Weekly Topics

Week 1 - March 29, 2011
Topics Resources Assignments/Reading
Presenters: B. Mobasher
* Course Introduction.
* What is academia?
* What is research?
* PhD in Computer Science.
*  Class Notes
* How to be a good graduate student
*  O'Leary's Graduate Study Survival Guide
*  What They Don't Teach You in Graduate School (4 Parts)
*  Advice on Research and Writing
*  Take a look at the readings in the column to the left and The resources available on the Resources page.
*  Rank and submit classroom topics for weeks 4-8
*  Start looking for a topic for your Research Proposal.
Week 2 - April 5, 2011
Topics Resources Assignments/Reading
Presenters: B. Mobasher
* Starting the research process: problem formulation.
* How to write - and review a research paper.
* Ethical considerations in research and publishing.
* Doing a Literature Review.
*  Class Notes
*  Elements of Scientific Papers & Proposals
*  Guidelines on Research Practice in Computer Science
*  How to Review
*  Reviewing a Manuscript for Publication
*  Chapters 1-3 of Leedy & Ormrod (LO). Please also read the article: Is Computer Science, Science, by Peter Denning. Be prepared to discuss it in class.
*  Paper review assignment is available. First draft due: April 23.
Week 3 - April 12, 2011
Topics Resources Assignments/Reading
Presenters: B. Mobasher
* Planning the Research Design.
* Writing a Research Proposal.
* Basics of logical argumentation,  logical Fallacies, and validity.
*  Class Notes
*  Beginners Guide to the Research Proposal
*  Guide to Writing a Funding Proposal
*  Proposal Writing Short Course
*  Introduction to Validity
*  Logical Fallacies and Fallacy Files.
*  Chapters 4-6 of LO.
*  Read the article: A Guide to Increased Creativity in Research: Inspiration or Perspiration?. Be prepared to discuss in class.
*  Read: Guidelines on Research Practice in Computer Science. Be prepared to discuss in class.
*  Abstracts of Research Proposals Due (April 16).
(Submit via CourseOnline)
Week 4 - April 19, 2011
Topics Resources Assignments/Reading
Presenters: Simon Hughes, Miaoqi Zhu
* The Scientific Method.
* Overview of Research Methodologies and Designs: Qualitative versus Quantitative Research; summary of different designs.
*  Internal Validity
*  The Scientific Method Today
*  Research Methods Knowledge Base:
- >> Language of Research
  >> Design
  >> Internal Validity
*  Research Methods Tutorials
*  Chapter 5 of LO.
*  Read the article: Should Computer Scientists Experiment More? by Walter Tichy. Be prepared to discuss in class.
*  First Draft of Paper Reviews Due April 23.
*  Class Notes
* Scientific Method
* Qualitative v. Quantitative 
   Methods
Week 5 - April 26, 2011
Topics Resources Assignments/Reading
Presenters: Mehdi Mirakhorli, Yuet Ling Wong
*  Evaluation Methodologies
*  Experimental Standards
*  Reliability and Construct Validity
*  A Research Project Example
- Secure Personalization
- NSF Grant Proposal
*  Wake Up and Smell the Coffee: Evaluation Methodologies for the 21st Century
*  Reliable Research: Towards Experimental Standards for Computer Science, by Justin Zobel
*  Research Methods KB:
  >> Construct Validity
  >> Reliability
  >> Levels of Measurement
*   
*  Class Notes
Evaluation, Reliability, & Experimental Standards
Week 6 - May 3, 2011
Topics Resources Assignments/Reading
Presenters:  Yubin Li, Ahmad Alnafoosi, Negar Hariri
*  Quantitative Research Methodologies: Descriptive Research; Experimental & Ex Post Facto Designs
*  Guest presentation:
Prof. Cynthia Putnam
*  Research Methods Knowledge Base:
- >> Experimental Design
  >> Sampling
*  Chapters 9, 10 of LO.
*  2nd Draft of Paper Reviews Due on May 8.
*  Class Notes
* Ex Post Facto Designs
* Descriptive Research
* Experimental Designs
 
Week 7 - May 10, 2011
Topics Resources Assignments/Reading
Presenters: Brian Grey, Ali Alkhafaji
*  Statistical Techniques for Analyzing Quantitative Data: descriptive and inferential statistics; conclusion validity.
*  Guest presentation:
Prof. Jane Huang
*  Research Methods Knowledge Base:
- >> Conclusion Validity
  >> Analysis
*  Chapter 11 of LO.
*  First Draft of Research Proposals Due (May 15).
*  Class Notes
* Statistical Techniques
Week 8 - May 17, 2011
Topics Resources Assignments/Reading
Presenters: Kathryn Wozniak, Yong Zheng
*  Writing a Research Report: Organization and Style. Writing a PhD Dissertation
*  Professional/Research Ethics and Responsibility
*  Discussion of presentations and Proposals (This part presented by Bamshad Mobasher).
 > Proposal Presentations
> Notes on Writing & Styles
 
*  The Thesis Writing Process
*  Writing and Presenting Your Dissertation
*  How to Organize Your Thesis
*  How to Write a Dissertation
*  How to Write a PhD Thesis
*  Writing and Empirical Journal Article
*  Professional Ethics
*  On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research
*  ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
*  Chapter 12 of LO.
*  Class Notes
* Writing a Dissertation
* Ethics in Research
Week 9 - May 24, 2011

Research Proposal Presentations  (5:50-7:00 & 7:30-8:30)
01. Simon Hughes
02. Miaoqi Zhu
03. Yuet Ling Wong
04. Yubin Li
05. Brian Grey
 
 Max. presentation time: 20 Minutes
  • 15 minutes => Presentation
  • 5 minutes => Q & A
  
Week 10 - May 31, 2011

Research Proposal Presentations (5:50-7:00 & 7:30-8:15)
06. Ahmad Alnafoosi
07. Negar Hariri
08. Mehdi Mirakhorli
09. Ali Alkhafaji
10. Kathryn Wozniak
11. Yong Zheng

Class Wrap Up
Max. presentation time: 20 Minutes
  • 15 minutes => Presentation
  • 5 minutes => Q & A

  Final Draft of Research Proposals Due : Tuesday, June 7