Research Methods and Project Management 2023 - 2024

Research Methods introduces graduate students to basic ideas about conducting a personal research program. Students will learn methods for reading technical papers, selecting research topics, devising research questions, planning research, analyzing experimental results and synthesizing broader theories.

The course will be structured around the following activities: lectures on research strategy and tactics, statistical methods, and experimental design; discussions of technical papers; and preparation and review of written assignments. Significant reading, reviewing, and writing will be required, and students will be expected to participate actively in class discussions.

The first section pertains to knowledge relating to understanding the research process in Informatics and Multimedia. In this section, lectures will address and hone into research categories (fundamental research, applied research, experimental / industrial research, etc), will discuss the foundational knowledge demanded in each category, working assumptions and basic themes for research, as well as the value of research as an educational tool and its value in adding into the known knowledge corpus and supporting societal development.

The second section covers existing methodology approaches and the design of research (formal methodologies using statistical techniques, qualitative methodologies such as field studies, ethnography, etc). In addition, the distinction is made between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies uncovering their complementarity in the framework of project management, the stages of the project and the programmed controls and checkpoints.  A specific section is devoted to the topic of design science on information system research.

The third section discusses techniques for undertaking research per thematic region – mainly through focused presentation of the research lines of the various laboratories.  In addition the validity of collected data will be discussed as well as the documentation of results and their presentation to different target groups.

Finally, since research is a process in which a variety of methodologies are employed, in the third part of the course the emphasis will be on issues related to the Management of the Research process.  Hence emphasis will be given on understanding key concepts and methodologies of successful project management.

By the conclusion of the specified learning activities, participants of this course will demonstrate their ability to:

• Understand the process of scientific research (the scientific process).
• Differentiate between the different types of research and be able to select the most appropriate for their research task.
• Choose sources of information appropriate for the type of research being conducted.
• Choose the methodology that best suits the type of investigation being conducted & appropriate to the research objectives.
• Produce effective reports, adhering to conventional styles, presenting evidence from the data, & exploiting visual representations.
• Make research proposals, taking pertinent factors into account.
• Understand key concepts of successful Project Management.
• Identify appropriate roles in research project management & produce realistic costing.

Course Keywords: Types and Methods of Research, The Scientific Process, Project Management