Prospectus

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Research Methods in Computer Science

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Not applicable.

Description

In this course, students practice their skills in scientific research. In particular, how to formulate research questions, how write a research proposal, and how to present scientific work. The lectures cover topics such as setting up research, plagiarism, and scientific communication, both verbal and written.

Students receive an paper in groups, a selection is made from a large list at the beginning of the semester.

  1. A two-page summary should then be prepared in a prescribed format; this is improved until the teachers consider it sufficient,
  2. Based on this article, a research proposal is written,
  3. Students will then evaluate the research proposals of other students in a peer review,
  4. During the semester, students must attend at least one scientific presentation and formulate an insight from this presentation,
  5. At the end of the semester, students will briefly explain the paper they summarize and their proposal in a presentation

Timetable

You will find the timetables for all courses and degree programmes of Leiden University in the tool MyTimetable (login). Any teaching activities that you have sucessfully registered for in MyStudymap will automatically be displayed in MyTimetable. Any timetables that you add manually, will be saved and automatically displayed the next time you sign in.

MyTimetable allows you to integrate your timetable with your calendar apps such as Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and other calendar apps on your smartphone. Any timetable changes will be automatically synced with your calendar. If you wish, you can also receive an email notification of the change. You can turn notifications on in ‘Settings’ (after login).

For more information, watch the video or go the the 'help-page' in MyTimetable. Pleas note: Joint Degree students Leiden/Delft have to merge their two different timetables into one. This video explains how to do this.

Course Objectives

  • Concisely summary a research paper

  • Practice the skill of extending a scientific work with through the project proposal

  • Conduct peer review of another group's research proposal

  • Assess a scientific presentation by an established scientist

  • Give a convincing presentation in the setting of a scientific symposium

  • Participate in a scientific discussion on a presentation and ask critical questions

Mode of Instruction

Lectures
Coaching sessions

Assessment

If the average score for the five points mentioned is sufficient (summary (20%), research proposal (30%), peer review (20%), presentation insight (10%) and presentation (20%)), the student has passed the subject.

There is no resit for the presentation and presentation insight (no show = 0). All assignments must be submitted. Not submitting means no resit and 0 for the assignment.

Reading list

Not applicable

Registration

From the academic year 2022-2023 on every student has to register for courses with the new enrollment tool MyStudymap. There are two registration periods per year: registration for the fall semester opens in July and registration for the spring semester opens in December. Please see this page for more information.

Please note that it is compulsory to register for every exam and retake. Not being registered for a course means that you are not allowed to participate in the final exam of the course.

Extensive FAQ on MyStudymap can be found here.

Contact

Education coordinator LIACS bachelors

Remarks

Not applicable.