4.

0 Research Design/Method
By
Rosziati Ibrahim (PhD)
Department of Software Engineering
Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology
 TOPIC AND SUBTOPICS
TO BE COVERED IN THIS SECTION
RESEARCH DESIGN/METHOD
i. Research Methodology
ii. Research Process
iii. Research Framework
iv. Examples of Research Framework
a) FSKTM (Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology)
b) FTK (Faculty of Engineering Technology)
c) FAST (Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology)
Research Methodology

• Research methodology is a step by step activities or processes

that are used to do a project or research.
• The methodology used is often related to the
objectives of the research
Research Process

• Problem and Aim of Research have been identified

• Need to collect data to support the Aim
• Methods available to collect data
• The purpose of the Methodology:
• Others can replicate what you have done
Eleven Steps in a Research Process
1. Define a topic (problem)
2. Find out what is known about the topic
3. Clarify concepts and their measurement
4. Establish an appropriate data collection method
5. Operationalise concepts and design the Research Instruments
6. Select a Sample of subjects/items to study
7. Consider the purpose, value and ethics of the study
8. Collect the data
9. Process the data
10. Analyse the data
11. Present/Write-up the results
Step 1: Define a topic (problem)

• Identify your aim

• Identify the existing problem
• Identify what you can do with the problem
• Propose a solution to the problem
• This will lead you to your problem statement
Step 2: Find out what is known
about the topic

• Study the necessary terms and concepts used

• Compare what other people have done about
the topic or related/similar topic
• Citation – the necessary information
(journal, book, internet)
• This will lead you to your literature review
Step 3: Clarify concepts and
measurements
• Aims identified
• Precise meanings must be defined
• Usability
• How to measure usability
• How to measure your expected output
• Issues of validity and reliability need to be addressed
• Measure is the assignment of numbers to
objects and events
• In certain cases this will lead you to your
research method
Step 4: Establish an Appropriate
Data Collection Method
• How to collect data
• From what sources
• How to analyse the data
• Data Analysis
• Example of Data Analysis – Chapter 5
• You will learn more on Data Analysis in Chapter 5.

Note: Data would be varies depending on

different disciplines
• Engineering
• Education
• IT
Step 5: Operationalise Concepts and
Design the Research Instruments

• Survey, the questionnaire

• Qualitative Analysis
• Use more than one indicator for measurements
• Tool than can help you in analysis and
measurements – eg SPSS, Python, Matlab
• You will learn more regarding qualitative analysis in
Chapter 6
Step 6: Sample of Subjects/Objects
• Why sample?
• Cannot involve whole population
• Next best thing: representative of the population
• Who/what you will study
• Target users
• Target web-sites
Step 7: Consider the purpose, value and ethics
of the study

• Why you do your research project

• What you do with your research project
• Who is going to use your findings
• What values do you have for your findings
• Significance
• IP (Intellectual Property)
• Copyright
The rest of the steps

8. Collect the data (Chapter 5 and Chapter 6)

9. Process the data
10. Analyse the data (Chapter 5 and Chapter 6)
11. Present/Write-up the results (Chapter 7)
Example of Phases in Research
Method
i. Research question / Problem
ii. Background / Observation
iii. Formulate hypothesis
iv. Design experiment
v. Test hypothesis / Collect data
vi. Interpret / Analyze results
Example of Research Process
1. Analyze the criteria for …
(Requirements Analysis/Literature Review)
2. Design the framework
3. Develop/Implement the tool according to the
framework define in (2)
4. Evaluate the tool
Example of Objectives of Research
1. To design the framework
2. To develop/implement the tool according to the
framework define in (1)
3. To evaluate the tool for its performance
Research Process & Research Objectives

Research Process Research Objectives

1. Analyze the criteria 1. To design the
and perform Literature framework
Review
2. To develop the tool
2. Design the framework according to the
3. Develop the tool framework define in
according to the (1)
framework define in (2)
3. To evaluate the tool
4. Evaluate the tool for its performance
Common Research Process

Chapter 1 - Introduction
PHASE 1 – Literature Review

Chapter 2 - Literature review

Chapter 3 – Methodology PHASE 2 - Design

Chapter 4 - Data analysis PHASE 3 – Develop/Analyze

- Qualitative or Quantitative

Chapter 5 - Results and PHASE 4 – Evaluate and

Discussion Compare Results

Chapter 6- Conclusion

References

Appendix
 Relationships between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2

Confirm need – Review literature - Define the problem – Develop questions

and objectives – specify hypotheses – Develop theoretical model

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Literature Review

1.1 Introduction 2.1 Introduction

1.2 Problem background 2.2 Definition of the terms (concepts)

1.3 Problem statement 2.3 Logical flow of ideas

To guide 2.4 Unbiased and comprehensive view of the
1.4 Research questions
previous research on the topic.
1.5 Objective
2.5 Identify areas of controversy in the
1.6 Scope literature
1.7 Significant of the study 2.6 Identify gaps in the literature
2.7 Development of the theoretical framework
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 will guide to
– CHAPTER 3
• Chapter 3 Research Methodology
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Research Process
• 3.3 Research Framework
• 3.4 Summary
Research Process - Example

• Research process consists of 5

Chapter 1
phases: 
 Introduction
• Phase 1: Literature Review  Chapter 2
Literature Review
• Phase 2: Define a Research


 Chapter 3
Framework  Research Framework
• Phase 3: Develop the  Chapter 4
Simulation/Program
simulation/program according to 

the proposed framework

• Phase 4: Analyze the result  Chapter 5
Analysis and Result
• Phase 5: Evaluate the proposed 


Chapter 6
framework  Evaluation/Case Study
 Chapter 7
 Conclusion
Examples – Research Objectives
(FSKTM) (3)
Research Framework –
Example (FSKTM)
Username
and First Layer
Password of Security

Second Layer
Cover of Security
Top Secret
Secret Key Image
Data Retrieving

A Novel Design
Steganography Algorithm

Secret
Data Hiding Stego Image Key

Top Secret
RESEARCH FRAMEWORK –
EXAMPLE (FTK/FAST)
Thank You