research

1

CS 630 Residency Research Report Instructions

03/13/20 – 03/15/20

The Residency Research Report (RRR) consists of two separate submissions.

1. Writing the Research

Topic Selection:

 Once the main topic is selected, be sure to narrow the research focus

 Find a problem that you will focus on (Introduction-->Problem Statement)

For example:

Main topic: Software Engineering and Software Development Models

Research focus: The Effect of Agile Teams on Software Productivity

 Determine at least TWO questions that you will focus on in the research solution

(Introduction--> Research Questions)

CU Research Report Guide

 The structure of the paper MUST follow the guide. The guide can be found in the Research Report

Help section.

 Include All sections

1. Front Matter - Title page, blank Approval page, Abstract, blank Acknowledgement page, Table of Contents, List of Figures (if necessary), List of Tables (if necessary)

2. Chapters 1 - 5 3. Appendices (if necessay) 4. References (as per APA)

APA Formatting Guidelines

 The structure of the paper MUST follow APA guidelines. Examples can be found on this

website: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide

/general_format.html

 The important APA formats include the following

1. In text citations 2. References (with the hanging indents) 3. Page numbers 4. Font style and size 5. Tables and Figures inclusion (must add sources as per APA) 6. Headings and subheadings format

2

 Individual submission RRR#1 requires you prepare a detailed research outline (MS Word) based on the topic selected (200 points max)

o Format/Layout:  As per CU Research Report Guide  APA guidelines

o Due 03/13/2020

 Individual submission RRR#2 requires a report discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the topic selected (300 points max)

o Format:/Layout  As per CU Research Report Guide  APA guidelines

o Due 03/21/2020

Late assignments will not be accepted. Posting must occur in the appropriate area of Moodle.

Hardcopy, email, etc. will not be accepted.

Topics:

Select one of the following research areas to investigate:

1) Software Engineering and SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)

2) Software Engineering and Software Development Models

3) Software Engineering and Data Verification

4) Software Engineering and Data Validation

5) Software Engineering and Software Quality

6) Software Engineering and Data Analytics

3

Research Format:

 Review the CU Research Report Guidelines in Moodle

o File can be found in the Research Report Help section under General

Important Student Notes:

 Each student submission will be checked for plagiarism. Be warned thatTurnitin has a very good historical memory and is capable of accessing reports from both

internal and external resources (i.e. Universities, Governments, etc.) including

those originally written in non-English written languages. Plagiarism will result

in a grade of zero (non-negotiable) for the assignment and may results in

other university actions. The department chairperson will be notified of the

violation. Additional Campbellsville University penalties may be applicable.

Please see class syllabus for additional details.

 Acceptable file formats for submissions include Microsoft Word (doc, docx). No other formats are acceptable.

 The research paper (#2) must be at least 2,500 words as supported by evidence (citations from peer-reviewed sources). Note: the research should be thorough

and exhaustive.

 A minimum of five (5) peer-reviewed journal citations are required.

 APA guidelines must be followed

 Formatting should be double-spaced, one-inch boarders, no extra space for headings, no extra white space, no more than two levels of heading, page numbers,

front and back matter).

 Extra white space use to enhance page count will negatively affect student grade.

Document Details

This area provides additional details about the content of each of the needed

Research Report Chapters (5). The final submission should include DETAILS

of each of following:

1) Chapter 1 – Introduction

2) Chapter 2 – Literature Review

3) Chapter 3 – Methodology Specifics (comparative analysis)

4) Chapter 4 – Findings and Results

5) Chapter 5 – Conclusion and Future Recommendations

6) References - APA

4

Chapter 1

Introduction

In this section, present enough information about the proposed work such that

the reader understands the general context or setting. It is also helpful to include

a summary of how the rest of this document is organized.

Problem Statement

In this section, present a concise statement of a research-worthy problem

addressed (i.e., why the work should be undertaken – don’t say required for the

class). Follow the statement of the problem with a well-supported discussion of

its scope and nature. The discussion of the problem should include: what the

problem is, why it is a problem, how the problem evolved or developed, and the

issues and events leading to the problem.

Goal

Next, include a concise definition of the goal of the work (i.e., what the work

will accomplish). Aim to define a goal that is measurable.

Research Questions

Research questions are developed to help guide the authors through the

literature for a given problem area. What were the open-ended questions asked

and why did the student find (or not find) them adequate.

Relevance and Significance

The student should consider the following questions as they read through an

article stating how the author(s) supported, or left unsupported the evidence,

relevance, and significance of their research literature:

Why is there a problem? What groups or individuals are affected?

5

How far-ranging is the problem and how great is its impact? What’s the benefit

of solving the problem?

What has been tried without success to correct the situation? Why weren’t those

attempts successful? What are the consequences of not solving the problem?

How does the goal of the study address the research problem and how will the

proposed study offer promise as a resolution to the problem?

How will the research add to the knowledge base?

What is the potential for generalization of the results?

What is the potential for original work?

Barriers and Issues

In these paragraphs, identify how the problem is inherently difficult to solve.

How did the solution the author(s) propose address the difficulties?

Chapter 2

Literature Review

In this section, it is important to clearly identify the major areas on which the

student will need to focus the student research in order to build a solid

foundation for the study in the existing body of knowledge. The literature

review is the presentation of quality literature in a particular field that serves as

the foundation and justification for the research problem, research questions or

hypothesis, and methodology. The student will develop a more comprehensive

review of the literature as part of the research.

Chapter 3

Approach/Methodology

This chapter includes a summary of how the student is going to proceed with

the evaluation of the problem statement and associated research question(s).

6

Given the short time of this course, a compare / contrast or advantage /

disadvantage analysis is recommended

Chapter 4

Findings, Analysis, Synthesis

Include an objective description and analysis of the findings, results or

outcomes of the research. Limit the use of charts, tables, figures to those that

are needed to support the narrative. Most of these illustrations should be

included as part of the Appendix.

The following topics are intended to serve as a guide:

Data analysis

Findings & discussion

Analysis

Synthesis

Discussion

Chapter 5

Conclusions

Conclusions - Clearly state the conclusions of the study based on the analysis

performed and results achieved. Indicate by the evidence or logical

development the extent to which the specified objectives have been

accomplished. If the research has been guided by hypotheses, make a statement

as to whether the data supported or rejected these hypotheses. Discuss

alternative explanations for the findings, if appropriate. Delineate strengths,

weaknesses, and limitations of the study.

7

Implications - Discuss the impact of the work on the field of study and its

contributions to knowledge and professional practice. Discuss implications for

future research.

Recommendations - Present recommendations for future research or for

changes in research methods or theoretical concepts. As appropriate, present

recommendations for changes in academic practice, professional practice, or

organizational procedures, practices, and behavior.

References

Follow the most current version of APA to format the references. However,

each reference should be single-spaced with a double space in between each

entry.

Formatting Details

Margins

The left-hand margin must be 1inches (4 cm.). Margins at the right, top, and

bottom of the page should be 1.0 inch. (See exception for chapter title pages

below.) The Research Report text may be left-aligned (leaving a ragged right

edge) or may be both left- and right-aligned (justified).

Line Spacing

Double-spacing is required for most of the text in documents submitted during

the Research Report process.

Paragraph Spacing

The text of the document is double-spaced. There should be no extra spaces

between paragraphs in sections; however, indent the first line of each

paragraphs five spaces.

Page Numbering

All pages should have page numbers in Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand

corner.

8

Type Style

The body text, the student should use 12-point Times New Roman. Text for the

cover page may be larger but should not exceed 14-point size. Text for the

chapter title text should be 14-point size. Be consistent in the use of typefaces

throughout the document. Do not use a compressed typeface or any settings on

the word processor that would decrease the spacing between letters or words.

Sans serif typefaces such as Helvetica or Arial may be used for relatively short

blocks of text such as chapter headings and captions but should be avoided in

long passages of text as they impede readability.

Title Page

Every document that is submitted must have a title page. The title page includes

the exact title of the research report, date of submission, the team name, and the

name of each team member.

Chapter Title Heading, Subheadings, and Sub-Subheadings

It is required that submitted Research Report use no more than three levels of

headings in the body text. All headings should have only the first letter of each

word capitalized except that non-major words shorter than four letters have no

capital letters.

Instructions for heading levels follow:

Level 1: Chapter Title Heading

This heading starts two inches from the top of the page, is centered on the page,

and is set in 14point type. The first line contains the chapter number (e.g.,

Chapter 4). The second line is blank. The third line displays the chapter title, is

centered on the page, and is set in 14-point type.

Level 2: Subheading

Start the subheading at the left margin of the page, four spaces (i.e., two returns

when the document is set for double-spacing) down from the title, set in bold

9

12-point type. Double-space (one return) to the subheading body text. Indent

the first line of the body text five spaces.

Level 3: Sub-Subheading

Start the sub–subheading at the left margin of the page, double-spaced (i.e., one

return when the document is set up for double-spacing) from the subheading,

set in 12-point italics. Double-space (one return) to the sub-subheading body

text. Indent the first line of the body text five spaces.