During our first class, we will engage in a series of discussions aimed at clarifying key distinctions and concepts that are foundational to both academic and professional work in AI research. These discussions will cover the following topics:
Nature and Purpose: Research is an open-ended process of inquiry aimed at generating new knowledge or deepening understanding in a specific area. Unlike coursework, which typically follows a structured curriculum with predefined learning outcomes, research involves exploring uncharted territories, asking new questions, and developing novel solutions or theories.
Skills and Approach: Research requires critical thinking, creativity, and independence. It demands that students engage deeply with their subject matter, often requiring them to design experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions that advance the field. The process is iterative, with frequent revisiting of ideas and methodologies based on new findings or challenges.
Outcome: The goal of research is to contribute original insights to the academic or professional community, often culminating in publications such as journal articles, conference papers, or theses.
Nature and Purpose: Coursework is designed to impart specific knowledge and skills through a structured program of study. It typically includes lectures, assignments, exams, and projects, all of which are aimed at mastering the content of the course.
Skills and Approach: Coursework emphasizes learning established knowledge and techniques, with a focus on understanding and applying concepts in a controlled environment. It is usually more guided and directive, with clear expectations and criteria for success.
Outcome: The primary objective of coursework is to build a solid foundation in a particular subject, preparing students for further study, professional practice, or research.
Objective: Research seeks to explore new ideas, generate hypotheses, and create theoretical frameworks. It is driven by curiosity and the desire to expand the boundaries of knowledge. Research often deals with abstract concepts and fundamental questions that may not have immediate practical applications.
Process: Research involves experimentation, data analysis, and theoretical modeling. It is often exploratory and may not lead to immediate or tangible outcomes. The focus is on understanding, discovery, and explanation.
Outcome: The primary output of research is knowledge, which can take the form of publications, theories, models, or prototypes. This knowledge may later be applied in practical settings, but its immediate purpose is to contribute to the body of academic or scientific understanding.
Objective: Engineering focuses on applying existing knowledge to solve practical problems. It is concerned with designing, building, and optimizing systems, products, or processes to meet specific needs or goals.
Process: Engineering involves the application of scientific principles, mathematics, and technology to develop functional solutions. The process is often iterative, with an emphasis on design, testing, and refinement to ensure that the final product meets desired specifications.
Outcome: The primary output of engineering is a working system, product, or process that addresses a real-world problem. Engineering solutions are typically evaluated based on criteria such as efficiency, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and user satisfaction.
Purpose: A scientific paper is intended to communicate original research findings to the academic community. It undergoes a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the validity, originality, and significance of the research.
Structure: Scientific papers generally follow a standardized structure: Abstract, Introduction, Related Work, Approach, Experiments, Analysis, and Conclusion. Each section serves a specific purpose in detailing the research process and findings.
Audience: The primary audience for a scientific paper is other researchers and scholars in the field. The language and content are typically technical and assume a certain level of expertise from the reader.
Publication: Scientific papers are published in academic journals and are often considered a significant contribution to the field. They are cited in other scholarly works and are used to advance the academic discourse.
Purpose: A technical report is a document that describes the progress, methods, and outcomes of a technical or engineering project. It is often more detailed and practical than a scientific paper and may include comprehensive documentation of design processes, experiments, or implementation details.
Structure: Technical reports may vary in structure but often include sections such as Introduction, Background, Methodology, Results, Analysis, and Recommendations. The focus is on providing clear and thorough documentation of technical work.
Audience: The audience for a technical report may include engineers, project managers, clients, or other stakeholders who need a detailed understanding of the work. The language is typically more practical and accessible, focusing on the technical aspects rather than theoretical contributions.
Publication: Technical reports are usually internal documents, though they may be published by research institutions, government agencies, or companies. They are not typically peer-reviewed and may not be widely disseminated.
Purpose: Journals are periodical publications that present in-depth research articles. They are the primary medium for disseminating comprehensive and significant research findings. Journals often focus on specific disciplines or subfields and are considered prestigious outlets for research.
Review Process: Articles submitted to journals undergo a rigorous peer-review process, which can be lengthy. The review ensures that the research is original, methodologically sound, and contributes to the field.
Impact: Journal publications are often considered more impactful and prestigious than conference papers. They contribute to a researcher’s reputation and are widely cited in academic work.
Purpose: Conferences are events where researchers present their latest work, often in the form of papers, posters, or presentations. They provide a platform for immediate feedback, networking, and collaboration with peers.
Review Process: Conference papers are usually peer-reviewed, but the process is often less rigorous than journal reviews. The emphasis is on timely dissemination of new ideas rather than in-depth analysis.
Impact: Conference papers are valuable for sharing preliminary findings or emerging ideas and for engaging with the research community. While they are generally considered less prestigious than journal articles, they are crucial for staying current in fast-evolving fields like AI.
Purpose: Workshops are smaller, more focused events often held in conjunction with conferences. They provide a forum for discussing specific topics, emerging areas of research, or new methodologies. Workshops often encourage more interaction and discussion than conferences.
Review Process: Papers or presentations submitted to workshops may undergo a peer-review process, but the criteria are often more flexible. The focus is on fostering dialogue and exploring new ideas.
Impact: Workshops are valuable for networking and gaining feedback on early-stage research. They may not carry the same weight as conference or journal publications but are instrumental in shaping research directions and building collaborations.
Scope and Responsibility: An individual project allows a student to take full ownership of a research problem, from conceptualization to execution and reporting. It provides an opportunity to develop deep expertise in a specific area and fosters independence and self-motivation.
Learning Outcomes: Through individual projects, students learn to manage their time, resources, and research process. They gain a sense of responsibility and accomplishment by completing a project on their own.
Challenges: The main challenge of an individual project is the lack of collaboration and peer support. Students must rely on their own skills and knowledge to overcome obstacles, which can be both rewarding and demanding.
Scope and Responsibility: A team project involves collaboration among multiple students, allowing for the division of labor and the integration of diverse skills and perspectives. Team projects often tackle more complex or multidisciplinary problems that benefit from a collective approach.
Learning Outcomes: Team projects teach collaboration, communication, and leadership skills. Students learn to work together, resolve conflicts, and leverage each other’s strengths to achieve common goals.
Challenges: The primary challenges of team projects include coordinating efforts, managing different working styles, and ensuring equitable contribution. Effective teamwork requires strong communication and the ability to navigate interpersonal dynamics.
Fall 2024
Prerequisites: CS325: Artificial Intelligence or CS334: Machine Learning
Class Hours: MW 2:30 AM - 3:45 PM
Class Location: MSC W303
Associate Professor of Computer Science, QTM, and Linguistics
Office Hours: MW 4 PM - 5 PM @ WH 218
Email: jinho.choi@emory.edu
Ph.D. Student in Computer Science and Informatics
Office Hours: TuTh 10 AM - 11:30 AM @ WH 100
Email: nayoung.choi@emory.edu
This course is conducted in person, and no virtual links or digital recordings will be provided.
It is recommended that you bring your laptop as there will be many in-class exercises.
Homework Assignments (10 total, including 6 writing and 1 peer-review assignments): 70%
Checkpoint Presentations (4+2 total): 9%
Team Project: 21%
Late submissions will be accepted up to one week after the original deadline. However, a grading penalty of 15% will be applied to the submitted work. Submissions made after the one-week grace period will not be accepted under any circumstances.
All work submitted in this course is expected to adhere to the Emory Honor Code. Any violations of the honor code will be reported to the Emory College Honor Council for appropriate action.
If you encounter significant personal circumstances such as health issues or family emergencies that affect your ability to perform in the course, you may request accommodations. Submit a letter from the Office for Undergraduate Education supporting documentation to facilitate appropriate adjustments to your coursework or deadlines.
For certain team assignments, you will be required to indicate the contribution percentage of each team member, which will directly impact the individual grades for the assignment.
If your team of two members receives 4 out of 5 points for an assignment, for example, and you indicate that your contribution was 60% while your teammate's was 40%, the points will be distributed as follows:
This approach ensures that the grading reflects the effort and input of each team member, promoting fairness and accountability.
Each team is required to submit a single, agreed-upon chart detailing the contribution percentages of all members for each team assignment. This means that you and your teammates must reach a consensus on the contribution rates before submitting your work.
Open communication and transparency are essential in this process. Disagreements should be resolved within the team, ensuring that the final submission reflects the true division of labor and contributions.
By adhering to these guidelines, you will not only produce a strong research paper but also develop key skills in teamwork and fair assessment of contributions.
Throughout the semester, each team will collaboratively write a full research paper, with each section of the paper developed as a separate homework assignment. This process will guide you through the various stages of research writing, ensuring that you develop a comprehensive and high-quality paper.
You and your teammates will be responsible for collectively drafting each section of the research paper. These sections will be assigned as individual assignments, allowing you to focus on specific aspects of the research process.
Effective collaboration is crucial. Regular communication and coordination within your team will help ensure that each section is coherent and contributes to the overall quality of the final paper.
All writing must be your team’s original work. You are expected to synthesize ideas, data, and arguments in your own words. This includes not only the main text but also any related work sections, tables, and figures.
Direct copying or close paraphrasing from other sources, including previously published papers or external materials, is strictly prohibited. Any such instance will be considered plagiarism and will be subject to academic penalties in accordance with the university's policies.
Grading for the writing assignments will be conducted according to the Team Grading policy.
Each team will present their intermediate work to the class 4 times throughout the semester, which are crucial for sharing your progress, receiving feedback, and refining your project.
Every member of your team will receive the same grade for each presentation, reflecting the collective effort and quality of the work presented.
Active participation and equal contribution from all team members are expected to ensure that your presentations are comprehensive and well-prepared.
Attendance at all presentations, including those not presented by your team, is mandatory:
Attendance will be graded individually, separate from your team's presentation score. Your engagement during others' presentations is as critical as presenting your own work.
You are allowed to miss one out of six presentations without penalty. This absence will be automatically excused, and you will not lose any points for it.
Beyond the first excused absence, any additional missed presentations will result in a score of 0 points for those attendances. It’s important to manage your time and responsibilities to ensure consistent participation.
By adhering to these guidelines, you will contribute to a supportive and dynamic classroom environment while ensuring that your team’s work is accurately and fairly evaluated.
As part of the final stages of your team’s research paper, your work will undergo a peer review process. The final draft of your paper will be evaluated by three peers from other teams. Similarly, you will be responsible for reviewing three research papers written by students outside of your own team.
This exercise aims to help you learn and practice proper research paper review techniques. By critically evaluating the work of your peers, you will gain insights into what makes a strong research paper, including aspects such as clarity, originality, methodology, and overall impact.
The feedback you provide will play a crucial role in helping authors improve the quality of their research. Your constructive criticism and suggestions will enable them to refine their arguments, strengthen their methodologies, and enhance the overall coherence and impact of their work.
By engaging fully in the peer review process, you will not only contribute to the research development of your peers but also enhance your own skills in research evaluation and writing.
Your team is required to maintain frequent meetings on a weekly basis. As a team, you will be expected to submit the following towards the end of the semester:
Oral Presentation
Poster Presentation
Final Draft of Your Research Paper
Your team will be responsible for preparing and delivering both an oral presentation and a poster presentation. These presentations will showcase the results of your research, demonstrating the depth of your analysis and the significance of your findings.
Each team member must actively participate in both presentations. All team members will receive the same grade for the oral and poster presentations unless an individual fails to participate, in which case that member will receive a zero.
Attendance is mandatory for all presentations, including those presented by other teams. Active participation in these presentations is crucial for fostering a collaborative learning environment and for gaining insights from your peers' work.
If you fail to attend any of the presentations, you will receive 0 points for that presentation. This policy emphasizes the importance of your engagement in the entire course process, not just your own team's work.
Collaboratively write a complete research paper that meets the standards for publication as a preprint or in a peer-reviewed venue. Your paper should be a rigorous and original contribution to the field, showcasing the results of your team’s research efforts.
The final draft of your research paper will be graded according to the Team Grading policy.
Team projects will be ranked by peers, which will be taken into account in the final evaluation of the projects, offering an additional perspective on the quality and impact of your work.
The grading for the peer ranking will also adhere to the Team Grading policy.
You are highly encouraged to leverage LLM-based systems to revise and review the content you have already written, enhancing its quality and coherence.
You are not allowed to rely on LLM-based systems to generate any content from scratch. For example, you cannot use an LLM to create an introduction by providing only a title or to write additional paragraphs that may plausibly follow a given paragraph.
Engaging LLM-based systems to generate fabricated data, experimental results, or analyses is strictly prohibited. Any violation of this policy will result in a referral to the Honor Council for further investigation.
While you are permitted to utilize LLM-based systems to discover relevant resources (e.g., references), it is your responsibility to ensure the accuracy and reliability of those resources.
Fall 2024
(W): Writing assignments.
You will receive: 4 (team points) 60 (your contributions) 60 (max contributions) = 4 points.
Your teammate will receive: 4 (team points) 40 (your teammate's contributions) 60 (max contributions) = 2.67 points.
08/28
09/02
Labor Day
09/04
09/09
09/11
09/16
09/18
09/23
PT1: Team Promotion
09/25
09/30
PT2: Introduction
10/02
Approach (1/2)
HW6: Approach (W)
10/07
Approach (2/2)
10/09
Guest Speaker
10/14
Fall Break
10/16
10/21
Experiments (1/2)
HW7: Experiments (W)
10/23
Experiments (2/2)
10/28
PT3-1: Approach
10/30
PT3-2: Approach
11/04
Analysis (1/2)
HW8: Analysis (W)
11/06
Analysis (2/2)
11/11
PT4-1: Experiments
11/13
PT4-2: Experiments
11/18
11/20
11/25
11/27
Thanksgiving Recess
12/02
Oral Presentations
12/04
Oral Presentations
12/09
Poster Presentations
CS371W: Research Practicum in Artificial Intelligence
This course is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge to conduct rigorous and impactful research in Artificial Intelligence (AI). As AI continues to evolve from a futuristic concept into a foundational technology that permeates every aspect of modern life, its role in advancing scientific discovery, innovation, and societal progress has become increasingly critical. Understanding the breadth and depth of AI and its potential to address complex challenges across various domains is vital for any aspiring researcher in this field.
Comprehensive Survey of AI Domains: You will explore a broad spectrum of AI areas, delving into the latest advancements and understanding the implications of these developments in both theoretical and applied contexts.
Idea Development: The course will focus on nurturing the ability to generate innovative and compelling research ideas that resonate with and engage the broader research community, addressing both current and emerging challenges.
Methodological Innovation: You will be guided in designing cutting-edge methods that push the boundaries of existing knowledge, fostering breakthroughs and new perspectives in AI research.
Experimental Rigor: A key emphasis will be placed on conducting experiments with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that the analyses not only capture the essence of the research question but also contribute to the broader understanding of AI's role and impact.
Effective Communication of Research: The ability to present research findings in a clear, persuasive, and intellectually stimulating manner is crucial. You will develop the skills necessary to communicate your work to both academic and general audiences, enhancing the reach and impact of their research.
Collaborative Team Project: Engage in a group project that leverages collective expertise and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, reflecting the collaborative nature of AI research.
Research Paper Writing: Work with your team to author a research paper that reflects the depth and originality of your collective insights, contributing to the broader AI research community.
Peer Review: Critically evaluate and provide constructive feedback on the work of your peers, fostering a collaborative learning environment and enhancing your own research acumen.
Public Presentations: Deliver presentations that showcase your research findings, demonstrating your ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and insights to diverse audiences.
This course satisfies the Continuing Communication Requirement.