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Research Methods

Introduction

• Introduction to Research

• Course Content

• Assessment

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What is Research

• Many forms:– Scientific

– Market

– …..

• Many definitions– “…the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) in

order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested.”1

– ……..

– The Process of Creating New Knowledge

1. Leedy P. D. and Ormrod J. E., Practical Research: Planning and Design, 7th Edition. 2001.

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Types of Research:• Graduate Studies Research

– Thesis for MSc students

– Dissertation for PhD students

• Research Funded Projects

– Research projects funded by research funding agencies

• Research Promotion Foundation of Cyprus

• European Union

• Industrial Research

– Research projects funded by the Industry to solve specific problems

– Incubators

– Government

• Ministry of Commerce

• Life-Long Learning Foundation

Research Classification

– Basic vs. Applied

– Theoretical vs. Empirical

– Experimental vs. Non-experimental

– Analytical vs. Descriptive

– Quantitative vs Qualitative

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Research Phases

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Research Proposals:• Graduate Studies Research Proposals

– MSc Students: Content of the research work must be within the boundaries of knowledge in the specific area

– PhD Students: Content of the research work must extend the boundaries and produce new of knowledge in the specific area

• Needed to convince academics (research advisor/Committee)

– Proposed work is innovative and has a significant contribution

– The student has the background knowledge to cope with the specific research

• Verified through literature review analysis

– The proposed research can be done within the specific time limits and budget.

Research Work Issues

• Work-packages

• Tasks

• Milestones

• Deliverables

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Research Methods vs Research Methodologies• Research methods: Techniques used for conducting research:

– Techniques used for the collection of data such as experiment results, questionnaires

– Tools and mathematical techniques used for the statistical analysis of the collected data.

– Methods used to validate the correctness of the stated hypothesis, and evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained.

• Research Methodologies: The analysis and study of the methods and techniques used in research

– It refers to the rationale and the philosophical assumptions

• Often not clearly distinguished.

Course Content• Research Proposals

– Research contributions– Literature review– Proposed Methodology– Validation and Evaluation methodology– Infrastructure and Expertise needed– Time Schedule

• Publications– Technical writing styles– Articles and Papers– Reviews

• Thesis and Report writing• Presentations

– Research Proposal– Paper– Thesis

Assessment• Review Paper (15%)

– You are required to write a literature review paper related to the topic of your project

• Research Proposal (40%)

– You are required to write and submit a formal research proposal. You may choose to work on the topic of your project or any other topic related to your program of study.

• Presentation (45%)

– Prepare a presentation for the project proposal

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