April 2008 Archives

Summary on "Methdology matters: Doing Research in the Behavioral and Social Science":

This article highlights three points for research in the behavior and social science. The first point is that all methods have limitaions. Hence, any set of results is limited. The second point is that it is not possible to maximize all desireable features of method in any one study and thus tradeoffs and dilemmas are involves. The third point is that each study must be interpreted in relation to other evidence bearing on the same questions.  This article also illustrats that each piece of information gained through those techniques is not certain and not general. Each piece information is contigent on other information and can only be viwed in the context of the accumulated body of information.

Summary on "Writing Good Software Engineering Research papers":

This article highlights that a good software engineering research paper should answer a number of following questions. The first is: what, precisely, was your contribution. The second is what is your own results. The third is why should the reader believe your results? and the last one is that what concrete evidence shows that your result satisfies your claim. The main point is that how to convince readers using your own results. Those results may be piece information, and thus should be interpreted in an accumulated context.

Compare between them:

Both in social science and software engineering, it is importance to organize your findings or results to convince your readers. Those findings and results may be piece information and need to be accumulated in a certain way to present to readers. So the same problem faced by both social science and software engineering are how to organized seperated results and findings to an accumulated context.

reference:

[1] Joseph E. Mcgrath, "Methdology matters: Doing Research in the Behavioral and Social Science",1994

[2] Mary Shaw, "Writing Good Software Engineering Research papers", IEEE Computer Society, 2003

Summary on "The science of Doing Good":

This article introduces that science and technology transfrom the practice of humaniarian aid. This article introduces the advatanges brought by the development of science and technology. Information technology, satellite imaging and research carried out in disaster-relief areas have begun to transform humanitarian aid into a more efficient and less haphazard endeavor. Take the war in Kosovo as an example, the author present that judicious deployment of computer and communications technology, DNA analysis and social science survey technology have greatly assisted the multitude of aid organizations that arrive on the scene in location people who need help, as well as avoiding duplication of efforts and labors. Further more, with the expandition of web access to the poorest areas, endangered remote villages may one day gain early warning of impending attackes, enabling evacuations or expediting calls for help. However, this article also said that the failure of using communications equipment by aid officials may exacerbate the inherent chaos of a crisis.

Summary on "I, Robot ":

I, Robot is a science fiction film produced in the United States, filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and released on July16 2007. The tone of the movie is based on the Asimov's Robot stories.  This movie is a kind of reflection of modern popular culture, particularly with respect to science fiction and technology. Human's fear comes from the fact that our own evolution to be static, while intelligence tools progress. The emergence of artificial intelligence has made it possible for human beings challenged by the man made creatures with high intelligence.

Comparison: These two articles are both about the impact of science and technology on our modern society. Science and technology themselves are neutral. The impact of them on our society, whether good or not,  is decided by ourselves.