Although dramatic changes like the emergence of electronic libraries and academic search engines have bombarded the research front in recent years, little of the underlying research process has changed. Peer review and the role of archival publications remain as important as ever. Information technology research – a practical guide for computer science and informatics prepares students for research by enabling them to identify, observe and master the methods used in their particular fields of specialty.
This book is intended to guide students through the research process by studying existing research reports such as journal and conference papers, dissertations and theses. Exercises at the end of each chapter encourage students to learn from published reports and to think about applying various research methods to a research problem of their own. They also direct students to related topics that were not covered in the chapter.
Information technology research has been used successfully at a number of universities and universities of technology. It is targeted at senior students in any of the many branches of information technology, including computer science, informatics and information systems. New researchers outside a formal academic environment should also find this book useful.
Martin S. Olivier is a professor in Computer Science at the University of Pretoria. He has been rated as an established researcher by the South African National Research Foundation and acts as Research Coordinator for the School of Information Technology at the University of Pretoria. He holds a PhD in Computer Science as well as a BA (Hons) degree in Philosophy.