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Research Methodology

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Research Methodology

The course «Research Methodology» aims to introduce postgraduate students to the principles, stages, and practices of scientific research, with a particular emphasis on their application in the field of Cybersecurity. Its objective is to cultivate students’ ability to design, implement, and document research projects of high academic quality, whether theoretical or applied in nature. The course serves as a foundation for conducting the master’s research thesis, enhancing understanding of scientific ethics, data analysis, and the critical approach to literature.

Main Topics
  • Privacy rights & global regulatory frameworks
  • GDPR — principles, obligations & compliance
  • Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA)
  • Privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs)
  • Organisational privacy governance
  • Technical data protection measures

The General Competences that students should have acquired include:

  • Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information using the necessary technologies
  • Adapting to new situations
  • Decision-making
  • Working independently
  • Working in an interdisciplinary environment
  • Production of new research ideas

Based on the above, upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

  • Identify the types and stages of the research process
  • Select the appropriate methodology according to the research problem
  • Formulate suitable hypotheses and objectives
  • Search for, select, and evaluate research sources
  • Use tools for organization and citation
  • Develop a research plan according to specific goals
  • Apply data collection techniques
  • Analyze and visualize data
  • Apply thematic analysis
  • Follow ethical principles in research
  • Write and format scientific texts
  • Create and deliver oral presentations
  • Write and present complete research proposals

Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Understand the concept, objectives, and role of research in computer science and cybersecurity
  • Comprehend methodological approaches and how to apply them
  • Familiarize themselves with the structure and elements of a research problem
  • Understand the role of the literature review
  • Familiarize themselves with standardized practices of bibliographic documentation
  • Understand the types of research design
  • Become acquainted with data collection and verification procedures
  • Understand the basic principles of statistical analysis
  • Understand qualitative methodologies
  • Familiarize themselves with the institutional and ethical framework of research
  • Understand the principles of academic writing and presentation
  • Understand the structure and logic of a scientific presentation
  • Comprehend the structure and content of a research proposal

Students will be able to:

  • Connect the research process with real-world problems in the field
  • Analyze problems and define the research scope.
  • Apply systematic documentation.
  • Design a complete research protocol.
  • Select appropriate tools and ensure data quality.
  • Draw conclusions from quantitative data.
  • Combine qualitative and quantitative findings.
  • Develop a responsible research attitude.
  • Present complex information with clarity and substantiation.
  • Communicate and defend research results to a specialized audience.