed.
Reference
Oliver J (1991). The Incomplete Guide to the art of discovery Columbia University Press 0-
231-07620-7.
Resource Required:
Access to known E-Journals from professional associations such as Springer, IET, and
EBSCO.
Delivery Method:
Lecture, Student review of articles, presentation, group discussion, individual coaching of writing
proposals, reports, essays or arguments.
Evaluation Method
• Sample proposal writing……………………………. 30%
• Paper review and presentation……………………. 20%
• Final Exam………………………………………………..50%.
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