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Processes, Techniques, Models and Practices Part I - Introduction Prof. Dr. Vu Duong
Director & Chair of Systems Science
Course Objectives
Through theoretical lectures, classroom exercises and personal mini-research project, the course aims at introducing:
The different characteristics of the typical procedures and models related to the selection and the execution of a scientific research topic. The models and techniques to help research students solving the practical problems often encountered in scientific research, typically:
Where am I? and Where am I going? or How can I do / reach that?
Pedagogy (1)
Scientific Research, a Doctoral degree? Yes, but what for? And How? Clarify some myths across the typical research process, allowing research-students and young researchers to handle a research topic with methods and confidence. Develop Scientific Spirit through lectures about history and philosophy of sciences, and ethical aspect of scientific research as part of the Scientific Method.
Pedagogy (2)
Method or Methodology?
Discuss certain technical aspects of the methods often used in technological and scientific research. Independently from the particularities of scientific and/or technologic disciplines. Understand the practices of scientific research e.g. how long would it normally takes to define and design an experiment, or how to work in a team, and how to avoid the chaos at certain moment.
Course Syllabus
Emphasizes on the details so-called important for a beginner in scientific research:
Defining research subject, Writing research proposal, Formulating or modeling the research problem, Experimenting or demonstrating research analysis (experimentation and data analysis). Writing reports and papers to scientific conferences,
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A pragmatic view: scientific research can be approached as problem solving: Problem Definition, Hypothesis, Approach for Solving Problem, Experimentation and Feedback, Conclusion but scientific problem is different from engineering problem. (discussion)
Categories of Research
Methodology: Empirical vs. Theoretical Research Applicability: Fundamental vs. Applied Research Locality: Academic vs. Industrial Research
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Phn 1
V vic hc cao hc v nghin cu khoa hc
(from talks at HCMUT 2007, ICT-Hanoi 2007, and some writings)
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Bn cht ca o to sau i hc
Bn
cht ca o to thc s l hc
Hc l vic chuyn tri thc con ngi bit thnh tri thc ca cc c nhn hoc t chc. i hc: hc cc tri thc chung ca ngh; Thc s: hc cc tri thc chuyn su ca ngh. Thc s l ngi tinh thng ngh nghip (master, tude approfondie).
Bn
Nghin cu l vic tm v to ra cc tri thc mi v c ngha bi cc c nhn hoc t chc. Tin s l ngi bit lm nghin cu, v ch yu lm vic nghin cu.
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Bn cht ca o to thc s l hc
Chng trnh thc s ph bin trn th gii
Hc hai nm vi tn ch Nm u ch yu hc cc mn cn thit (khong 10 mn, phn ln t chn) Nm th hai ch yu cho vic rn luyn
seminar, reading, hot ng ca lab lm ti nghin cu, vit v bo v lun vn.
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Xa iu kin ca B GD-T:
01 bi bo tp ch quc t, mt vi bai hi ngh quc t 01 bi bo tp ch trong nc
Rt nhiu lun n lm ng dng thay v nghin cu c bn hay ng dng Kt qu ch yu cng b cc tp ch hay hi ngh trong nc.
(http://vietnamnet.vn/khoahoc/vande/2006/01/532815)
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Nhn thc ca cng chc hnh chnh v vic sp xp li b my ca c quan chuyn mn trc thuc y ban nhn dn cp tnh, thnh ph Nhn thc ca thanh nin nng thn v cht lng cuc sng gia nh hin nay Nghin cu nhu cu in nh ca sinh vin Pht huy vai tr ca tri thc ngnh y t Vit Nam trong cng cuc i mi. Lch s pht trin gio dco to An giang (1975 2000)
http://www.hed.edu.vn/TrangChu/LuanAnTienSi/TomTatNhungDiemMoi/
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Ton b nhng th lin quan n tnh ton, t cu trc my tnh n cc h thng thng minh, ngi my, n thut ton v l thuyt tnh ton.
(computer science)
(software engineering)
K ngh my tnh
(computer engineering)
Thit k v xy dng cc h my tnh, cc h thng da trn my tnh (hardware)
(information technology)
Gn gii php ca CNTT vo cc qu trnh kinh doanh, tc nghip qua vic xy dng cc h thng thng tin ca t chc (ch trng phn thng tin)
Computing Curriculum 2005 (IEEE & ACM)
(a) Tt c mi th (b) Cng ngh my tnh vn hnh v pht trin cc h thng thng tin ca t chc (ch trng phn cng ngh)
CC 2005: http://www.computer.org/portal/cms_docs_ieeecs/ieeecs/education/cc2001/CC2005-March06Final.pdf Before 1990s, in North America: computer science, electrical engineering, and information systems
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computer engineering
(K ngh my tnh)
computer science
(Khoa hc my tnh)
software engineering
(K ngh phn mm)
Peril and Promise: Higher Education in Developing Countries, World Bank & UNESCO
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ng dng: Dng tri thc bit gii quyt cc vn thc t. Trong ICT
Nghin cu c bn c th nhanh chng chuyn vo nghin cu ng dng Nghin cu ng dng c th nhanh chng chuyn thnh sn phm ng dng c khp ni
(http://vietnamnet.vn/khoahoc/vande/2006/01/532815)
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S bi bo tp ch quc t 10 nm
Areas # papers Res. Institutions Universities Citation avg Mathematics 300 144 121 1.4 Theoretical Physics 131 100 31 2.4 Experimental Physics 40 16 24 1.6 Technology 42 25 9 0.8 ICT 38 19 11 1.3 Materials Science 36 9 27 1.8 Medicine 36 28 8 2.3 Chemistry 32 28 4 1.2 Agriculture 23 15 8 1.7 Polymer 19 14 5 1.1 Mechanics 17 15 1 2.6 Social science 14 12 2 0.2 Environmental science 13 13 0 4.1 Biology 10 9 1 1.3 Earth science 9 8 1 0.5 Pharmacy and drug 1 0 1 4 Management science 1 1 0 0 Others 36 Total 798 Source: Phm Duy Hin, http://vietnamnet.vn/khoahoc/vande/2006/01/532815/ (1995-2004: 3236) Nguyn Vn Tun: http://www.tiasang.com.vn/news?id=2166 (1996-2005: 3456)
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In 2001-2002
Chulalongkorn # Articles # Citations Articles in Math & Physics 302 948 15 VNU-HN 25 63 21 VNU-HCM 8 13 7 Rate (Chula/ VNUHN+VNUHCM) 9.15/1 12.47/1 0.53/1
Method or Methodology?
The scientific methods used in research are fundamentally different from The scientific research methodology.
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Method or Methodology?
Research Methodology concerns the study of scientific methods, whose objective is to improve the procedures and the criteria used in the conduct of scientific research. [4] Method deals with the evaluation and the selection of alternative techniques. [4] A technique is a sequence of particular actions; A tool is an instrument, physical or conceptual, e.g. mathematical tools used in problem modeling. We focus on the techniques and tools that may assist young researchers in their scientific approaches.
[4] Russell L. Ackoff, Scientific Method, John Wiley & Sons, 1962, p. 6.
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Discussion
Example of a methodology
Example of a method
Example of a model
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An understanding of the scientific method is essential for success and productivity in science. Hugh Gauch (2003) Professor at Cornell University
Scientific Method in Practice Cambridge University Press
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What is Science?
A branch of knowledge conducted on objective principles involving the systematized observation of and experiment with phenomena (facts or occurrences that are perceived), especially concerned with the material and functions of the physical universe.
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What is Science?
Conant, J.B. (On Understanding Science: An Historical Approach. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1951) defined science as a connected series of theories and concepts derived from observation and experimentation that can lead to further experimentation and observation. Science, therefore, can be viewed as the process of searching for explanations, or for the causes of events, and it is defined by its method: the scientific method.
James Bryant Conant (1893 - 1978) was a chemist, educational administrator, and government official. He was instrumental in the early career of Thomas Kuhn, whose The Structure of Scientific Revolutions has been extremely influential for the various fields of science studies.
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Goals of Science
Discovery of Regularities
Description of Phenomena. Discovering Laws. Law - a statement that certain events are regularly associated with each other in an orderly way. Search for Causes.
We often overlook the real cause, Some events are just coincidences, Sometimes the real cause is another event correlated with the suspected cause, Cause cannot happen after their effects.
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Goals of Science
The ultimate goal of science is the development of a theory to explain the lawful relationships that exist in a particular field. E. Bright Wilson, Jr.
laws, usually including one indirect concept needed to explain the relationship. Falsifiability - property of a good theory that is capable to disproof. Theory must be testable. Role of Theories: organising knowledge and explaining laws; predicting new laws; guiding research.
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Philosophies of Science
The process of scientific thinking depends both on making careful observations of phenomena and on inventing theories for making sense out of those observations. (AAAS, 1989)
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Scientific Method
Science started with the observation of the nature [1] and by the belief that the observed phenomenon can be explained [2] through an abstraction socalled scientific. People had thought that sciences could be nobler if She could explain all phenomena and problems using only one generalized, prescribed procedure. For long time, scientists and philosophers had tried to formulate such a procedure, popularly known under the label scientific method. The so-called recipe had been assumed capable to govern all aspects of scientific research. Nowadays, everybody recognize that the process to respond to scientific problems is lots more subtle than a prescribed procedure, recipe, or technique. Sole problem: The Rose [3] !
1. [Martin Goldstein et Inge Goldstein, How We Know Plenum Press 1979 p.19] 2. [W. Beveridge, The Art of Scientifique Investigation W. Norton, 1957, p. 87] 3. [Shakespeare, Hamlet, p.? ]
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Scientific Method
The original scientific method, also called Cartesian Method, was proposed by Rene Descartes in the XVIIth. Its main tenet was that the entire world could be understood in terms of machines, and its main approach was divide-and-conquer: 1. Analyse: to divide any concept or thing, preferably into 2 parts, and to keep subdividing until reaching clear and distinct parts; 2. Synthesis: to reassemble the parts bottom-up to create a whole; and 3. Validation: to do an overall audit to ensure the process was used properly.
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Scientific Method
Formal experimental science came later as an outgrowth of the broader Cartesian methods of inquiry. Usually, one has to analyze the data collected and come up with a new hypothesis and start the process all over again.
The Discourse on the Method is a philosophical and mathematical treatise published by Ren Descartes in 1637. Its full name is Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason, and Searching for Truth in the Sciences. It has been one of the most influential works in the history of modern science.
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Scientific Method
Science is a process for: ! systematically collecting and recording data about the physical world, ! then categorizing and studying that data ! to infer the principles of nature that best explain the observed phenomena." Definition agreed by 72 Nobel laureates in 1986 according to www.answersinscience.org/What-Is-Science.htm
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Hypothesis in Science
Hypothesis A statement that is assumed to be true for the purpose of testing its validity. The statement must be one that is either true or false. A scientific hypothesis must be capable of empirical testing and, as a result, empirical confirmation or disconfirmation.
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Debugging:
1. Identify the malfunctioning in your program (bug) you want to fix. 2. Make a guess as to what the program is doing to cause the bug. 3. Conduct a test to see if the guess is correct. 4. If the test contradicts the guess than revise it or replace it with a new guess and go back to step 3.
Discussions
Difference between Scientific Method and Debugging:
The scientific method looks at many data points and tries to construct a general theory to cover them; Debugging looks at a single data point. Experiments in scientific method require modelling and simulations to test the hypothesis. Sometimes the contradictions between the experiments and the hypothesis come from the errors in modelling and incompleteness in simulation environments. Other points?
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An orderly technique of investigation that is supposed to account for scientific progress. The method consists of the following steps: (1) careful observations of nature. (2) Deduction of natural laws. (3) Formulation of hypotheses - generalization of those laws to previously unobserved phenomena. (4) Experimentation or observational testing of the validity of the predictions thus made. Actually, scientific discoveries rarely occur in this idealized, wholly rational, and orderly fashion. (The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy,
3rd Edition, E.D. Hirsch, Jr. , J.F. Kett, and J. Trefil, editors 2002.)
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History - Empiricism
The Edwin Smith Papyrus (circa 1600 BC) details the examination, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of numerous ailments. Evidence of traditional empiricism appears also in the Ebers papyrus (circa 1550 BC) that prescribed diseased demons and superstition.
The Edwin Smith Papyrus is the world's earliest known medical document, written in hieratic around the 17th century BCE, but thought to be based on material from a thousand years earlier. It is an ancient textbook on trauma surgery, and describes anatomical observations and the examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of numerous injuries in exquisite detail. (Wikipedia)
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Plato (Greek: , Pltn, "wide, broad-browed") (428/427 BC 348/347 BC), was a Classical Greek philosopher. Together with his teacher, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the philosophical foundations of Western culture.
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repeating cycle of observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and the need for independent verification.
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Francis Bacon in Novum Organum (1620) attempted to describe a rational procedure for establishing causation between phenomena. He argued that scientific theories (or rather axioms) should remain as close to the facts as possible. His method made progress The lesser axiom in this case should be rooted in experience obtained under stringent experimental conditions.
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The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not
Ren Descartes (French IPA: ['ne de'kat]) (March 31, 1596 February 11, 1650), also known as Renatus Cartesius (latinized form), was a highly influential French philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and writer.
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clearly know to be such; that is to say, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to comprise nothing more in my judgement than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of methodical doubt. The second, to divide each of the difficulties under examination into as many parts as possible, and as might be necessary for its adequate solution. The third, to conduct my thoughts in such order that , by commencing with objects the simplest and easiest to know, I might ascend little by little, and, as it were, step by step, to the knowledge of the more complex And the last, in every case, to make enumerations so complete, and reviews so general, that I might be assured that nothing was omitted.
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Discussion
Both Bacon and Descartes wanted to provide a firm foundation for scientific thought that avoided the descriptions of the mind and senses. Bacon envisaged that foundation as essentially physical and factual, whereas Descartes trusted to logic and mathematics. Are these suffice as foundation for scientific thought?
??
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mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the scientific revolution.
(/njutn/)(1643 1727) was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, and alchemist. His treatise Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion, laying the groundwork for classical mechanics, which dominated the scientific view of the physical universe for the next three centuries and is the basis for modern engineering. He showed that the motions of objects on Earth and of celestial bodies are governed by the same set of natural laws by demonstrating the consistency between Kepler's laws of planetary motion and his theory of gravitation, thus removing the last doubts about heliocentrism and advancing the scientific revolution.
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Discussion
Why such rules? Why Newton also left an admonition about a theory of everything: To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age. This is much better to do a little with certainty, and leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things.
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These attempts to systematize a scientific method were faced with the Problem of Induction, which points out that inductive reasoning is not logically valid. David Hume set the difficulty out in detail. Karl Popper argued that a hypothesis must be falsifiable.
Boole (1815-1864)
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Jevons (1835-1882)
Hume (1711-1776)
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Confusing enough?
If you are not confused by what is: Science? Scientific Method? History of Science and Scientific Method? Philosophy of Science? Then wed need to restart again! Else, Go to the next slide.
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The quality of a scientific investigation depends also on the mental aptitudes of the researchers performing the activities. These fundamental aptitudes include creativity, objectivity, logical clarity, curiosity, scrutiny, facility to analyze and synthesize, etc.
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Study and discuss, Recognize possible problems, Collect data; observe and describe, Analyze a given problem, divide it into sub-problems, Model a problem, Set-up an experimental environment, Formulate hypotheses, Deduce consequences, make a decision (experiment), Conduct experimentations, analyze results, test hypotheses, Develop theoretical descriptions, Write reports and/or papers, Communicate thoughts, idea, and obtained results.
Help others!!!
(2). Process
3 major phases: Collecting information (literature search) and formulating research topic / hypotheses. Conducting research (modelling, simulation, testing, collect and analyze results). Writing reports, communicating results and problems.
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Bibliographic Search
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Conducting Research
Experimentation Observation
Evaluation
Reporting
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Conducting Research
Simulation Testing Experimentation Observation Data Analysis Finalize Problem Planning Modeling the Problem Expected Model Match? Evaluation
Communication Reporting
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Conducting Research
Example 1: If the objective of the research concerns the development of a new, particular electronic component, the investigators would have elaborated a model of the component. When the development has progressed, a continuous evaluation of the real thing wrt. the model is performed. If both match, we can conclude that the investigation is successful. Example 2: If the objective was the precise measurement of a particular fundamental constant in the field of quantum physics, the model could be the portrait of the physical phenomena. The experiments in this case would imply a series of procedures for data collection rather than design issues.
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Research Methods
Relatives to different categories of data: Method Historic documentary research, Descriptive Synthesis observational derivation, Analytical Synthesis quantifiable statistics, Experimental Method uncertainty analysis. Discussion: What are the methods most used in scientific and technical research? Why?
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Publishing Results
Often considered as success criteria for a research. One publishes principally:
The results of the investigation, The obtained progress during the investigation. Relating to: The proposed theoretical model, The theory verified/evaluated by the investigation, The method or approach to resolve the problem, The analysis of collected data, The critics on the models or theories or methods proposed in the literature or public domain.
In brief, we publish discoveries (new elements of knowledge) contributing to the public corpus of knowledge of the field. Publication cab be either at scientific conferences (proceedings of the conferences) or in specialized journals where discoveries are challenged to panels of reviewers, experts in the field.
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Important Elements
Teamwork Murphys Law: Nothing can be done individually. All discoveries are the fruit of teamwork. Research based upon a theory: Very interesting in terms of obtained results. Consists in the formulation of problem aiming at testing or validating / invalidating a theory in a particular domain. In a simplistic manner, a theory concerns the explanation of the behaviors of a physical event. The more powerful a theory is, the more capable it is to explain, in details or/and in diverse cases, the events or behaviors of the phenomenon to which it applies.
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Required Capabilities
Different mental aptitudes are required for different stages of scientific research process: Creativity is needed in the development and clarification of a research topic. Basically in the quest for a well formulated hypothesis. Creativity = capacity to think in an imaginative and intuitive manner. Objectivity, Logic, and Reasoning with clarity is needed in the design of experiments; in the observation and evaluation of data obtained from experimentations.
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Observation
Example: Fibonacci Series F i+1 = F i-1 + F i A series of integers, each number is the sum of the two numbers that precede its order. The first two numbers being 0 and 1. The first terms are: 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,..
Fibonacci, or Lonard de Pise, celebrity mathematician for having studied the works of the algebraist Abu Kamil and for having introduced, after a comparative analysis between different systems, the Arabic Calculus and the Hinduism Calculus methods.
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Observation
Golden Section or division of a segment by mean and extremes
R = 0, 618 034
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Observation
If we consider in the Fibonacci series the ratio between an iterm to the i+1-term, we find:
1/2 = 0, 500 000 3/5 = 0, 600 000 8/13 = 0, 615 385 21/34 = 0, 617 647 55/89 = 0, 617 978 144/233 = 0, 618 026
One can note that the resulting values approach the golden number R = 0, 618 534 In such manner, the Fibonacci series is intimately linked to the golden number in the sense that the ratio of its successive terms tends to R when these terms grows in the series. This relationship is the baseline of the infamous Fibonacci Rectangles, and of the so-called Logarithmic Spiral whose surprising schemas are uncovered in +90% of structures of natural vegetables. How could this mystery uncovered or How can we discover this nature?
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Questioning
Questioning all a-priori judgments, Collective judgments of scientists, when theres a substantial agreement, constitute the corpus of sciences. However, there have been cases where universal agreement was obtained upon erroneous foundations. This case occurs more often with generalization than with observation of the structure or phenomenon of the nature. It would be wise to know how to question the facts, the theories or structures that support the research by using as many evidences and neutral interpretation methods as possible. Itd be possible that some facts could be demonstrated to be wrong in the future, but theres no other means.
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Open Mind
Always ready to learn new things, The pleasure to learn is part of the nature of a researcher. Taoism philosophy: Theres always someone who possesses more knowledge on any topic. Even on a topic that youre a master. Always ready to communicate your understanding of the problem, Vocation or obligation? Communication is an integral part of the job. Debates always provoke more ideas. Attention: to use with moderation!
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Synthetic Mind
Synthesis helps analysis, and vice-versa, Synthesis triggers a better organization of thoughts and viceversa, A good organization of thoughts is sine qua non for communication, and that: Communication plays a very important role in research; Murphys Law: Suppressing one every two words of a text, then you would be surprised!
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Capacity to Analyze
Analysis is necessary in all stages, but the need is more crucial when you face with difficulty. Problem solving capacity requires priori the aptitude to understand the problem from a large number of angles or viewpoints. Knowledge acquired from studies is normally used in problem solving where expression of problem has been transformed according to performed analysis. Clarity in analysis, and the taste on essential viewpoints to the resolution of a problem, is the proof of this capacity.
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