NIT6130 Introduction to Research: Methodology, Analysis and Review

This assignment delves into the selection and justification of a suitable research methodology for an online voting system, specifically focusing on the Australian context. The student explores the problems associated with the current manual voting system, such as double-entry of results, delayed outcomes, and errors. The assignment compares and contrasts qualitative and quantitative methodologies, ultimately advocating for a hybrid approach that combines both. The chosen methodology aims to gather both statistical data and in-depth insights. The assignment includes a literature review, analyzing existing methodologies related to automated voting systems and biometric systems. The proposed methodology includes data collection from real users through surveys and questionnaires, followed by data analysis and system testing, to ensure the development of a reliable and effective automated voting system. The assignment also includes a framework that visually represents the stages of the methodology.

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
ASSIGNMENT-3: METHODOLOGY
by
Name:
Student ID:

Table of Contents
List of Figures...................................................................................................................................iii
List of Tables....................................................................................................................................iv
Chapter 1 Methodology......................................................................................................................1
1.1 Research Problem and Reorganized Collected Literature.........................................................2
1.1.1 Research Problem Statement.............................................................................................2
1.1.2 Reorganized Collected Literature......................................................................................3
1.2 Different Methodologies..........................................................................................................3
1.2.1 Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies.....................................................................3
1.2.2 Selected Methodology.......................................................................................................4
1.3 Review: Existing Methodologies..............................................................................................5
1.3.1 Elected Sub-Problem.........................................................................................................5
1.3.2 Analysis of the Selected Methodologies............................................................................5
1.3.3 Research Problem’ Relevance...........................................................................................6
1.3.4 Reviewed Methodologies’ Summary.................................................................................6
1.4 Proposed Methodology.............................................................................................................7
1.4.1 Identification and Justification..........................................................................................8
1.4.2 Benefits and Limitations....................................................................................................8
1.4.3 Framework........................................................................................................................9
...................................................................................................................................................9
List of References............................................................................................................................10
ii

List of Figures
Figure 1: Framework............................................................................................................................................9
iii

List of Tables
Table 1: Identified research problems.................................................................................................................3
Table 2: Summary of the methodologies reviewed.............................................................................................6
iv

Chapter 1
Methodology
This assignment’s purpose denotes recognizing an effective methodology for my selected
research, which relates to implementation of online voting system in Australia. The analysis
helps to determine the importance of establishing an online voting system and related valid
reasons. The later part of the research ensures to elaborate on the challenges that the country
might have been facing, for recommending the use of automated system.
This document’s structure is represented as follows- The initial section of the assignment refers
to a review, the reported existing methodologies’ analysis and summary in terms of collected
literatures. The literature review discussed about the biometric systems which are used in
various countries around the world. The review is conducted to know more about the electronic
system and how to increase the research’s results. Also various IT companies are consulted
related to the required resources for implementing the biometric system of voter registration.
Large data was collected for scrutinizing the significant facts, which also reflected positive and
negative impacts on the research. The other aim of this research includes, addressing the cited
risks and managing those risks.
In this assignment, the methodology utilized will be proposed for resolving the opted research
problem. Then, the second section of the assignment follows with the explanation of various
methodologies and suitable methodology for the opted research problems. Next, the third
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section refers to a review, where it analyzes and then summarizes the reviewed methodologies,
along with this it describes the relevance of the research problem. The final section delivers a
proposed methodology, which identifies the reasons for the problem, provides benefits and
limitations, and also provides the framework with appropriate explanation. Thus, this
assignment’s purpose includes, identifying a suitable methodology for my selected research
work.
1.1 Research Problem and Reorganized Collected Literature
1.1.1 Research Problem Statement
My selected research area is, the online voting system in the country like Australia. The country
practices manual voting system which is not effective and contains serious issues as follows-
twice entering the results which results in repeated counting of same data, prone to errors,
delayed results, loss of time and cost, and dissatisfied decisions. My research encounters these
problems and aims to resolve it using the automated system.
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1.1.2 Reorganized Collected Literature
Table 1: Identified research problems
Research Problem Sub problem Collected Literature
1st Problem  Use of manual voting
system.
 Double entry of
results.
 Dissatisfied decision.
Literature 1
Literature 2
Sub-problem 2
 Delayed results.
 Prone to errors.
2nd Problem Sub-problem Literature 2
 Loss of time and cost.
1.2 Different Methodologies
1.2.1 Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies
In this research I am considering both the research methodologies namely, qualitative and
quantitative methodologies, for determining the highly appropriate and applicable method for
my research work.
Qualitative Research is referred as a primarily exploratory research, which is utilized for gaining
understanding about the hidden reasons, motivations and opinions. This is a research method
which either allows to see the insights into the issues or it ensures to provide support for
developing effective ideas or hypotheses for any potential quantitative research work.
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Moreover, it is even utilized for disclosing the trending ideas and opinions, and lets to go in
depth of the issue.
The quantitative Research is referred as a numerical data, which is utilized for quantifying the
issues with the help of producing numerical data or the data which could be changed to any
usable statistics. This type of method is utilized for quantifying the attitudes, behaviors, opinions
and for the other defined variables and the generalized results from an extremely huge sample
population. Hence, the quantitative Research methodology makes use of data which can be
measured for formulating the facts and then takes steps to disclose the research patterns. In
quantitative research method, the collection of data denotes the following forms of surveys –
face-to-face interviews, paper surveys, kiosk surveys, online surveys, mobile surveys, telephonic
interviews and so on.
Thus, it can be right to say that the qualitative data can’t be counted, because it has
representations such as, text, images or videos which cannot be counted. Whereas, the
quantitative data could be counted, because it has numerical representation.
1.2.2 Selected Methodology
For this research work, I will be using the Hybrid Methodology. The hybrid methodology is not as
transparent as the newly evolved methods in project management. It can be defined as a
combination of a couple of various methodologies for creating a new and effective model.
Hybrid methodology doesn’t fall under the either of the Quantitative or the Qualitative
methodologies. However, the hybrid methodology adds the effective share of both these
Qualitative and Quantitative methodologies. Here, when large amount of data is utilized then
the Qualitative method is used and then it is converted into the format of quantitative method.
Moreover, it provides difference between both the important factors i.e., time and cost. I want a
methodology which just stops with the surveys or a set of questionnaire, instead I want to have
in depth analysis. On the other hand, I want to determine people’s desire along with the
importance, benefit and sustainability of the system, which will help to decide what type of
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system will be more useful. This type of combined methodology can accept the project’s fluidity
and let to have a highly agile and nuanced working method. It can be implemented to a specific
part of the project or on the complete project. The important point to be noted is that, the more
number of approaches selected for the problem, it provides better chance to resolve the
problem.
1.3 Review: Existing Methodologies
1.3.1 Elected Sub-Problem
There are various issues in terms of automatic voting system. But, in this section I would like to
elaborate on the issue of double entry of results, delayed results, errors, loss and dissatisfaction
in results, by using manual voting system. Along with this the encouragement of sustained
behavior change will be addressed.
1.3.2 Analysis of the Selected Methodologies
Literature 1:
An Automated Dre Biometric Voting System with VVPAT Feature.
In this paper, the voting system was tested with the database of the voters. During testing the
machine was able to verify 100% voters and recorded the votes of candidates successfully. The
fingerprint sensor GT511C3, however, has a false detection rate of 10 per million that is
negligible.
Literature 2:
Method for secure electronic voting system: face recognition based approach.
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In this paper, the about automatic voting system different views are collected. This paper have
analyzed the above mentioned contain divergent views on how the online voting system will be
implemented. Each proposal aims to design a better system. On the other hand, it is significant
to analyze each literature’s decision to evaluate the best decision making system.
Therefore, the above two research paper’s review refers that the challenges are inevitable
during the system implementing. But, it is determined that it is cost-effective, as the can earn
more income during its initial stage. However, it is required to save more number of resources
for system implementation.
1.3.3 Research Problem’ Relevance
Literature 1 is considered as relevant for my research work, because it focuses on the
implementation of automatic voting system.
Literature 2 is also based on electronic voting system. This is a research paper, which proposes a
framework with less cost but a safe electronic voting system which works depending on face
recognition. The Local Binary Pattern (LBP) is utilized to identify the features of the human face
which is converted into texture format followed by chi-square distribution, is utilized to do
image classification. The two parallel systems are designed depending on the smart phones and
web applications to identify the face and conduct the verification. In this research paper, the
proposed system comprises of a security level which contains two tire security level, where the
individual’s ID and face verification is checked. Significantly, the class specific threshold is linked
to control the security level of face verification. Our system is evaluated three standard
databases and one real home based database and achieve the satisfactory recognition
accuracies. Thus, the proposed system delivers security and a hassle free voting system.
Moreover, it is comparatively less intrusive when the other biometrics are compared.
1.3.4 Reviewed Methodologies’ Summary
Table 2: Summary of the methodologies reviewed
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Literature
Number
Research Problem Methodology Sub-problem Relevance
Literature1:
An
Automated
Dre
Biometric
Voting
System With
VVPAT
Transparency in
voting system’s results
Qualitative Use of manual
voting system
Relevant
Literature2:
Method for
secure
electronic
voting
system:
face
recognition
based
approach.
Quantitative Use of manual
voting system and
cost
Relevant
1.4 Proposed Methodology
This section of the research reflects on the proposed methodology, which is a mixture of other
both the methodologies namely, qualitative and quantitative research methodology. I have
opted certain research papers based on my selected topic, which relates to the issues are
discussed. I divided this section into three parts where the first part provides the explanation on
why I selected this methodology. The next part lists the limitations and benefits of the
methodology. The final part shows the framework or the procedures of my methodology.
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1.4.1 Identification and Justification
I prefer to utilize the research method like, hybrid methodology. Because, it is not only limited in
qualitative or quantitative but it also includes both these methodologies’ features in a single
methodology. Therefore, I feel it will benefit more in contrast to a single methodology. I want to
conduct survey that has a set of questionnaire to get feedbacks from common people, and I
would also like to test the gathered data. The data will be collected from the real users, who use
the voting system.
1.4.2 Benefits and Limitations
Benefits
The benefits are listed below:
 People’s direct interaction
 Reliable decision
 User interaction
 Testing and data analysis
 Accurate and satisfied result
Limitations:
The limitations are listed below:
 It is difficult to stick to one approach for determining the results.
 There is difference of opinion by various people.
 It is difficult to achieve perfect system, as the IT has new issues each day.
 This can consume more time and cost.
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