1. Dilum Bandara Dilum.Bandara@uom.lk Some slides extracted from Dr. Hans Gray

2. Process of searching, understanding, & documenting related set of contents on a given topic Includes academic papers, books, industry articles, news papers, Wikis, blogs, etc. 2 Source: www.criticalproof.com 3. 3 Cedalion standing on the shoulders of Orion from Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun by Nicolas Poussin, 1658, Oil on canvas Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_on_the_shoulders_of_giants 4. Dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants Metaphor meaning One who develops future intellectual pursuits by understanding the research & works created by notable thinkers of the past If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants. Isaac Newton Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. Edmund Burke 4 5. To find a solution to a problem Knowledge accumulates We learn from & build on what others have done Todays studies build on those of yesterday! To make sure work you are trying to do hasnt already been done 5 6. Distinguish what has been done from what needs to be done Discover important variables relevant to topic Synthesize & gain a new perspective Identify relationships between ideas & practice Establish context of topic or problem Rationalize significance of problem Enhance & acquiring subject vocabulary Identify methodologies & techniques that have been used Place research in a historical context to show familiarity with state-of-the-art developments 6 7. Problem identification Analysis of problem in relation to existing literature Depth of the problem How my solution can be unique? During project work Design parameters Experiment/simulation setup While writing thesis 7 8. Peer reviewed journals Academic books Articles in encyclopedias, hand books Periodicals News papers, news letters, magazines Patents Documents, project reports Experts & consultants On-line sources of information Wiki, Blogs, Forum, Twitter 8 9. Google Scholar Other research indexes & online databases University libraries Government document collections National Archives Government departments & institutions NERD, NSF, ITI Resources centers run by foreign missions British Council, Russian Cultural Center, American Center, Practical Action 9 10. Suppose your are interested in online payments using virtual currencies 1. Go to Google Scholar & search for virtual currency Note title, date, source, no of citations Are results are all over the place? Lets be more specific in selecting search terms 2. Search for virtual currency payments Better not miss fundamental papers 10 11. 3. Search for more recent papers Papers within last 2-3 years Select ones to read should be based on title, citations, then later by abstract Look for recurrent terms/words See the word BitCoin? 4. Search for BitCoin Lot more related results 11 12. 5. Expand search Looks at citations of a paper these are related work Look for related work from same authors, others, & supporting & opposing arguments 12 13. Google Scholar has a Save link Use a tool Zotero Browser-based research tool Help you collect, organize, search, cite, & share your research sources Mendeley & Qiqqa Web & desktop based Partly free EndNote Commercial Most university libraries have access 13 14. After a while You dont remember where your ideas came from You better not miss key/all citations All your sources are mixed up Styles are complicated Hundreds of styles of references Conferences & journals have their own styles & reviewers are strict on style 14 15. 15 Source: https://thesislink.aut.ac.nz/?p=491 16. As you read widely, but selectively in your topic area, consider what themes or issues connect your sources together Do they present one or different solutions? Is there an aspect that is missing? How well do they present material & portray it according to an appropriate theory? Do they reveal a trend in the field? Is there a raging debate? Pick one of these themes to focus the organization of your review 16 17. Document ideas in a suitable form Use cases Parameter space Alternative designs Gaps Examples Just list them down Note cards Mind maps Rich pictures 17 18. You got a focus, & narrowed it down to a problem statement What is the most effective way of presenting information? What are the most important topics, subtopics, etc.? What order should you present them? 18 19. Introduction or background Basics Central theme Body containing discussion of sources Organized either chronologically, thematically, or methodologically Conclusion and/or recommendations Where we need to go from here 19 20. Is a synthesis of available research Is a critical evaluation Has appropriate breadth & depth Has clarity & conciseness Uses rigorous & consistent methods An annotated bibliography Confined to description Narrow & shallow Confusing & longwinded Constructed in an arbitrary way 20 21. Accepted facts in the area Popular opinion Main variables Relationship between concepts & variables Shortcomings in existing findings Limitations in methods used in existing findings Relevance of your research Suggestions for further research 21 22. Vagueness due to too much or inappropriate generalizations Very narrow focus Insufficient information Irrelevant material Omission of contrasting view Omission of recent work Work carried out during last 2 years Lack of a clear flow Repetition Use of big words 22 23. One of the first researchers to investigate this problem is Chen . . . Smith and Jones counter Chens argument . . . The issue becomes more complex when a third school of thought is considered . . . One researcher who agrees with Chen is . . . A different approach to this question looks at problems in X One of the most troublesome problems is addressed by Green . . . A problem with this approach is that . . . A recent study adds this to the mix . . . A crucial issue that has not been addressed is z . . . 23 24. What are you planning to do? Why is it important? How are you planning to do it? Answer these 3 questions in a suitable order Write a single paragraph Refine it as you understand the research problem better Get stuck while writing it? It means you are still not clear about the research problem If so, think, read, & analyze more, talk to others Then give it another try 24 25. All the Best! 25