Research Problem and
Literature Review
Outline
1. Learn how to define a research problem in CS field.
2. Learn how to conduct a Literature Review.
How to Find Research Problems
• “There were two kinds of scientists: big-bone hunters
and small-bone hunters”
The biological anthropologist Loren
Eiseley
•
If Eiseley had been a programmer, he would have called this "bottom-up science."
http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jason/advice/how-to-find-research-problems.html
How to Find Research Problems
• Computer science includes many different kinds of
research efforts. You can contribute to one of these
1.
The smallest bone in CS
–
implementation of someone else's work.
–
Not original but useful to your education and to the
field.
Example : Implementation of an authentication
algorithm.
http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jason/advice/how-to-find-research-problems.html
How to Find Research Problems
2. A significant small bone
that improves a wellknown technique.
–
When reading papers, stay
on the lookout for such
bones. In particular, notice
when the author may be
making harmful
simplifications or arbitrary
choices in his/her
approach. These are
opportunities for you to try
something different.
.
http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jason/advice/how-to-find-research-problems.html
How to Find Research Problems
3.
(Medium Size Bone) Along the same lines, you might make a controlled
comparison of two or more algorithms
– Evaluating them by some objective measure of efficiency or accuracy.
– Designing a clean comparison does take thought, and carrying it out is
often a lot of work.
– Note that quantitative studies of this sort are becoming increasingly
important in some areas of CS (e.g., operating systems, machine
learning, natural language, algorithms).
– Example : Comparison between genetic algorithms and particle swarm
optimization
http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jason/advice/how-to-find-research-problems.html
How to Find Research Problems
4. Review the existing research in some area.
•
•
Note that this takes a good deal of time to do well, and is not likely to do
much for your career unless a lot of people read and cite your lit review.
Writing a lit review will make you
1.
An expert, able to talk confidently with other researchers in the area;
2.
it will give you an idea of the shortcomings of past research;
3.
and it may suffice for M.S.E. thesis, or the first part of a Ph.D. thesis.
Example
“Brain–Computer Interface Technologies in the Coming
Decades”
This paper focuses on using online brain–signal processing to enhance human–computer
interactions; it highlights past and current BCI applications and proposes future technologies
that will make significant expansion into education, entertainment, rehabilitation, and human–
system performance domains.
http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jason/advice/how-to-find-research-problems.html
How to Find Research Problems
5. Build a large program or device of some kind.
•
•
This gets you some name recognition
confirms your ability as a software engineer.
Ex; King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology’s SANAM
6. Identify various problems or issues as significant.
•
•
These often represent big bones in the skeleton of the field –
problems that arise often, and whose solution makes a difference.
How ?
•
•
Get to know some of these problems and the work that's been done on them.
If you see how to achieve the first-ever solution, or a better solution, or a different style of
solution, that's a big deal.
Example : 3D Gaze estimation. (vedio)
http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jason/advice/how-to-find-research-problems.html
How to Find Research Problems
7 . Big-bone Research
1. study important papers in your branch of computer science, flip through some conference
proceedings to see what people are working on
2. ask: What problems (recognized or unrecognized) are obstructing progress in my field? Can I
solve them? If not, can I at least formalize them? Can I prove to my colleagues that solving
them would make a difference?
http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jason/advice/how-to-find-research-problems.html
LITERATURE REVIEW
What is a Literature Review?
• A critical, analytical summary and synthesis of
the current knowledge of a topic
• Compare and relate different theories and
findings
• Should have a focus/theme to organize the
review
• Does not need to be exhaustive but should
cover significant, academic literature
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Organization of a Review
• Brief, but thorough, exploration of past and
current work on a topic
• Organized thematically, such as different
theoretical approaches, methodologies, or
specific issues or concepts
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Thematic Organization
• Makes it easier to examine
– contrasting perspectives
– theoretical approaches
– Methodologies
– Findings
• As well as to
– analyze the strengths and weaknesses of
– and point out any gaps in previous research
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Heart of a Literature Review
• May offer new interpretations, theoretical
approaches, or other ideas
• Must provide a critical overview of the current
state of research efforts
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Types of Literature Reviews
• Stand-Alone Literature Review Articles
– Overview and analysis of the current state of
research on a topic or question
– To evaluate and compare previous research on a
topic
– To provide an analysis of what is currently known
and to reveal controversies, weaknesses, and
gaps in current work—pointing to directions for
future research
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Stand-Alone Contents
• You can contrast theoretical approaches or
conflicting interpretations of findings
• Can you find evidence supporting one
interpretation vs. another?
• Or, can you propose an alternative interpretation
that overcomes their limitations?
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Types of Literature Reviews
• Research Proposal
– Points out current issues and questions
concerning a topic
– Demonstrates how your proposed research
will contribute to the field
– Convinces your thesis committee to allow
you to pursue the topic of your interest or a
grant funding agency to pay for your
research efforts
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Types of Literature Reviews
• Research Report in the Workplace
– Provides the context to which your work is a
contribution
– In addition to detailing the methods, results, etc.
of your research, your report should show how
your work relates to others' work
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Structure
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Abstract - Brief summary of the contents
Introduction - An explanation of the purpose of the study; a
statement of the research question(s) you intend to address
Literature Review - A critical assessment of the work done
so far on this topic—to show how the current study relates to
what has already been done
Methods - How the study was carried out (e.g. instruments or
equipment, procedures, methods to gather and analyze data)
Results - What was found in the course of the study
Discussion - What do the results mean
Conclusion - State the conclusions and implications of the
results; discuss how it relates to the work reviewed in the
literature review; also point to directions for further work in the
area
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
What is the Literature?
• The "literature" should be written by scientists and
researchers for scientists and researchers
• They may include:
– Academic, scholarly journal articles
– Books
–
–
–
–
Conference Proceedings
Dissertations
Patents
Standards
– Technical Reports
– Websites and other Internet Resources
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Information Cycle
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Primary Sources
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Lab Reports - Records of the results of experiments
Field Notes, Measurements, etc. - Records of observations of the
natural world
Conference Proceedings - Scientists getting together to present
their latest ideas and findings
Articles of Original Research – Published in peer-reviewed
journals
Dissertations
Patents
Internet - Websites that publish the author's findings or research
Note: use extreme caution when using the Internet as a primary
source … remember, anyone with a computer can put up a
website.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Secondary Sources
• Books, articles, and other writings by scientists
reporting their work to others
• They may be reporting the results of their own
primary research or critiquing the work of others
• These sources are usually the focus of a
literature review: this is where you go to find out
in detail what has been and is being done in a
field, and therefore to see how your work can
contribute to the field.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Tertiary Sources
• Summaries / Introductions - Encyclopedias,
dictionaries, textbooks, yearbooks, and other
sources that provide an introduction or summary
“state of the art” of the research in the subject areas
covered.
• Databases/Indexes - They are an excellent way
of finding books, articles, conference proceedings
and other publications in which scientists report the
results of their research.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Working Backwards
•Tertiary
–
Start by finding background information on
your topic by consulting reference books for
introductions and summaries.
–
Find bibliographies or citations of secondary
and primary sources.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Work Backwards
•
Secondary
–
–
–
Find books, articles, and other sources
providing more extensive and thorough
analyses of your topic.
Check to see what other scientists have to say
about your topic.
Find out what has been done and where there is
a need for further research. Discover
appropriate methodologies for carrying out that
research.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Work Backwards
• Primary
– Find primary source evidence to support or refute
what other scientists have said about your topic
– Or posit an interpretation of your own and look for
more primary sources
– Or create more original data to confirm or refute your
thesis
– When you present your conclusions, you will have
produced another secondary source to aid others in
their research
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
The Published Literature
• Peer Review
– When a scientist submits an article to an academic journal
or a book manuscript to a publisher, the editors/publishers
send copies to other scientists/experts in that field who will
review it
– The reviewers check to make sure the author has used
methodologies appropriate to the topic, used those
methodologies properly, taken other relevant work into
account, and adequately supported the conclusions, as
well as consider the relevance and importance to the field.
– A submission may be rejected or sent back for revisions
before being accepted for publication.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
The Published Literature
•
Informal Sharing
– In person or online, scientists discuss their
projects to let others know what they are up to
or to give or receive assistance in their work.
– Conferences and online forums (blogs, wikis,
etc.) are common ways for these discussions.
– Increasingly, scientists are using personal
websites to present their work.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
The Published Literature
• Conference Presentations
– Conferences are a place where scientists read
papers, or display at poster sessions to present
the results of their work.
– Scientists submit a proposal which is reviewed
by those sponsoring the conference.
– Some databases list conference proceedings
along with the author and contact information.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
The Published Literature
• Journals
– Contain specific analyses of particular aspects of a
topic.
– The contents are indexed in databases and elsewhere
so you can easily find them.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
The Published Literature
• Books
– Take a longer time to get from research to
publication
– They can cover a broader range of topics, or
cover a topic more thoroughly than articles or
conference presentations
– Search your library catalog for titles—Librarians
can show you how to search for books elsewhere
beyond simply Google Books
– You can request to borrow titles through the
Interlibrary Loan process usually at no cost
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
The Published Literature
• Dissertations/Theses
– Graduate students earning advanced degrees
write a substantial piece of original work and
then present the results as a thesis or
dissertation
– Usually, only the library and/or department at the
school where the work was done has copies of
the dissertation
– But once again, the library can usually get you a
copy of most dissertations at no cost
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
The Published Literature
• Websites
– In the process of tracking down articles and
conference proceedings, you’ll learn who the
better known scientists are in your particular
field of research
– Look for their personal websites to see if you can
find additional sources that you haven’t found
elsewhere.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
The Published Literature
• Reference Sources
– Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference
sources provide introductions or summaries of
the current work in a field
– These are usually written by a scientist and/or
publisher serving as an editor who invites
submissions for articles from experts
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Footnote Chasing
• Find key articles in encyclopedias, books, or journals
• Look for bibliographies at the end of the articles
• Then track down the articles—which may then lead
you to more articles that are related
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Writing the Literature Review
•
•
•
•
•
What is the purpose for the literature review and make sure
your review specifically addresses your purpose(s).
Write as you read, and revise as you read more.
Writing a summary of an article when you read it helps you to
think more carefully about the article.
Having drafts and annotations to work with will also make
writing the full review easier since you won’t have to rely
completely on your memory or have to keep thumbing back
through all the articles.
The first draft is for you, so you can tell yourself what you are
thinking. Later you can rewrite it for others to tell them what
you think.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
General Steps for Writing
•
Stage One: Annotated Bibliography
–
As you read articles, books, etc., on your topic,
write a brief critical synopsis of each.
–
Then you will have an abstract or annotation of
each source you read.
–
Later annotations are likely to include
references to other works since you will have
your previous readings to compare.
–
But at this point the goal is to get accurate
critical summaries of each individual work.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
General Steps for Writing
•
Stage Two: Thematic Organization
–
Find common themes in the works you read and
organize them into categories.
–
Usually, each work in your review can fit into one
category.
–
Sometimes a work can fit in more than one.
–
Write some brief paragraphs outlining your
categories, how the works in each category relate to
each other, and how the categories relate to each
other and to your overall theme.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
General Steps for Writing
• Stage Three:
More Reading
– Based on the knowledge you have gained in your
reading, you should have a better understanding
of the topic and of the literature.
– You have discovered specific researchers who
are important to the field or methodologies you
were not aware of. Look for more literature by
those authors, on those methodologies, etc.
– You may be able to set aside some less relevant
areas or articles which you pursued initially.
– Integrate the new readings into your literature
review draft.
– Reorganize themes and read more as
appropriate.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
General Steps for Writing
• Stage Four:
Write Individual Sections
– For each section, use your annotations to write a
section which discusses the articles relevant to
that theme.
– Focus your writing on the theme of that section,
showing how the articles relate to each other and
to the theme, rather than focusing your writing
on each individual article.
– Use the articles as evidence to support your
critique of the theme rather than using the theme
as an angle to discuss each article individually.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
General Steps for Writing
• Stage Five:
Integrate Sections
– Now that you have the thematic sections, tie them
together with an introduction, conclusion, and some
additions/ revisions in the sections to show how they
relate to each other and to your overall theme.
Writing a Literature Review | HCI Process and Theory Missy Harvey |
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~missy/WritingaLiteratureReview.doc
Literature Review
Literature Review
Literature Review
Literature Review