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CS908

(Autumn 2016)

Outline of Todays Session


IntroducJon to Research in CS
CS908 Research Methods
Plagiarism issues
Prof Nasir Rajpoot
Department of Computer Science
Department of Pathology, UHCW NHS Trust
Slide credits: Dr Yulia Timofeeva, Dr Tamer Elsayed
Week 1a 7 Oct, 2016
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Module Outline
Purpose of This Module
1. Overview of research. Plagiarism.
2. Library session (Helen Ireland/Chris Vernon, 9-10am & 2-3pm in
To demonstrate to you dierent stages in Library Training Room, on Floor 2 of the Library)
research LaTeX and BibTeX (our usual lecture)
3. Academic writing I (Dr Leah Philips, the Writing Centre)
4. Critical analysis

To help you in developing your research 5. Academic writing II (Dr Leah Philips, the Writing Centre)
6. Ethics and legal issues (Dr Mike Joy)
skills 7. Literature reviews and understanding a research field
8. Research planning 1 Concepts, questions and constraints
9. Research Planning 2 - Research Focus, Risk Management and
To help you in developing your wriJng Working Plans
Developing a Research Proposal
skills 10. Presentations (Assignment 3)

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What is Research?
Assignments
Assignment 1: Critical analysis of a research paper using LaTeX/ Research is an oKen-used term in everyday language
BibTeX (25% = 15% for writing + 10% for LaTeX familiarity)
Deadline: Thur 10 November (12noon), week 6
Do research to nd a good university, accommodaJon, etc?
Assignment 2: Literature review of a research topic (25%)
Deadline: Mon 28 November (12noon), week 9
Not really research in the scienJc context
Assignment 3: Presentation - Summary of a research paper of your
choice (10%, 10min + questions = 15min per student)
Assessment: YT and your personal tutor
RelaJon between conducJng research and gathering facts
Preliminary: week 10 (individual time slots)
RelaJon between conducJng research and conducJng literature
Assignment 4: MSc project proposal (40%) review
Deadline: Thu 18 February (12noon), week 6 of Term 2

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Is This Research? With Lots of Results !?

Nasa space craYs

Nasa space craYs

Looking for something

is search, but NOT research! still search, NOT research!

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With Dierent Types of Results!? What is NOT research


Looking randomly inside dierent books
Nasa space craYs Downloading docs from dierent websites
Surng the Web
informaVon gathering
Merely transporVng facts from one resource to
another
Searching for data when wriJng an essay
Compiling facts in wri]en form
still search, NOT research!
Why NOT? No contribution to knowledge!
But search can be the beginning of the process
9 that may end in research 10

What is Research? What is Research?


A systemaJc process of analyzing data (or
A search or inves.ga.on directed to the informaJon) or invesJgaJon of things to:
discovery of some fact by careful considera.on establish facts
or study of a subject; a course of cri.cal or reach new conclusions
scien.c inquiry. * increase our knowledge base
increase understanding of a phenomenon

* Oxford English DicJonary


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Why is Research Important?

Why Research?! Guards against the dangers of casual inquiry


Can guard against the fundamental tendency
of people to:
o accept what we hear when presented as facts
o accept tradiJon as fact
o accept authority
o inaccurate observaJon
o overgeneralizaJons
o selecJve observaJon

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Why is Research Important? Why is Research Important?


Guards against faults of researchers! Provides solid foundation
Can also guard against: Important also in
o applicaJons of misconcepJons o Discovery and creaJon of knowledge
o Theory building
o careless or faulty methods and observaJons
o TesJng, conrmaJon, revision, refutaJon of
o opinions about the way things should be
knowledge or theory
o ego involvement o InvesJgaJon of a problem for local decision
making
o Advancements in a discipline or eld

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Research demands

Research Process

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Basic Structure of Research


The ScienVc Method
Dene a quesVon (seZng a goal, problem statement)
1. Dene the Ask a ques:on
Develop understanding (foundaVons, literature review, observaVon) problem
Examined Review
Form a hypothesis (theory, soKware, algorithm) by others literature
2. Build
Test the hypothesis (theory [mathemaVcal proof], experiments) 8. Retest
background
Analyse the results Write/Present your Propose a
work solu:on
Draw conclusions (peer review)
7. Publish 3. Form a
Publish results (wriVng) results hypothesis

Re-test (by other scienVsts) Design a study


state /collect data
ndings 6. Draw 4. Perform /build a system
Learning to do research involves acquisition of a range of separate skills conclusions experiments
5. Analyze
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Measure performance data

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Categories of Research (1)


Some MisconcepVons
Basic (pure) Research
You must be so smart to do
research To saVsfy curiosity (without any parVcular applicaVon or use in view)
It advances fundamental knowledge about the world
You must have cool ideas to produce Examples:
excellent research - How did the universe begin?
- Maximum overhang: how to stack blocks on a table to achieve the maximum
You should have a clear direc:on possible overhang - the farthest horizontal distance from the edge of the table
before you start


Research is boring!

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hkp://research.microsoK.com/en-us/news/features/peresrobbins-030311.aspx

Categories of Research (2) Academic vs Industrial Research


Academic Research
Applied Research Idea-oriented, may be a long way away from the nal commercial products
To solve pracVcal problems (business-driven or state-driven) Find research problems that are interesJng to you
No one tells you what to do, how to do it
Examples: Manage your own Jme
- Treatment or cure of a specic disease Maybe less income
- Computer, mobile technologies, operaJng system, wireless communicaJons Industrial Research
Product-oriented, aiming to invent/develop new products for the company
May work on a project you dont like, or you dont think it is a good idea
Keep up with the company schedule
Maybe more income


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Start of a Research Project

ConversaVon with someone suggested interesVng quesVons to pursue

Your general interest in a topic crystallised from lectures / seminars

Your DissertaVon Research Enrollment in a research degree forced you to idenVfy a problem to work on

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Factors that aect the success of research

Clear problem deniVon

Thorough study of the research context

EecVve Vme management

PaVence

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What is a Research Problem?


A problem that needs to be researched
o Fills a gap between an actual real-world situaJon (or our
understanding of it) and the desirable or the ideal state of
aairs (human knowledge)
Sounds very simple, but can be a Big Problem J

Who idenJes them?


o Readymade: Proposed by the potenJal advisor(s)
o Grand Challenges & Open Problems: IdenJed by a group of
leading researchers (eg, a global consorJum) or a naJonal /
internaJonal funding agency
o IdenJed by your own research or observaVon(s)

MulVple Angles on the Same Topic


A Good Research Problem Example: Web search
Statistical. Identify properties of Web pages that are useful in determining
Working on a good research problem should: whether they are good answers to queries.

Mathematical. Prove that the efficiency of index construction has reached a


lower bound in terms of asymptotic cost.
o Be intellectually challenging
Analytical. Quantify bottlenecks in query processing, and relate them to
properties of computers and networks.
o Be an enjoyable experience
Algorithmic. Develop and demonstrate the benefit of a new index structure.

o Help you grow in condence and self-expression Behavioural. Quantify the effect on searchers of varying the interface.

Social. Link changes in search technology to changes in queries and user


o Be rewarding in the end demographics.

Many skills and backgrounds can be applied to a single problem domain

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The Independence Dimension Dangerous vs Safe


Independent topic Part of a team
Advantages Advantages Dangerous Safe
Not depending on support Better support from May lead nowhere Can be satisfying for some
from anyone else colleagues as well as your May be uncompetitive people
More exciting for some supervisor More chance of funding
Can be satisfying for some
people Good chance of funding people
Disadvantages Disadvantages Funding unlikely
Funding unlikely Can be boring for some
Dangerous at examination people
time

Personal recommendaJon

Narrow vs Wide Feasibility vs Interest


Narrow and deep topic Wide and shallow topic
Advantages Advantages

Interest
More chance of pushing the Realistic
boundary of knowledge Good training for industrial
More exciting research

Disadvantages Disadvantages
Your model may be too Mostly boring, like a
abstract and unrealistic collection of honours theses
Its hard to choose the Unlikely to contribute a lot
variable parameters Feasibility
Uri Alon, 2009

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Feasibility Feasibility Data


Feasibility can be gauged in terms of the Is the required data readily available, or will you need
to collect it?
following 3 types of factors:
Does the data collecJon involve?
1. Background knowledge/skills required o Collaborators physically far away and working in a
2. Availability of resources: dierent area
ComputaJonal resources required o A recent experimental setup
Minimum/Maximum Jme required o Medical or biological samples
Data availability
3. Availability of Required Personnel:
Team members
Collaborators
Advisor

Feasibility Personnel Your Advisor Knows Everything?


Your advisor should:
o Have experJse and track record in the area
o Be interested in the topic
o Be responsive to answer your quesJons, provide feedback

Other PG students in your advisors team


o Are more hands-on with related techniques
o Are more readily available to help

Collaborators should: This is not quite right, but its true that some PhD students know more
o Provide complimentary experJse (and the required data) than their advisor about the specic problem they are working on.
o Be at least somewhat interested in your problem

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Interest Self-MoVvaVon
The topic/problem you choose should be:
o Of Personal interest
o Of wider interest to others working in the area
Expected to contribute new, veriable knowledge

SubjecJve, by its very nature!


o Good mentoring can be useful here

Can impact on self-moJvaJon

The Perils Researching in The Cloud


Working on a good research problem may
involve venturing into unchartered territories

Risk of not being able to:


o Achieve your designed objecJves
in Jme
o Get something a collaborator promised
o Spend too much Jme with your family & friends
h]p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVoz_pEeV8I&t=3m27s

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The Cloud Model The Joys PotenVal Rewards


Graduate with your thesis have MS or PhD
aYer your name J

Make new discoveries, develop new


approaches
Scale new heights

Build in condence
Sense of fulllment & pride

Take Your Time Conclusions


Research problem is a problem (quesJon) in
your eld that needs to be addressed
(answered)
Choosing a good research problem is probably
the most important decision in your PG study

Assess a research problem against some of the


key criteria
Take your Jme to decide, but not too long

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Outline of Todays Session


IntroducJon to Research in CS
CS908 Research Methods
Plagiarism issues
Prof Nasir Rajpoot
Department of Computer Science
Department of Pathology, UHCW NHS Trust
Slide credits: Dr Yulia Timofeeva
Week 1b 7 Oct, 2016
2

First, Typical Structure of a Research Paper Typical Structure of a Research Paper (contd)
SoluLon
Abstract Methodology used to solve the problem, why?
TheoreJcal derivaJon
Algorithm design
IntroducLon SoYware development
MoJvaJon, background of the research, the problem to be solved in this paper
EvaluaLon
Experiment design
Analysis of experimental results
Literature review / Related work Draw conclusions
The work related to the work in this paper
- Context of this research work Discussion/Conclusions
Re-iterate what have been achieved in this work
- The work to support the assumpJons made in this work
Discuss the future work which can be done following this work
ExisJng work to solve the similar problems
The dierence between this work and the exisJng work Bibliography
Appendices

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What is Plagiarism?
A common way that students commit plagiarism is by
Plagiarism is re-use of others ideas, words, material using phrases taken from a published source without
proper acknowledgment.
without appropriate acknowledge-ment of the
sources of that informaLon.

Proper acknowledgement has two requirements:
This includes, not just copying from published papers, an indicaJon of the source of the quotaJon
but from material in electronic form, such as Web an indicaJon of the extent of the quotaJon
pages, news arLcles etc.

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Case Study 1 Case Study 1


Original text Original text

The great eciency breakthroughs in soYware are to be found in the The great eciency breakthroughs in soYware are to be found in the
fundamental architecture of the system, not in the surface design of fundamental architecture of the system, not in the surface design of
the interface. the interface.

[1] B. Tognazzini, First Principles of InteracJon Design, 2003, [Online] [1] B. Tognazzini, First Principles of InteracJon Design, 2003, [Online]
hdp://www.asktog.com/basics/rstprinciples.html [Accessed 14th September 2006] hdp://www.asktog.com/basics/rstprinciples.html [Accessed 14th September 2006]

Your text Your text

The great eciency breakthroughs in soYware are to be found in the The great eciency breakthroughs in soYware are to be found in the
fundamental architecture of the system, not in the surface design of fundamental architecture of the system, not in the surface design of
the interface [1]. the interface [1].

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Case Study 1 (cont.)


QuotaLon
Simply placing the source for your quote into your reference list is
not sucient Use it for a group of words taken from a text or speech.

Doesnt meet the second requirement (an indicaJon of the extent
of the quotaJon) When you quote, place the words you are using in quotaLon
marks, and document the relevant source.
The reader cannot judge exactly what has been drawn from the
quoted source and what has not.

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Original text Original text



The great eciency breakthroughs in soYware are to be found in the The great eciency breakthroughs in soYware are to be found in the
fundamental architecture of the system, not in the surface design of fundamental architecture of the system, not in the surface design of
the interface. the interface.

[1] B. Tognazzini, First Principles of InteracJon Design, 2003, [Online] [1] B. Tognazzini, First Principles of InteracJon Design, 2003, [Online]
hdp://www.asktog.com/basics/rstprinciples.html [Accessed 14th September 2006] hdp://www.asktog.com/basics/rstprinciples.html [Accessed 14th September 2006]

Your text Your text

The great eciency breakthroughs in soYware are to be found in The great eciency breakthroughs in soYware are to be found in
the fundamental architecture of the system, not in the surface the fundamental architecture of the system, not in the surface
design of the interface [1]. design of the interface [1].

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General Guidelines for QuotaLons Case Study 2


Original text
Use direct quotaJons only when the author's wording is

necessary or parJcularly eecJve. The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon
Dont use excessive quotaJons in your paper were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history.
As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American
Avoid quoJng more than is needed
landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and
provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants.

A quotaJon should add weight to what you are trying to say,
Your text
not simply repeat a point you have already made.
As steam-driven companies became more visible in the eastern part of the
country, they changed farm hands into factory workers, and provided jobs for the
Be sure to integrate all quotaJons into your own discussion. large wave of immigrants. Therefore, the increase of industry, the growth of ciJes,
Introduce direct quotaJons with your own words. and the explosion of the populaJon were three large factors of nineteenth
century America.

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Case Study 2
Why is it NOT acceptable?
Original text

The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon
were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history. The writer has failed to cite a source for any of the ideas or facts.
As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American
landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and
provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants.

Your text

As steam-driven companies became more visible in the eastern part of the
country, they changed farm hands into factory workers, and provided jobs for the
large wave of immigrants. Therefore, the increase of industry, the growth of ciJes,
and the explosion of the populaJon were three large factors of nineteenth
century America.

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Case Study 3 Case Study 3


Original text in reference [2]: Original text in reference [2]:

The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon
were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history. were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history.
As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American
landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and
provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants. provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants.

Your text Your text

As steam-driven companies became more visible in the eastern part of the As steam-driven companies became more visible in the eastern part of the
country, they changed farm hands into factory workers, and provided jobs for the country, they changed farm hands into factory workers, and provided jobs for the
large wave of immigrants. Therefore, the increase of industry, the growth of ciJes, large wave of immigrants. Therefore, the increase of industry, the growth of ciJes,
and the explosion of the populaJon were three large factors of nineteenth and the explosion of the populaJon were three large factors of nineteenth
century America [2]. century America [2].

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Why is it NOT acceptable? Paraphrase

Use someones ideas, but put them in your own words, and
Although the writer has cited a source for any of the ideas or acknowledge the source of the informaJon.
facts, the writer has only changed around a few words and
phrases, or changed the order of the original sentences.

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Case Study 4 Case Study 4


Original text in reference [2]: Original text in reference [2]:

The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon
were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history. were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history.
As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American
landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and
provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants. provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants.

Your text Your text

Steam-powered producJon had shiYed labor from agriculture to manufacturing, Steam-powered producJon had shiYed labor from agriculture to manufacturing,
and as immigrants arrived in the US, they found work in these new factories. As a and as immigrants arrived in the US, they found work in these new factories. As a
result, populaJons grew, and large urban areas arose. This is how America result, populaJons grew, and large urban areas arose. This is how America
developed in the late nineteenth century. developed in the late nineteenth century.

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Case Study 5
Why is it NOT acceptable?
Original text in reference [2]:

The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon
were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history.
Although the writer has paraphrased the text, the As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American
writer has failed to cite the source of the landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and
informaLon. provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants.

Your text

Steam-powered producJon had shiYed labor from agriculture to manufacturing,
and as immigrants arrived in the US, they found work in these new factories. As a
result, populaJons grew, and large urban areas arose. This is how America
developed in the late nineteenth century [2].

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Case Study 5
Why is it acceptable?
Original text in reference [2]:

The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon
were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history. Paragraph relays the informaLon in the original text using your
As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American own words.
landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and
provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants.
The source of the informaLon is cited.
Your text

Steam-powered producJon had shiYed labor from agriculture to manufacturing,
and as immigrants arrived in the US, they found work in these new factories. As a
result, populaJons grew, and large urban areas arose. This is how America
developed in the late nineteenth century [2].

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Case Study 6: Case Study 6:


Mixing Paraphrasing and QuotaLon Mixing Paraphrasing and QuotaLon
Original text in reference [2]: Original text in reference [2]:

The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon The rise of industry, the growth of ciJes, and the expansion of the populaJon
were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history. were the three great developments of late nineteenth century American history.
As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a feature of the American
landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and landscape in the East, they transformed farm hands into industrial laborers, and
provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants. provided jobs for a rising Jde of immigrants.

Your text Your text

As steam-powered producJon shiYed labor from agriculture to manufacturing, As steam-powered producJon shiYed labor from agriculture to manufacturing,
the demand for workers "transformed farm hands into industrial laborers," and the demand for workers "transformed farm hands into industrial laborers," and
created jobs for immigrants. In turn, growing populaJons increased the size of created jobs for immigrants. In turn, growing populaJons increased the size of
urban areas [2]. urban areas [2].

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Why is it acceptable? Another Example ...



Barlman and Trey (2001) wrote

The source of the informaLon described in the sentences is


cited.

It is indicated which part is taken directly from the source using


quotaLon marks.

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Another Example ... Why is it NOT acceptable?



Barlman and Trey (2001) wrote

It isnt made clear that the citaLon refers to the


whole block of text.

There is nothing to indicate that the wording is


unoriginal.

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One More Example ... One More Example...



Barlman and Trey (2001) wrote

Barlman and Trey (2001) wrote

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One More Example ... One More Example ...



Barlman and Trey (2001) wrote

Barlman and Trey (2001) wrote

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Figures, Tables and Data


Common Knowledge
If you are using gures and tables coming from sources other than
No need to cite the source when the informaJon is common yourself, you MUST cite the source in the gure capJon or table
knowledge, i.e. the facts that are common sense, can be found in Jtle.
numerous places, and are likely to be known by a lot of people.

For example:
For example,

A parallel applicaJon can be run on mulJple processors


simultaneously.

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Plagiarism Summary How to Avoid Plagiarism


Copy without reference

Copy with reference Put in quotaLons everything that comes directly from the
text in the source.
Change a few words or order without reference
Paraphrase, but be sure you are not just rearranging or
Change a few words or order with reference replacing a few words.

Use gures and tables without reference A good technique is:

Paraphrase without reference 1. Read the original text.
2. Close the text.
QuotaLon with reference, paraphrase with reference, use 3. Write out the idea in your own words.

gure, table or data with reference

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Assist Plagiarism = Plagiarism DetecLng Plagiarism


AssisJng plagiarism is considered as serious as conducJng All assignments are submided to a soYware called
plagiarism. TurniLn.

To protect yourself, do not lend any part of your soluJon TurniLn will compare your paper against published
to any student unJl aYer the assignment has been arJcles, web pages, and student papers, and generate a
marked and returned. report.

Keep all of your old notes and draYs unJl aYer the end of 14 billion web pages,
the course (so that if something does happen, you have Leading library databases and publicaJons
150 million student papers
proof that you did the work yourself).

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Todays Session
Library session (2 groups, 9-10am & 2-3pm)
CS908 Research Methods
IntroducOon to LaTeX for scienOc wriOng
Prof Nasir Rajpoot
Department of Computer Science
Department of Pathology, UHCW NHS Trust
Slide credits: Dr Yulia Timofeeva, Dr Tamer Elsayed
Week 2b 14 Oct, 2016
2

IntroducIon LaTex is for TypeseLng


LaTeX uses a markup language to describe
document structure and format
WYSIWYG document text
What and commands
The difference from Microsoft Word: in Word, what You formaQed .tex
format
you see is what you get See document
FormaQed
Is document
What .doc edit
.pdf
edit
Web pages work in a similar way: the HTML is used You
to describe the document print print
Get
paper paper
document document

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Why LaTex? Why LaTex?


Plain Text FormaQed Output
Powerful formaXng
Easily generate complex structures
e.g., References, table of contents
Easy to include math
Free J

Content Layout
5 6

Format of a LaTeX command

\command_name[arguments]{arguments}

LaTeX document:
Arguments in curly brackets { } are compulsory.
Arguments in square brackets [ ] are optional.
How it looks like

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Document Type Packages

\documentclass[options]{class} \usepackage{package name}


predened formats (ar/cle, report, book, le5er, ) added funcOonality (graphics, reference
style,...).
op/ons = a4paper, 11pt, 12pt, 10pt, twocolumn, landscape,...
class = arOcle, report, book,...

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Title
Body

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Our First Example Processing LaTeX Source files (1)


Linux
% example1.tex - Our first LaTeX example!
Save it as example1.tex

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
Hello world!
\end{document}
At the command prompt,
To compile the source le, type the command
latex example1
example1.dvi le will be generated

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LaTeX on your computer


Processing LaTeX Source files (2) Unix, Windows or Mac
Linux Install TeX Live
Tex Live is an implementation of LaTeX for different platforms

To view dvi le, type Note: for Windows machines, you can also use MikTeX
the command:
Note: for Mac machines, you can also use MacTeX which
xdvi example1 comprises TeX Live as well as some additional tools

LaTeX document editor to edit LaTeX source file


File editor: having syntax highlighting, that is, the LaTeX
To convert dvi le to ps le, type the command: commands are shown differently than the rest of the text
(e.g. different colour)
dvips example1.dvi o example1.ps Or simply: pdatex example1 MikTeX file editor: TeXworks
To convert dvi le to pdf le, type the command: Other editors, for example Texmaker
dvipdf example1.dvi example1.pdf Integrating functionalities to process LaTeX documents

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Title, Author, Abstract and SecIon MathemaIcs


\title{title text}
Typesetting mathematics is one of LaTeX's biggest
\author{author list} strengths.
\maketitle
There are two modes for presenting the mathematical
\begin{abstract} formulae
Text: formulae are displayed within the body of
the main text
\end{abstract}
\section{section title} Displayed: the formulae are separate from the
\subsection{subsection title} main text


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MathemaIcs Cross references


Text mode: $ $ There are often cross references to a certain
segment of the text.
Displayed mode:
\begin{equation} LaTeX provides the following commands for
cross referencing
\end{equation} \label{identifier}
\ref{identifier}, \pageref{identifier}

(see file example-mathematics.tex) (see file example-crossReference.tex)

19 20

NMR 5
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Tables Table 1
\begin{tabular}{ l c r }
\begin{tabular}{arguments}
1 & 2 & 3 \\

4 & 5 & 6 \\
\end{tabular} 7 & 8 & 9 \\
\end{tabular}
l: left-justified column
c: centered column
r: right-justified column

21 22

Table 2 Figures
\begin{tabular}{ l | c || r |} %tell LaTex to use the graphicx package
\hline \usepackage{graphicx}
1 & 2 & 3 \\
4 & 5 & 6 \\
\begin{figure}
7 & 8 & 9 \\
%input the figure into the document
\hline
\includegraphics[arguments]{image_name}
\end{tabular}
\end{figure}

(see file example-tabular.tex) (see file example-figures.tex)

23 24

NMR 6
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

FloaIng elements FloaIng table


\begin{table}[placement_specifier]
Mainly refers to figures and tables \begin{tabular}{...} ...
table data ...
\end{tabular}
If there is no enough space on the remainder
\end{table}
of a given page for the floating element, it will
Placement specifiers include
float to the next page, while filling the current
t: Position at the top of the page.
page with body text
b: Position at the bottom of the page.
h: Place the float here, i.e. at the same point it occurs in
the source text.
(see file example-floatingtable.tex)

NB: Figures are treated as oaOng elements by default.


25 26

BibTeX and Bibliography Using BibTeX le


References are stored in a .bib file. It is a plain text file and
can be viewed and edited easily. Right before \end{document} in your latex source le,
An example of a BibTeX entry (corresponding to a piece of reference):
@article{YT2010,
add the following commands
author=Yulia Timofeeva",
title="Travelling waves in a model of quasi-active
dendrites with active spines",
\bibliographystyle{plain}
year="2010", \bibliography{bible_name}
journal=Physica D",
volume=239",
number=9",
pages=494-503 Use \cite{ref_key} to cite the reference in the main text
}
The common types include article (for journal publications),
inproceedings (for conference publications), book, electronic
(for web link), phdthesis. (see file sample.bib) (see file example-bibtex.tex)

27 28

NMR 7
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Processing LaTeX and BibTeX files CitaIon style


Linux It is numerical style by default
At the command prompt, type the following commands: Another popular style is Harvard style
latex example1
Author name followed by publication year
bibtex example1 In order to use Harvard style
latex example1 Use natbib package: \usepackage{natbib}
latex example1 My Mac Use plainnat bibliography style file:
\bibliographystyle{plainnat}
Use one of the following citation commands
\citep
\citet

(see file example-bibtex-natbib.tex)

29 30

Customising citaIon style WriIng thesis


Use the command \bibpunct{(}{)}{;}{a}{,}{,}
\documentclass{report}
The command requires six mandatory parameters.
The symbol for the opening bracket.
The symbol for the closing bracket. \chapter{chapter title}
The symbol that appears between multiple citations. \tableofcontents
This argument takes a letter:
n - numerical style. \listoffigures
s - numerical superscript style. \listoftables
any other letter - author-year style.
The punctuation to appear between the author and the year
(in parenthetical case only).
The punctuation used between years, in multiple citations
when there is a common author. e.g., (Chomsky 1956,
1957).

(see file example-bibtex-natbib-customise.tex) (see files example-thesis.tex, warwickthesis.tex )

31 32

NMR 8
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

WriIng academic paper Summary

The organisation which publishes your papers Structure of the LaTeX source le
would normally provide Latex Template for you to Processing LaTeX source le
use. Common commands in LaTeX
The template has set up the format for you.
MathemaOcs
Download the template and put your own Cross references
contents in.
Tables
IEEE Style template:
Figures
ieee.org/publications_standards/publications/
authors/authors_journals.html Bibliography

LaTeX to be used in assignment 1, see folder IEEEtran5 in


33 34
LaTeX Examples on the web

NMR 9
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Todays Session
CriHcal analysis of a research paper:
CS908 Research Methods o To explore the meaning of criIcal analysis

Prof Nasir Rajpoot o To learn how to conduct criIcal reading


Department of Computer Science
Department of Pathology, UHCW NHS Trust o To understand what criIcal wriIng is

Week 4 28 Oct, 2016 Slide credits: Dr Yulia Timofeeva, Dr Tamer Elsayed

To succeed in your research project / assignment 1


You need to become an effective reader of research
papers

Identify the contributions and value of a paper


Recognise its flaws
Identify the extends of flaws

The main mechanism for identifying good research and


eliminating bad

NMR 1
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

A challenge of research literature is whether to (Many) cases of misguided research


believe what you read Problems that are already solved and well understood
Work from a reputable journal or conference is peer- Problems that technology has made irrelevant
reviewed The proposed improvement actually makes the method
worse
Work available online could have any history
Assumptions may be implausible
Evaluation strategies may not make sense
The data set used may be so tiny that the results are
Establish whether it has been Check the quality of the meaningless
published somewhere authors other publications Some results are just plain wrong

A reader needs to be skeptical and questioning

5 6

Blooms (1956) Hierarchy of Thinking Skills


CriIcal analysis what is it? EvaluaIon (Level 6)
(Make judgments about the value of ideas or informaIon)

A critique is an evaluation of somebody's work Synthesis (Level 5)
(Combine ideas or informaIon into something new)

Analysis (Level 4)
A critical analysis is subjective writing. (Make a systemaIc and detailed examinaIon of an argument or piece of research)

It expresses the writer's evaluation of a text. ApplicaIon (Level 3)
(Use knowledge)

Writing a critical paper Comprehension (Level 2)
(Have understanding)

Knowledge (Level 1)
(Be aware of something, recall informaIon)
critical reading critical writing

7 8

NMR 2
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

CriIcal wriIng is not a summary (1) CriIcal wriIng is not a summary (2)
Descriptive writing Critical analytic writing
Descriptive writing Critical analytic writing
Explains what a theory says Shows why something is relevant
States what happened Identifies its significance or suitable
Notes the method used Identifies whether it is
States what something is like Evaluates strengths and appropriate or useful
weaknesses Says when something occurred Identifies why the timing is
Lists details Evaluates relative significance of important
details States the different components Weighs up the importance of
States the order in which things Makes reasoned judgments different component parts
happened States options Gives reasons for selecting
Says how to do something Argues a case according to the options
evidence Source: Cottrell, S. (2003).The Study Skills Handbook. 2nd ed. Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan. p232.

9 10

Three-Pass Approach

Second pass
A Three-pass approach Gives you a
general idea
Helps you
understand the
Let you grasp
to reading a research paper about the the papers paper in depth.
paper. content, but
Each pass accomplishes specic goals not its details.
First pass Third pass
and builds upon the previous pass

11 12

NMR 3
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

The First Pass At the End of this Pass


A quick scan to get a birds-eye view of the paper. You should be able to answer the ve Cs:
Decide whether you need to do any more passes. 1. Category: type of paper?
2. Context: problem?
1. Carefully read the Itle, abstract, and introducIon 3. Correctness: valid assumpHons?
2. Read the secIon and sub-secIon headings, but ignore 4. ContribuIons: main contribuHons?
everything else
3. Read the conclusion
5. Clarity: well wri_en?
4. Glance over the references, mentally Hcking o the
ones youve already read More passes?
1 1
13 14

The Second Pass Aaer the 2nd Pass


SomeHmes, you wont understand it even
Read with greater care, but ignore at the end of the second pass J
details such as proofs. o subject is new to you, with unfamiliar terminology.
IdenIfy main idea and key points o some complicated concept or proof that you dont understand.
o poorly wriben
Make comments in the margins. o its just late at night and youre Ired!
Look carefully at the gures, diagrams.
Remember to mark relevant unread references for You can now choose to:
further reading a) set the paper aside, hoping you dont need it to succeed
o this is a good way to learn more about the background of the b) return to the paper later, perhaps aber reading background material
paper. or

1 2 c) persevere and go on to the third pass.


1 2
15 16

NMR 4
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

The Third Pass 4-5 At the End of this Pass


hours 1
hour Should be able to reconstruct the enHre
structure of the paper from memory.
To fully understand the paper (e.g., Should be able to idenHfy its strong and
reviewing) weak points.
Requires great abenIon to detail Should be able to pinpoint implicit
A_empt to virtually re-implement the paper assumpIons, missing citaIons to relevant
IdenIfy and challenge every assumpIon work, and potenIal issues with
Write down ideas for future work. experimental or analyHcal techniques.
1 2 3 1 2 3
17 18

How to Conduct CriIcal Reading?

A critical appraisal comments on the paper as a whole.

A critical appraisal dissects the research paper,


looking at its separate components.
Back to CriIcal Reading ..
Ask questions!
Asking criHcal & construcHve quesHons

critical questions constructive questions

19 20

NMR 5
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

CriIcal QuesIons (1) CriIcal QuesIons (2)


Is the research problem signicant?
Are the contribuIons signicant?
Is it an exisHng problem or a new problem?
Is the developed work (to solve the problem) technically
Is it a small or big step forward in the research eld (how
challenging?
dierent)?
- Algorithm, sobware, experimental method, proof technique
What benets can it bring?
Is it state of the art?

- Enable new pracHcal applicaHons? Are the new ndings surprising?


- Deepen understanding of the exisHng facts/phenomenon? Are the new applicaHons what we need in reality?
- Enable new designs?

21 22

CriIcal QuesIons (3) ConstrucIve QuesIons (1)


Are the claims valid?
What are the alternaIve approaches to address the problem?
Simpler/faster approaches
UnrealisHc assumpHons
Flaws in derivaHon What is the beber way to support the authors claim?
- E.g., theorem, reducHon of equaHons More suitable experiment seings
Flaws in analysis More rigorous proof
ConsideraHon of more factors for drawing conclusions
- E.g., Hme complexity of the algorithm, wrong calculaHon
Flaws in experimental setup What is a good argument against the claim?
- E.g., too small scale, not under a wide range of seings Use a counter-example
Have contradictory observaHons

23 24

NMR 6
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

ConstrucIve QuesIons (2) ConstrucIve QuesIons (3)


Can the research results be applied to another context?
How can the research results be improved?
Do the results have other applicaHons the authors might not have
Can I relax the assumpHon made in the soluHon? thought of?
- E.g., If assumpHon is A, how can it be solved without assumpHon A?
Can the ideas be generalised?
Can I achieve be_er performance? - E.g., If the soluHon is applied to small scale system, how is it generalised to
- E.g., If Hme complexity of the algorithm is X, can I reduce it? larger scale system?
Can I add more funcHons to the soluHon?
- E.g., Add funcHons to sobware; If the exisHng algorithm deals with A,
can I extend the algorithm to deal with A and B? Overall, can I do beber than the authors and in
which aspects?

25 26

A critical appraisal comments on the paper as a whole.

A critical appraisal dissects the research paper,


looking at its separate components.

Structure of a research paper

CriIcal WriIng

Abstract
IntroducHon
Literature review
Addressing quesHons, overall Research methods
Data analysis/ndings
evaluaHon and the basic format of a Discussion
criHque .. Conclusion

27 28

NMR 7
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Qs for IntroducIon Qs for Literature Review


What is the present state of play in relation to the
Are the research aims/quesIons clearly stated? topic?
Is there a clear raIonale for the research? Are a range of up-to-date sources reviewed?
Are key themes in the literature discussed and their
Are key concepts clearly dened? significance shown?
Are gaps in the literature identified?

29 30

Qs for Research Methods Qs for Data Analysis

Is the context of the research clear? Are the main findings described clearly?
Are the research methods appropriate to the Are they clearly related to the original research
research quesIons? questions?
Are methods clearly jusIed? Are they presented in a format that is appropriate
Are the methods correctly described? for the findings?
Are the methods well executed? Is the interpretation of the data consistent with
Are ethical issues addressed? the evidence?
Are the findings significant?
Are the data analysed using appropriate tools?

31 32

NMR 8
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Qs for Discussion Qs for Conclusion



How are the data from the research related Are the threads of the argument drawn together
clearly?
back to the literature and to other findings?
Does the research support or challenge
Are the research quesIons answered and research
existing thinking or practice?
aims fullled?
Does the research suggest recommendations
for application, or areas for further research?
What does the research contribute to the eld?
Is the author reflective on their work or self-
critical?

33 34

The Basic Format of a CriIque


1. Summary of the paper you are reading
Overall EvaluaIon
2. Evaluation
Strengths and Weaknesses - Try to answer the critical questions where appropriate

3. Potential extensions and improvements


The article as a whole: structure (presentation)
- Try to answer the constructive questions where appropriate
and argument
4. Conclusions
- Summarise your opinions of the work and thoughts of
improvement

35 36

NMR 9
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Main Points to Note .. Summary of QuesIons


Is there a contribuHon? Is it signicant?
Remember: critical writing is not a summary
Is the contribuHon of interest?
Are the results correct?
While reading a paper DO NOT assume the
authors are always correct Is the appropriate literature discussed?
Does the methodology actually answer the iniHal quesHon?
Ask questions! Are the proposals and results criHcally analysed?
Are appropriate conclusions drawn from the results, or are there
Look for positive and negative sides of work other possible interpretaHons?
(research, presentation) Are all the technical details correct? Are they sensible?
Could the results be veried?
Refer to critical reading checklist Are there any serious ambiguiHes or inconsistencies?

37 38

39
40

NMR 10
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

41 42

43 44

NMR 11
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

45

NMR 12
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Session Plan
This Session: Understanding a research eld
o WriKng the Literature Review and Related Work secKons
o Tools for collaboraIve research (Cisco guest lecture)
CS908 Research Methods
Next Session (week 8): Research Planning
o Research quesIons, constraints and project scoping
Prof Nasir Rajpoot o Risk management and research strategy
Department of Computer Science
Department of Pathology, UHCW NHS Trust Final Sessions (week 9): Developing a Research Proposal
o Content, focus, scope and relaIonship to a research project
Literature Review
Week 7 18 Nov , 2016 Slide credits: Dr Yulia Timofeeva, Dr Tamer Elsayed

Areas of Research
The concept of a research eld is loosely
dened
CollaboraIve research is a product of
overlapping/complemenIng interests
Understanding a Research Field ..
Security in
WriIng a literature review Computer Wireless Wireless
Wireless
Security Sensor Networks
Networks
Security Networks

3 4

NMR 1
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

The Importance of Understanding Its Just Facts, Right?


To operate in a research eld you need to Facts alone are not enough
have an appreciaIon of work that has o AppreciaIng relaIonships between research in
been done in that eld your eld
CriIcal analysis is fundamental
o Appreciate the signicance of your research o IdenIfying research problems and potenIal
advances
o PosiIon your work relaIve to exisIng research o It is good to know that X showed Y, its be^er
to know that X showed Y by Z, which means A,
B and C for the research Im conducIng

5 6

Understanding a Research Field PosiKoning Your Research


Fundamentally scienIc research is judged It is not enough to just understand how your
based on signicance and quality of research diers from other research
contribuIon
o What are the dimensions for comparison?
o PosiIoning allows others appreciate the
signicance of your research and the quality of o Can advantages or disadvantages be found in the
your contribuIons dierences?
o Excellent research that is poorly posiIoned is o Does your research advance the state-of-the-art?
without meaning

7 8

NMR 2
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

What is a Literature Review?


A criIcal summary and synthesis of current
knowledge relaIng to a topic of research

o Compare and relate research dont just


Literature Review summarise
o Typically focus on the idenIcaIon of
opportuniIes to add to the current body of
knowledge / advance state-of-the-art

9 10

The Aim of a Literature Review What Goes in to a Lit Review?


The aim of a literature review will depend Not necessarily exhausIve
on its purpose:
o IdenIfy new research quesIons (for MSc/PhD o Focus on synthesizing signicant research
research proposal) contribuIons that are relevant to the topic and
o Oer a new perspecIve by synthesizing the focus of the literature review
exisIng research (Review papers)
o Relate your research to exisIng research to o Important that your sources be reputable and
demonstrate signicance and quality of your accessible
contribuIons (in your dissertaKon)

11 12

NMR 3
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Organizing the Lit Review How to Start WriKng a Lit Review


Understand the aim of the literature Read to idenIfy the research eld
review Read to idenIfy the focus of the review within that
research eld
o A review paper will be organized dierently to
Read and analyze with respect to appropriate
a related work chapter in a dissertaIon
measures and themes
A themaIc organizaIon can make it easier Read and re-read as you build up your review
to analyze related concepts, approaches
and results You should then have something worthwhile to
o A chronological summary of exisIng work is
say or be able to relate your analysis to your own
not as useful as you might think research

13 14

Literature Sources Reputable Sources


Peer-review is at the heart of scienIc research
The term literature should be understood as
PublicaIon in peer-reviewed conferences and journals
content produced by researchers for other gives some degree of condence in research quality
researchers. Example sources are: o Magazines, websites, blogs, news arIcles and similar
sources can be useful in scienIc research but their role is
o Books not to form the basis of a sounds argument
o Conference and journal papers o It may alert you to the existence of reputable work, but is
o DissertaIons, theses and technical reports rarely worth ciIng.
o Patents o Your learning may be built on a wider literature, but the
arguments in your write-up should be based on knowledge
o Technological standards that is from a refereed source.

15 16

NMR 4
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Digital Libraries and Search Engines EecKve Reader


Many sources for published research in A researcher reading a paper is not studying for an
Computer Science exam; there is rarely a need to understand every line.
Skim through a new paper to idenIfy the extent to
which it is relevantonly read it thoroughly if there is
o ACM Digital Library, Google Scholar, IEEE likely to be value in doing so.
Xplore Digital Library etc If it is important for your research, make the eort to
properly understand the details, but always beware of
o Important to carefully consider the origins of details that may be wrong, or garbled.
every resource you use
See Three-Pass Approach to read a paper (week 4)

17 18

Three-Pass Approach Too Liale to Work with?


This is common and there is no single
cause
o A narrow research topic
Second pass
Gives you a Helps you o A specic theme within a suciently broad
general idea Let you grasp understand the
about the the papers paper in depth. research topic
paper. content, but
not its details.
First pass Third pass Consider the scope and focus of your
literature review

19 20

NMR 5
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Too Much to Work with? Common Piballs Example 1


It is easy to become overwhelmed by EXAMPLE: We present the first results that
useful informaIon show...
o Consider what is crucial to aim of what youre
wriIng PROBLEM: You need be sure nobody else has
o Just how close is the research youve found to presented results that show the same thing - and
your own? results are correct!

Consider the scope and focus of your SOLUTION: Apply scienIc rigour and read
extensively
literature review

21 22

Common Piballs Example 2 Common Piballs Example 3


EXAMPLE: We definitely answer a long- EXAMPLE: The main contributions of [X], a paper that
standing open question relating to the is critical to the work presented in this paper, were
related to the development of a scheduling algorithm for
verification of computer programs.
commodity clusters. Scheduling algorithms, such as
those proposed in [Y] and [Z] are important in many
PROBLEM: Denitely? Really? No more research ler applications.
to do for that quesIon then? Maybe thats true...
Maybe! PROBLEM: Lots of words but very li^le being said

SOLUTION: Focus on important points of relevant research


SOLUTION: Appraise honestly and write with
precision
23 24

NMR 6
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Common Piballs DissertaKon Literature Review


Omisng seminal research DissertaIons focus on making a research
MisrepresenIng the research of others contribuIon
o Must show an appreciaIon of work related to
Under / over-staIng your own contribuIons
this contribuIon
Focusing on irrelevant aspects of exisIng
research
Your dissertaIon is more than just a
ExpecIng the reader to be familiar with a
literature review
parIcular paper
o A (very important) chapter of your dissertaIon

25 26

Assignment 2

Literature review of a research topic

Choose a research topic from the list provided or contact me to seek


approval for a specific research topic.

You may focus on any aspect of the research topic you choose.
For example, if you select Social Network Analysis then you may choose
Assignment 2 to write your review on a specific topic, e.g., hidden friendship detection,
the current state-of-the-art with respect to analysis algorithms or anything
else directly related to the research topic.

2,500-3,000 words (2-3 pages, IEEE 2-column style)

Module Credit: 25%

Deadline: Monday noon Week 9 (28 Nov)

27 28
CS908 Research Methods

NMR 7
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Assignment 2 - Suggested Topics Assignment 2 - FAQ

Social Network Analysis Can I choose any research topic and any aspect of that topic?
Machine / Deep Learning You can either select a topic from the list of suggestions or agree one with me. Within your
topic you can focus on any areas you choose.
High Performance / Cloud Computing

Data Mining / Big Data / Data Aanlytics Do I have to write it in LaTeX? What file format should I use for my final
submission?
Image Analytics You may use any authoring tools but your final submission must be in PDF format.

Bioinformatics / Computational Biology / Biomedical Imaging


I already know what my dissertation project will be, can I write my
Computer Vision / Image Processing / Pattern Recognition / Biometric Recognition literature review on that research topic?
You may write your literature review so that it relates to your dissertation, provided you
General-Purpose Computing on Graphics Processing Units (GPGPU) agree the topic with me in advance, though you should remember that you will be expected
Quantum Computing to write a much more detailed literature review for your dissertation, i.e., you can not simply
reuse Assignment 2.
Recommender Systems

Cloud Computing What are you looking for in my literature review?


We are looking for you to demonstrate that you understand how to go about critically
Theoretical Computing / Complexity Analysis / String Matching Algorithms thinking about existing research and have understood the issues raised in the lectures.

CS908 Research Methods 29 CS908 Research Methods 30

PresentaKons in Week 10
Choose a suitable research paper in the Computer
Science/ Data AnalyIcs discipline

You cannot use the paper you chose for Assignment 1,


but you can use an appropriate paper read by you for
Assignment 3 PresentaKon Assignment 2 (Literature Review) or any other paper

Have a back-up of your talk on an USB sIck (in case
there is an issue with connecIng your laptop)

PresentaIon Timetable (coming soon)

31 32

NMR 8
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Session Plan
This Session (week 8): Research Planning
o Research quesIons, constraints and project scoping
CS908 Research Methods o Risk management and research strategy

Next Session (week 9): Developing a Research


Prof Nasir Rajpoot Proposal
Department of Computer Science o Content, focus, scope and relaIonship to a research
Department of Pathology, UHCW NHS Trust project
o Q&A with Dr Alex Tiskin
Research Planning
Week 8 25 Nov, 2016 Slide credits: Dr Yulia Timofeeva
2

What is a DissertaNon?
A dissertaNon is a parNcular kind of academic task.
You will be required to:
suggest/select a topic (by yourself or by choosing
from the suggested topics),
develop a research quesIon, Choosing a Research Topic
eecIvely plan your research,
be organised and methodical while conducIng
your research
write-up what you did and what your ndings were.

3 4

NMR 1
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Choosing a Topic Choosing a Topic Some SuggesNons


Some of you might have an idea about a Read exisNng literature: set aside some Ime to
possible research project with a clear spend in the library, skimming through the Itles
research quesIon. of research papers in your eld over the past few
years, and reading the abstracts of those you
nd most interesIng.
Many of you might have several ideas, but
with no specic quesIon. Look through the dissertaNons of previous
students in the department: the topics may give
It is a common situaNon to be in you inspiraIon, and they may have useful
suggesIons for further research.

5 6

Choosing a Topic Some SuggesNons


Think about your own interests: which topic
have you found most interesIng, and is there an
element that could be developed into a research
project?
IniNaNng Research
Be extra criNcal: is there something in your
module so far that you have been skepIcal
about, or which you think needs further study? IdenIfying Terms and Concepts ..

7 8

NMR 2
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

IniNaNng Research IdenNfying Key Terms & Concepts


Before we can ask a research quesNon we need You may already have a level of familiarity
to understand relevant concepts and o Read more and discuss what you know to be
terminology important
You may have no idea what you need to know
o How can you ask a quesIon without the right o Read more, develop understanding and discuss what
language? you think to be important
Read relevant/recent literature to inform your
o A solid understanding of key concepts and understanding of key terms and concepts
terminology can help to pose and address research o The term cloud compuIng would have been almost
quesIons meaningless 10 years ago

9 10

What is a Research QuesNon?


A quesIon to be addressed by a research
undertaking.

Try describing it as a research problem that sets


out:
Research QuesNon(s) the issue that you are going to be invesIgaIng;
your argument (what you want to prove, disprove,
or explore);
the limits of your research (i.e. what you are not
going to be invesIgaIng).

11 12

NMR 3
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Developing a Research QuesNon Posing a Research QuesNon


Once you understand key terms and concepts, you
might have a specic goal or recognise an
Clarity and accuracy
opportunity

Goal-oriented
AssumpIons
o We need to improve X, how can we do this?

Opportunity-oriented Outcomes posiIve and negaIve


o Nobody has considered changing X to do Y
and Z, shall we?

13 14

Research QuesNon for a DissertaNon


IdenIfy a research quesIon that you nd
interesIng and address it through the
applicaIon of scienNc rigour
Addressing more quesIons does not always lead
to a beeer research project scienIc quality is Project Scoping
the main concern

You may nd that many research quesIons arise


or that you cant narrow things down to one
quesIon
15 16

NMR 4
CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Project Scope DissertaNon Scope


Establishing the project scope Important to discuss this with your supervisor
It is easy to come up with a well posed research
quesIon that would take you many years to
o Is vital for the success of any research project
address
You appreciate your own strengths and
o Constraining the focus of a project to research weaknesses
quesIons that can be addressed given all
research constaints You should always try to conduct signicant
research but its also important to appreciate
research constraints

17 18

Research Constraints Working with Constraints


Research is always undertaken with There can be a trade-o where constraints are
constraints in place: exible
o You may be able to acquire experIse given Ime
o Resources o Resources can oien reduce the Ime taken by
o Time research
o ExperIse Working with inexible constraints more tricky
o And a bit of luck .. o Recognising inexible constraints early is vital
o You should be willing to revise your research
problem as you nd out more about the
constraints of your project

19 20

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

StarNng Research Planning


Research planning is challenging even with
experience
o IdenIcaIon of key terms and concepts results
from reading, understanding and experience
Research Planning o The idenIcaIon of research quesNons does not
always follow from understanding exisIng work -
analysis and insight required
o Analysis and rigour are the best tools for working
with constraints to establish an appropriate
project scope

21 22

Role of Your Supervisor Role of the Supervisee


Supervisors are there to help you shape your Be organised to get the most out of your supervisor:
ideas and give you advice on how to conduct the agree a Imetable of meeIngs at the start of your project and sIck to it;
make sure that each meeIng has a focus e.g. selng a research
research for your dissertaIon. problem, analysing the data;
send something that can form the basis of a discussion about your
progress to your supervisor before each meeIng. This could include
your research plan, early results of your data collecIon or drai
They are not there to teach you the topic you chapters;
have chosen to invesIgate: this is your project. turn up on Ime to each meeIng you have arranged. Do not assume that
They are, however, one of the resources that your supervisor is available at all Imes to see you;
you can call on during your research. at the end of each supervision agree some acIon points for you to focus
on before the next Ime you meet; and
keep a record of what you decide in supervision sessions.

23 24

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Research Focus
Forming a Hypothesis ..

25 26

Forming a Hypothesis QuesNoning a Hypothesis


Hypothesis: A proposed explanaIons for some InteresIng scienIc and philosophical quesIons
phenomena can be asked when confronted by a hypothesis
o To what extent does the hypothesis t with
ScienIc method is fundamentally concerned exisIng knowledge?
with the formulaIon and tesIng of hypotheses
o Is the hypothesis based on observaIon and
reason?
Important to form testable hypothesis based on
reasoning and observaNon o Isnt the simplest explanaIon the most likely?

27 28

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

TesNng a Hypothesis TesNng a Hypothesis Methods


ScienIc validity is linked to the testability of a Many hypothesis tesIng methods
hypothesis and the process behind the tesIng that o ObservaIon and measurement
hypothesis o MathemaIcal proof
The method by which a hypothesis could be tested o AnalyIcal modelling
may follow from the formulaNon of the hypothesis o SimulaIon

IdenIfy precisely what is necessary and sucient to


evaluate the validity of a hypothesis
Your chosen approach will be inherently specic
to the research problem/quesIon
o This will determine and be the focus of your research
approach

29 30

TesNng a Hypothesis Write-up


People may not be familiar with the raIonale
underpinning a hypothesis or appropriate
methods for tesIng it

o Be clear about the raNonale of your hypothesis tesIng Risk Management


o It is typically possible to state what must be shown in
order for a hypothesis to be supported or rejected

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Why Consider Risk? What is at Risk?


Risk is inherent in almost all projects PotenIally the success of your project
o Time - invested and planned
Research projects are a parIcular concern
o Budget and resources - spent and allocated
o Unknown outcomes
o ReputaIon
o Unforeseen intermediate circumstances
o Technical challenges and unfamiliarity
o PotenIal for future work

o Changing environments
o NegaIve results

33 34

Project Risk Management Step 1: Risk IdenNcaNon


Risk management is an established process IdenIfy potenIal threats to project goals
o May be based on milestone outlines, analysis
o IdenIfy, assess and then miIgate in order of
priority of sub-goals or rigorous consideraIon of
project acIviIes
o To minimise the impact of potenIal issues and
exploit potenIal opportuniIes, i.e., reduce the
Rigour and sensibility rather than
risk of missing out on value
considering all possible eventualiIes

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Step 2: Risk Assessment Step 3: Risk MiNgaNon


Assess vulnerability to idenIed threats in Take steps to reduce risk associated with
order to establish a risk-level for every vulnerabiliIes
idenIed threat o MiIgaIon performed in order of risk-level
o Address most severe risk-levels rst
o Risk-level capable of ordering idenIed threats

o Typically focus on probabiliIes of foreseeable Rigorous consideraIon of potenIal


circumstances, criNcal resource failures and miIgaIng steps
research process issues o CircumvenIons, back-ups, alternaIves and
more

37 38

Risk Management A Summary


1. IdenIfy potenIal threats to project goals
2. Assess vulnerability to idenIed threats in
order to establish a risk-level for every
vulnerability
Work Plan
3. AcIons to reduce risk associated with
vulnerabiliIes, giving priority to threats
with the highest risk-level

39 40

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

What is a Work Plan? Why Plan?


An expression and jusIcaIon for a set of Planning and jusIfying the unknown is
acIviIes to be undertaken as part of a research impossible, but AcNon without planning is
project fatal, but planning without acNon is fuNle
Goal is to focus aeenIon on key acIviIes to be
completed in the foreseeable future Nature of working plan may evolve with a project
o CriIcal during the early stages of a research project
o WPs are crucial starIng points for research
More than just a project schedule projects but arent set in stone
o ConsideraIon of many research planning acIviIes

41 42

Whats in a Work Plan?


Outline of acIviIes and foreseeable
milestones
o Clear descripIon of research
o ElucidaIon of scope and project constraints
o Risk management

43

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Session Plan

Q&A with Dr Alex Tiskin


CS908 Research Methods
Developing a Research Proposal
Prof Nasir Rajpoot
o Content, focus, scope and relaIonship to a research
Department of Computer Science project
Department of Pathology, UHCW NHS Trust
Research Proposal Slide credits: Dr Yulia Timofeeva
Week 9 2 Dec, 2016
2

Research Proposal Session Plan


Research proposal due on
Thursday 16 Feb 12 noon (week 6 of Term 2)

Youll need to have a good idea about the project


youre taking on before you can write a good
research proposal

Explore about dierent research interests in the


department
Your project counts for a large part (60 CATS) of your degree

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Project Roadmap What Should You Do?

Consider your interests in computer science

The weeks ahead are critical to your dissertation Interesting topics you ve encountered?

Project selection / negotiation Research areas you re familiar with?

Supervisor relationship Project ideas that appeal to you?

Research planning and initiation

Talk about your ideas with academics in the department

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 5 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 6

Department of Computer Science Human Centred Computing

Strong connections with the ATI and WDSI


Roughly 40 active research staff across 4 divisions
Intelligent and Adaptive Systems
Social Media Analytics
Mobile Technologies
Computer Science Education
Health Informatics
Interests in a variety of areas within each research group
Smart Cities

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 7 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 8

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Methods and Applications Systems and Software


Innovating at the intersection of computer science theory Innovating at the intersection of computer science theory
and applications to multiple disciplines and application in order to deliver technology across
Computational Neuroscience established research fields

Computational Pathology High Performance and Scientific Computing

Computational/Systems/Synthetic Biology Business and Internet Computing

Digital Forensics and Multimedia Analysis Communication Networks and Data Science

Intelligent and Adaptive Systems Fault Tolerant and Reliable Systems

Machine Learning and Text Mining Parallel and Distributed Computing

Involved with the ATI and MathSys CDT Associated with CUSP and WISC

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 9 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 10

Theory and Foundations Your Own Research Ideas

Strengths in many topics of theoretical computer science, You don t have to rely on the ideas of academic staff as a
including: starting point for your project
Algorithm Design and Analysis,
Complexity Theory, Logic,
Staff are always happy to support you in developing your
Automata and Formal Verification own research ideas and even developing a wider agenda

Understanding fundamental problems in CS, and design Have you encountered a research topic you are interested in?
of mathematical tools & better algorithms to solve them

Affiliated with the Centre for Discrete Mathematics and


its Applications (DIMAP) You may find that your ideas fit well with ongoing research

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 11 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 12

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

External Research Ideas I Do / Don t Know Which Project

Don t panic!
Encouraged - provided the focus is on research

Developing a successful research project is a process


Consultation with your supervisor is essential

Keep reading, talking and thinking about your interests

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 13 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 14

The Next Steps What Happens Then?

Once you have agreed on a project or some specific area


then you should begin to see how the content of CS908
fits with a real research project
Once you have a good idea or bunch of ideas, it s
important to talk with potential supervisors

Are they interested?


Feasibility?
Framing your research ideas?
Research proposal

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 15 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 16

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

The Research Proposal - Purpose

Demonstrate research planning

Providing content for the project you are undertaking


Identifying the main aims of your research project
Developing a research proposal
Demonstrating an understanding of important existing research
Content, focus, scope and relationship to a research project
Discussing your proposed approach to achieving aims
Outlining project considerations - timeline, constraints etc...
Convincing your reader of your understanding

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 17 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 18

Your Research Proposal - Content Your Research Proposal - Focus

Detailed report

What you have done and what you intend to do


Self-contained sections
Both are required for a compelling research proposal

Comprehensible to a peer outside the research field


Clearly focus on research questions you have identified

More on specific structure later

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 19 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 20

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Your Research Proposal - Scope Your Research Proposal - Possible Structure

Not necessarily a deeply technical document


1. Introduction - Background, Aims, Problem Statement...

2. Related Work / Existing Research


More than an executive summary of what you intend to
3. Research Methodology (Techniques, Data Source(s) etc)
do
4. Project Management - Timeline, Constraints, Risk...

Often best to limit to background, your research questions 5. Progress


and project aims, your understanding of related work, the
6. Conclusion
processes you may use and aspects of research planning

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 21 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 22

The Research Process Marking of a Research Proposal

Remember that you re framing the research process Deadline: week 6 of Term 2 (submit a .pdf via
Tabula)
1. Define a research question

2. Gather information Carries 40% weight


Marked by me & your supervisor
3. Form a hypothesis
Marks will be moderated by a third person.
4. Test the hypothesis

5. Analyse test data Technical content: 70%


Presentation of your written work: 30%
6. Draw conclusions
Marking criteria: see the next slide
7. Publish results

8. Re-test No word limit (8-10 pages)

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 23 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 24

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CS908 (Autumn 2016)

Assessment Criteria Research Proposal Your Research Proposal - Problems?

If you think you may have a problem with the


Is the problem clearly stated? development of your proposal you should speak to your
supervisor, or personal tutor if you don t have one yet,
Is it clear that this problem hasnt been solved in the immediately
literature, or not solved in this way?

Is the research methodology clear and viable?


The issues we have covered are general, itll be important
Is the Project Plan (time management, risk etc) clear and to learn more about the requirements of the area in which
feasible? you ll be working

Evidence of any progress made already? Your supervisor, peers and other academics can help here

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 25 CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 26

Your Research Proposal - Helpful Tips

Your supervisor will use this document to see whether the


project is making good progress or heading for disaster

Be clear and concise in your writing


Be honest and upfront about the work you have done

Your research proposal will help when writing your dissertation

Start early, think carefully and focus on research issues

Use what you ve learnt in CS908

CS908 Research Methods - Developing a Research Proposal 27

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