Week

Research Methodology in IT
Semester I -2024-25

Lecturer : Dr. Mbemba HYDARA

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 Course Description

Research Methodology

Topics to cover:
Introduction: Research concepts and definitions,
Research methods: qualitative and quantitative research approaches,
Methodology: experimental design,
Data collection: sampling techniques, measurement,
Analysis: analysis, Research ethics and
Seminar: Thesis Proposal writing, conventions and Reporting

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 Course Objectives
At the end of the Course, you should be able to
• Demonstrate understanding of research methodology concepts
and definitions
• Undertake a review of the recent and scholarly literature
• Demonstrate ability to research a chosen topic area and
formulate a research questions.
• Discuss the nature of research and distinguish between different
types of research
• Understand research ethics
• Produce a research proposal and t
• Communicate proposed research in a form of paper, thesis,
report and oral presentation.
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3
Course Delivery Mode

 Lecture sessions
 Directed reading
 Class tasks/
 Individual or group Presentation
 Case study

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 Assessment Mode

 Attendance: 80% attendance is the official utg policy

 Assessment: Formative and Summative
 Continuous Assessment (CA) = 2 Tests 20% - (home
task and written test ):
= written test : 15%
= Class Task : 10%
= Proposal assignment: 15 %
= Attendance 10%
 Sub-Total = 50%
 Exams = 50%
 Overall Term score = 100%
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 Class Attendance

 Active participation of in class is encouraged

 Class sessions will involve interaction and
discussions topics
 You are required to attend 80% of the entire
semester session
 The more effort you put into class session the
better for the learning outcomes

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 Right of Others

 Respect your fellow students and keep cell

phones off in silence mode.
 If you have to talk to someone kindly move
outside.
 Distractions with mobile phones or Laptops will
not be tolerated
 Active listening and participation is highly
required

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 Special Assignment

 You will undertake a week research

proposal assignment during the semester
 You are required to complete all tests and
assignment
 You will be notified when and how it will
be carried out.

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 Late Submission of Work

• All assignments must be completed in

accordance with given instructions.
• The assignment must be submitted in
both soft via google class on or before
submission date.
• It is your responsibility to make sure you
submit your work on time.

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 Plagiarism

 We expects high level of responsibility and

academic honesty throughout the course.
 Plagiarism from the web, from papers, and from any
other source is an academic offense hence
unacceptable.
 Be aware of the existence of a plagiarism software
turn-it-in.
 To avoid it, simply acknowledge the work of others

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 Course Withdrawal

 University administration has set deadlines for

withdrawal of any course for the Semester
 It is your responsibility to handle withdrawal
requirements before closure of the portal
 Students will not be allowed to take exams only
when they are not registered for the course.
 You must do the proper paperwork to ensure you
are in compliance.

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 Make-Up - Test/Exams

 No excuse will be accepted without

prior written, or advance notice for
absence.
 Should there be scheduling conflict, it
is your responsibility to let the lecturer
know well in advance

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 Reading Materials

• Trochim, W. M. K., Donnelly, J. P., & Arora, K. (2016). Research methods: The essential

knowledge base. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

• Briony J Oates ‘Researching Information Systems and Computing, 2008; Sage Publications

• L.V. Redman and A.V.H. Mory, The Romance of Research, 1923, p.10.

• The Encyclopedia of Social Sciences, Vol. IX, MacMillan, 1930

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 Week
1

Introduction to Research
Methodology

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 Scope

 Meaning of Research

 Objectives of Research

 Motivation in Research

 Types of Research

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 Meaning of Research
• Refers to a search for knowledge
• define research as a scientific and systematic search
for pertinent information on a specific topic
• The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines research
as “a careful investigation or inquiry especially
through search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge.”
• Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized
effort to gain new knowledge.
• research is an art of scientific investigation

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 Meaning of Research contd.
• Some consider research as a movement
from the known to the unknown.
• A voyage of discovery with an original
contribution to the existing body of
knowledge
• It is the pursuit of truth with the help of
study, observation, comparison and
experiment

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 Objectives of Research

• To discover answers to questions through the application of

scientific procedures.
• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it studies with this object in view are termed as
exploratory or formulative research studies);
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group (studies with this object in
view are known as descriptive research studies);

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 Objectives of Research contd.

• To determine the frequency with which something

occurs or associated with something else (studies
with this object in view are known as diagnostic
research studies);
• To test a hypothesis of a causal relations
• To create or build or develop and or observe
something (scientific studies)

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 Motivation in Research

i. What makes people to undertake research?

ii. What are the possible motive for doing

research?-

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 Motivation in Research contd.

• Desire to get a research degree along with its

consequential benefits;
• Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved
problems, i.e., concern over practical problems
initiates research;
• Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative
work;
• Desire to be of service to society;
• Desire to get recognition
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 Week
Why Research? 1

To:
• Contribute to the body of knowledge
• Solve a problem
• Find out what happened
• Find the evidence to inform decision
• Develop greater understanding of
people and their world
• Predict, plan and control
• Test and disprove a theory
• Come up with a better way

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 Week
Contribute to the Body of 1
Knowledge

• Researcher want to add what is known

about the specialist area

• Exploring and finding our new things

• Find out thing we do not know about

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 Week
Solve a Problem 1

• Information Systems (IS) researcher

want to solve a problem
For example: to develop an application
to do X
• Developing a computer product in a
new is research

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 Week
Solve a Problem Contd. 1

Example:
• Is it possible to develop a website based
on latest marketing theories
• Is it possible to develop a computer
based tool to support online discussion
for teaching purposes

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 Week
Find out What Happened 1

• What happens when a new computer

system is put into real world use?
Example: How e-mail systems is used in an
organization
• Are paper mailing systems abandon
altogether
• Finding out what happens in one of the
key area of IS and computing
researchers

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 Find Evidence for Inform Week
1
Decision

• How we develop a computer system?

• How should we?
• Can we come up with better ways?
• Many methods have been proposed over the
years
• Example: structured methods, agile methods,
formal methods etc.

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 Week
Develop Understanding of 1
People and their World

• Find out about people and their world

• Finding out in terms of practical application
For example: Knowing how children use PCs in the
home might help companies to design software for
home PCs for children etc.
• How does the advent of Internet shopping affect
family relationships in the homes?

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 Week
Predict, Plan and Control 1

• Computer based systems can provide tool to

help predict, plan and control
For example:
• Predict the amount and effect of global
warming
• Predict patient diagnostic system
• Predict weather patterns
• Predict opinion pool etc.

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 Week
1
Test and Disprove a Theory

• Testing and disproving a theory scientific

research
• In Is and Computing so many theories can
be tested
Example:
• Many parent worry that computer games are
harmful to the development of their children

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 Sources of Research Ideas Chapter
1

• Suggestion from staff or colleague

• Circulation of research topics or project ideas
• Calls for papers and published journal articles
• Past research students’ project work or
dissertations
• Current event reported in the media
• Further research topics in Conference
publications

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 Types of Research

1. Descriptive vs. Analytical

2. Applied vs. Fundamental

3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative

4. Conceptual vs. Empirical

5. Some Other Types of Research

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 Descriptive vs. Analytical

• Descriptive includes surveys and fact-finding

enquiries of different kinds.
• The major purpose is description of the state of
affairs as it exists.
• The main characteristic of descriptive is that the
researcher has no control over the variables;
• Can only report what has happened or what is
happening
• Descriptive research are survey methods including
comparative and correlational methods
• For analytical research, the researcher has to use
facts or information already available, and analyze
these to make a critical evaluation of the material
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 Applied vs. Fundamental

• Research can either be applied (or action) research or

fundamental (to basic or pure) research

• Applied research aims at finding a solution for an

immediate problem facing a society or an
industrial/business organization,

• whereas fundamental research is mainly concerned with

generalizations and with the formulation of a theory

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 Applied vs. Fundamental Contd.

• The central aim of applied research is to discover a

solution for some pressing practical problem,

• Whereas basic research is directed towards finding

information that has a broad base of applications and
thus, adds to the already existing organized body of
scientific knowledge

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 Quantitative vs. Qualitative

• Quantitative research is based on the

measurement of quantity or amount.
• applicable to phenomena that can be
expressed in terms of quantity
• Qualitative research, on the other hand, is
concerned with qualitative phenomenon,
i.e., phenomena relating to or involving
quality or kind

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 Quantitative and Qualitative contd.

• For instance, when we are interested in investigating the

reasons for human behavior (i.e., why people think or do

certain things),

• Qualitative research aims at discovering the underlying

motives and desires, using in depth interviews for the

purpose

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 Conceptual vs. Empirical

• Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or

theory.
• Generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new
concepts or to reinterpret existing ones
• empirical research relies on experience or observation alone,
• Often without due regard for system and theory.
• It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions capable of
being verified by observation or experiment
• Can also call it as experimental type of research

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 Some Other Types of Research

• One-time research or longitudinal research:

• In the former case the research is confined to a single time-

period, whereas in the latter case the research is carried on over

several time-periods.

• Field-setting research or laboratory research or simulation

research:
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 Some Other Types of Research
contd.

• Clinical or diagnostic research. Such research

follow case-study methods or in-depth approaches to
reach the basic causal relations.
• Research may be exploratory or it may be
formalized.
• Objective of exploratory research is the
development of hypotheses rather than their testing,
whereas formalized research studies are those with
• substantial structure and with specific hypotheses to
be tested
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 How to conduct Research: Week
Dealing with a Tyre puncture 1

Identify a problem
• How can I deal with my punctured tyre?
Gather Data
• Obtain prices of new tyres
Analyse the data
• What is the cheapest?
Interpret the data
• That’s more than I want to pay, I need more
information
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 Research: Dealing with a Week
Tyre puncture 1

Gather more data

• Is it reparable?
• Obtained prices for tyre repair
Analyse the data
• Can it be repaired
• What is the lowest cost?
• How does the cost compare with a new tyre?

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 Research: Dealing with a Week

punctured tyre contd. 1

Interpret the data

• Repairing it is possible
• Repair will cost 20% of a new tyre
• Repair rather than replace means I can still afford to
go out on Friday night
Draw Conclusion
• I will get it repaired at Tyres-U-Like

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 Week
1

End of Lecture

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