When trying to adhere to program requirements of another discipline (or educational department), not only must the new method be learned and understood how the method is useful to prove theories or test hypothesis’ in advanced topics, but also whether or not it can be applied to the specific field of study. Some methods were created before the creation of the Internet, and aren’t always the best way to present data being collected, compiled, and used. Even the question as to whether or not the Technology discipline is connected to the American Psychological Association (APA) standards, or some other institutional board that has determined the methods are to be used in all disciplines pursuing philosophical study or dissertation, it must be designed using those methods, yet few studies of similar nature are available for peer review or use in developing new research. Not only does the application and use of the method have to be learned and evaluated for application to the scientific study area of computer science, but at what level, degree, or angle.
In a well designed and organized research study, the specific variables or data elements would be determined and a database designed to track the data; or to manage the structure of the study to organize and categorize to effectively present correlation and other related studies beyond using just keywords. Students are left to design their own.
For survey data, electronic forms are available that improve the presentation of data, but minimal solutions have been given that offer form field data compilation and data analysis features and there are no standard survey data that can identified as useful studies of value for re-occurring collection and long term evaluation. This is why we are unable to truly solve critical problems using longitudinal standardized studies. Once the student has completed its study and presented it, the research is over; not selected as an ongoing necessity where money is invested in technology to create long term studies and impact reports; proving the research was so important and should continue and grow beyond simple data points to truly solve the problems.
Podcast: Account Management and Research Methods of an Obvious Problem