What steps can you take to design and conduct rigorous experiments for algorithm research?

1 Define the research question

The first step is to define the research question that you want to answer with your experiment. The research question should be clear, specific, and relevant to the problem domain and the state of the art. It should also be testable and measurable, meaning that you can formulate hypotheses and metrics to evaluate them. A good research question will guide your experiment design and help you avoid unnecessary or irrelevant tests.

2 Choose the algorithms and datasets

The next step is to choose the algorithms and datasets that you want to use in your experiment. The algorithms should be representative of the different approaches or techniques that you want to compare or contrast. The datasets should be appropriate for the problem domain and the research question. They should also be diverse, realistic, and challenging enough to test the performance and robustness of the algorithms. You should also consider the availability, quality, and size of the datasets, and how they affect the computational and statistical aspects of your experiment.

3 Design the experimental protocol

The experimental protocol is the set of rules and procedures that you follow to conduct your experiment. It includes the details of how you implement, run, and evaluate the algorithms and datasets. The experimental protocol should be consistent, transparent, and reproducible, meaning that you and other researchers can obtain the same results under the same conditions. You should also consider the ethical, legal, and social implications of your experiment, and follow the best practices and standards of your field.

4 Analyze and report the results

The final step is to analyze and report the results of your experiment. The analysis should be based on the hypotheses and metrics that you defined in the research question. You should use appropriate statistical methods and tools to test the significance, validity, and reliability of your results. You should also interpret and discuss the results in relation to the research question, the problem domain, and the existing literature. The report should be clear, concise, and accurate, and follow the format and style of your target venue or audience.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?