This assignment is an Interim Report for the Research Methods module (7COM1085). The purpose of the report is to demonstrate that the research team has identified a suitable Computer Science research topic and developed a systematic literature review protocol that can be used for the final dissertation or research project. Students are required to formulate a clear and well-justified research question, define the associated PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) elements, create an IEEE Xplore Boolean search strategy, and establish appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria for selecting academic literature. The report must also provide background information on the chosen research area and justify the importance of the research question using relevant scholarly sources. The interim report should follow a structured academic format consisting of an Introduction, Background, Literature Review Protocol, and Bibliography. Students must use Harvard referencing throughout the report and ensure that all citations are properly integrated within the text. The report should demonstrate consistency between the research question, search strategy, and selection criteria while maintaining a professional academic presentation. The main body of the report must not exceed 500 words, although supporting materials such as search results, screenshots, and other evidence may be included in appendices. The assignment is designed to assess students' understanding of research methodologies, systematic literature reviews, critical analysis of academic sources, and their ability to design a rigorous research protocol for a Computer Science investigation.
Megaminds has supported academic requirements in research methods (computer science / systematic literature review) and related disciplines.