access keys text only skip to navigation skip to content

Research Methods

Organised by Michael Zakharyaschev
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems
Birkbeck University of London

1  Aims

This is a short course on research methods for research in Computer Science and Information Systems. The course does not have any coursework but it is part of our training programme for research students and research staff.
Attendance is compulsory for all first-year research students, both full-time and part-time, as well as MRes students. Other research students and research staff are most welcome to attend.  The course will start on 18 October 2011 and will be held in Room 250 in the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems on Tuesdays, or in SHA07, Shakespeare College, 34 Bloomsbury Street, WC1B 3QJ on Wednesdays. The first lecture is followed by refreshments, giving an opportunity for students and staff to meet each other.

2  Outline of Lectures

Lecture 1:
18 Oct. 2011, 18:00-19:00, Room 250. Introduction (followed by drinks and snacks) - Mark Levene.
Topics covered: How to get a PhD. The CSIS Birkbeck PhD programme. Developing a research proposal. Planning your research. The wider community. Resources and Tools. Having a grounding in Computer Science. Career development.
 
Lecture 2:
26 Oct. 2011, 18:00-19:00, SHA07, Shakespeare College. Information Systems - Dave Wilson.
Topics covered: Ontology and epistemology of IS research viz-a-viz Research in Computer Science. Common Methods in IS Research: Case study, Action research, Ethnography. Mixing methods in a research project.
Lecture 3:
26 Oct. 2011, 19:15-20:15, SHA07, Shakespeare College. Data Research Methods in Computer Vision -  Steve Maybank.
Topics covered: image compression, the discrete cosine transform and its application to image compression, linear classification, the Fisher linear discriminant, Markov random fields and the application of MRFs to the updating of measurements using prior information.
 
Lecture 4:
1 Nov. 2011, 18:00-19:00, Room 250. Logic and Language Theory Part I - Peter Wood.
Topics covered: Automata and formal languages, with applications to database research.
Lecture 5:
1 Nov. 2011, 19:15-20:15, Room 250. Bioinformatics - Nigel Martin.
Topics covered: What is bioinformatics. Genomics and proteomics. Bioinformatics techniques and resources. Challenges for the computer scientist: biological data management, biological data analysis. Current research themes and approaches.
 
Lecture 6:
8 Nov. 2011, 18:00-19:30, Room 250. Logic and Language Theory Part II - Alex Poulovassilis.
Topics covered: Lambda calculus, domain theory, denotational semantics, functional programming, analysis and optimisation.
Lecture 7:
8 Nov. 2011, 19:45-20:45, Room 250. Machine Learning- Dell Zhang.
Topics covered: What is machine learning and how does it relate to other disciplines; Basic concepts and techniques of machine learning illustrated with examples; Various applications of machine learning.
 
Lecture 8:
15 Nov. 2011, 18:00-19:00, Room 250. Simulation - George Magoulas.
Topics covered: The computer simulation approach: Importance of models; What is simulation?; Time and randomness in simulation; Applications of simulation; How a simulation model works? : The process of simulation; The elements of a simulation model; Performing simulation studies; Examples.
Lecture 9:
15 Nov. 2011, 19:15-20:45, Room 250. Logic and Language Theory Part III - Roman Kontchakov.
Topics covered: Logical systems and complexity of reasoning.
 
Lecture 10:
23 Nov. 2011, 18:00-21:00, SHA07, Shakespeare College. Theoretical Computer Science - Trevor Fenner.
Topics covered: Design and analysis of algorithms. Computational complexity and computability. Formal models of computation. Mathematical models: discrete mathematics, graph theory, probability.
 
Lecture 11:
29 Nov. 2011, 18:00-20:00, Room 250. Ubiquitous and Pervasive Computing- George Roussos.
Topics covered: The ubiquitous computing paradigm, elements of ubiquitous computing, auto-identification, sensing, actuation, networking, trust, applications, conducting experimental research in ubiquitous computing.
 
Lecture 12:
7 Dec. 2011, 18:00-19:00, SHA07, Shakespeare College. What Makes Good Research in Software Engineering? - Keith Mannock.
Topics covered: Problem selection, research paradigm, and validation of results.
Lecture 13:
7 Dec. 2011, 19:15-20:15, SHA07, Shakespeare College. Empirical Research Methods in Software Engineering. - Keith Mannock.
Topics covered: Basics of Doing Research, Experiments, Case Studies, and Analysis Methods.
 
Lecture 14:
17 Jan. 2012, 17:00-18:00, Ground Floor, London Knowledge Lab, 23-29 Emerald Street, London, WC1N 3QS. Reviewing the Research Literature - Alex Poulovassilis.
Topics covered:  Finding out about your research area. Literature search strategy. Writing critical reviews. Identifying venues for publishing your research. Preparing and submitting research papers.
Lecture 15:
24 Jan. 2012, 17:00-18:00, Ground Floor, London Knowledge Lab, 23-29 Emerald Street, London, WC1N 3QS. Writing Papers and the Review Process - Alex Poulovassilis.
Topics covered: The conference review process. Making use of the referees' reports. Preparing and presenting your paper. The journal review process. Group exercise in reviewing research papers.
 
Lecture 16:
31 Jan. 2012, 17:00-18:00, Ground Floor, London Knowledge Lab, 23-29 Emerald Street, London, WC1N 3QS. Writing the PhD Thesis and the PhD Examination Process - Alex Poulovassilis.
Topics covered: Planning the thesis. Writing the thesis. Thesis structure. Writing up schedule. The Oral examination.