COS 4113 units400 LevelFirst Semester

Research Methodology and Technical Report Writing

B.Sc. Cybersecurity, University of Uyo

The rigorous methods for conducting and communicating academic and technical research: research types and approaches, scientific investigation and problem formulation, data collection instruments, and the structure of technical reports. Essential preparation for the Final Year Project.

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  • 2 recommended textbooks
  • an AI tutor that has read this course’s outline and notes
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Course outline

  1. 01Foundations, types, and approaches of research; significance of research
  2. 02Research methods versus methodology; the research process; criteria for good research
  3. 03Scientific investigation, problem formulation, and definition of the research problem
  4. 04Data collection: primary and secondary data; questionnaires and interview guidelines
  5. 05Research proposals, research plans, and hypothesis formulation and testing
  6. 06Literature review procedure and referencing cited works
  7. 07Sampling design: types and steps in sampling
  8. 08Methods of analysis: processing, interpretation, and presentation of results
  9. 09Types of reports; technical report writing, layout, and documentation standards

Recommended textbooks

  • Research Methods for Computer Science — Stuart Shapiro

    Focused on CS research specifically

  • Writing for Computer Science — Justin Zobel

    3rd ed. — the best book on technical writing in computing

How to pass COS 411

  • This course is CYB 497 (FYP) preparation — every lecture directly applies to your final year project
  • Use Zotero (free reference management software) to organise your literature from the start
  • Plagiarism software is used on all final year projects: understand what constitutes academic misconduct
  • Begin identifying your FYP topic in this course — approach your supervisor before the semester ends

Other 400 Level courses

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