Research Methodology Essentials for Computer Science Students

1. Auflage 2027
ISBN: 978-1-041-37457-2
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 176 Seiten, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm

This book teaches computer science and software engineering researchers how to design, conduct, and report empirical research within their discipline, including formulating a viable research question, selecting a method, applying ethics, analysing data, and defending the results in a thesis or paper.

Readers follow a linear structure of ten chapters, beginning with foundational concepts, research designs, and quality criteria. They continue through specific methods, literature reviews, and statistics, into organising and writing an academic thesis. This is followed by two chapters devoted to evaluating AI-assisted research and empirically studying AI-based systems. The final chapter gives a dedicated exploration of research ethics that addresses computing-specific dilemmas, including repository and forum data consent, algorithmic fairness trade-offs, and the ethics of using AI in one's own research. Authors provide an extensive glossary of research-methods terminology tailored to computer science and software engineering. Each method and example is drawn from computing practice, not adapted from the social sciences, and more than thirty original decision-tree diagrams translate abstract methodological choices (such as picking a research design or a statistical test) into concrete, actionable guidance.

Written for PhD students, master's and bachelor's candidates, and early-career researchers in computer science and software engineering, the book equally suits supervisors and instructors looking for a single, computing-specific reference to recommend across a research methods course.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Haindl, Philipp

Eigner, Oliver

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Technik Allgemein Technik: Allgemeines
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Stochastik
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Informatik
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Forschung und Information Forschungsmethodik, Wissenschaftliche Ausstattung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Research Fundamentals 2. Research Designs and Approaches 3. Quality Criteria in Research Methodology 4. Specific Research Methods 5. Literature Search and Reviews 6. Statistical Fundamentals 7. Thesis Structure and Academic Writing 8. AI-Assisted Research Output 9. Researching AI-Based Systems 10.  Research Ethics

Über Autor(innen)

Philipp Haindl is a lecturer and researcher in software engineering at the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten. He holds a doctorate in computer science from Johannes Kepler University Linz and worked as a software architect in banking, insurance, media arts, and startups. He specialises in empirical and AI-assisted software engineering and runtime software analytics.

Oliver Eigner is a lecturer and researcher in IT security and Coordinator for AI and Digital Transformation at the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten. His work focuses on applied security research and the practical integration of artificial intelligence into teaching and research methodology.