Course Description

Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are to:

1. Introduce students to the fundamentals concept, scope, and importance of research in different disciplines.
2. Introduce students to the steps involved in conducting rigorous scientific research.
3. Enable students to develop well-structured research questions and objectives.
4. Equip students with the knowledge of different types of research, including experimental, non-experimental, and quasi-experimental.
5. Guide students in data analysis, ethical research practices, and result interpretation.
6. Prepare students to write effective and plagiarism-free research proposals and review relevant literature.

Overall Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Describe the different types of research, research approaches, and the significance of conducting research.
2. Discuss the principles and techniques of scientific research, including statement of research problem formulation, methods, methodology, and research strategies.
3. Develop and structure a research proposal, including the formulation of research problems and questions and undertake a coherent review of the relevant literature.
4. Develop effective data collection instruments for research in different fields.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of sampling designs, data analysis methods, and result interpretation.
6. Write technical reports and briefs with proper documentation, referencing, and bibliography.

Detailed Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Research

·       Introduction to research: Definition, purpose, and significance.

• Types of research: Qualitative, quantitative, exploratory, explanatory, and applied research.
• Research approaches: Descriptive, experimental, and analytical research.

·       Importance of Research in Academia and Industry.

·       Characteristics of Good Research

• Time management and project planning: Creating timelines and milestones for project completion.

Module 2: Research Methods and Methodology

·       Research methods versus methodology: Differences and applications.

• The research process: Steps involved in conducting research.
• Criteria for good research: Validity, reliability, and ethical considerations.
• Scientific investigation principles: Objectivity, control, and observation.

Module 3: Problem Formulation and Techniques

• Problem formulation: Identifying research problems and formulating research questions.
• Hypothesis formulation and testing: Defining hypotheses and research assumptions.
• Developing a research proposal and plan: Structuring a research proposal and the planning process.

Module 4: Literature Review Process

• Conducting a literature review: Purpose, process, and sources of information.
• Reviewing related studies: How to critically analyze existing research.
• Synthesizing relevant studies to support research objectives.

Module 5: Research Ethics

• Importance of Ethics in Research.
• Ethical considerations in research: plagiarism, informed consent, confidentiality, data privacy, misrepresentation and integrity.
• Institutional Review Boards (IRB) and Ethical Approvals.
• Best Practices for Ethical Research Conduct.

Module 6: Data Collection and Elicitation Methods

• Methods of data collection: Primary and secondary data collection.
• Elicitation techniques: Questionnaires, interviews, ethnography, surveys, etc.
• Guidelines for constructing valid and reliable data instruments.
• Ethical considerations in data collection.

Module 7: Sampling Design

·      Concepts and importance of sampling in research.

·      Different types of sample designs (random, stratified, cluster, etc.).

·      Steps in developing a sampling design.

·      Criteria for selecting a sampling procedure.

Module 8: Data Processing, Analysis, and Interpretation

• Methods for analyzing data: Quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Introduction to statistical analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, R, NVivo, Excel) and qualitative analysis techniques.
• Accessing and utilizing repositories of quantitative and qualitative data
• Interpreting and presenting research findings effectively.

Module 9: Research Proposal Writing

• Introduction to Research Proposal Development

• Importance and components of a research proposal.
• Role of a research supervisor.
• Role of Supervisee
• Developing a research proposal: structure and key components.
• Introduction.
• Objectives and Research Questions.
• Literature Review.
• Methodology.
• Work Plan and Budget.
• Statement of the research problem, objectives, and questions.
• Documenting sources, referencing, and avoiding plagiarism
• Managing and organizing research work

Module 10: Report Writing and Documentation

• Types of reports: Research reports, technical reports, and academic papers.
• Structure and Formatting of a Technical Report

• Formatting Guidelines (Font, Spacing, Margins).

• How to cite referenced works: Using citation styles (APA, MLA, IEEE, Chicago, etc.).
• Preparing a bibliography: Organizing and listing references.
• Common errors in research reporting and how to avoid them.
• The importance of critical thinking and objectivity in writing.

Module 11: Presentation of Research Findings

• Techniques for Preparing Oral and Poster Presentations.
• Use of Presentation Tools (PowerPoint, Prezi).
• Designing Effective Slides.
• Handling Q&A Sessions.

Teaching/Learning Methods:

• Lectures: In-depth discussions on research methodology, data collection techniques, and report writing practices.
• Practical Sessions: Hands-on experience with developing research proposals, data collection instruments, research tools and software, and writing technical reports.
• Group Discussions and Seminars: Collaborative sessions for critiquing and analyzing research reports and literature.
• Case Studies: Application of research methodology to real-world scenarios in computing and related fields.

Modes of Assessment:

• Research Proposal: 30% (Assessment of the student's ability to formulate research questions, design methodology, and plan the research process).
• Mid-Semester Test: 20% (Evaluation of knowledge of research methodologies and principles).
• Final Report: 40% (Assessment of the student's ability to conduct a literature review, collect and analyze data, and prepare a comprehensive technical report).
• Class Participation and Presentations: 10% (Evaluation of participation in class discussions, seminars, and presentations).

Reading List/References:

Primary Texts

1. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
2. Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
3. Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Age International.
4. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
5. Paul D. Leedy, Jeanne Ellis Ormrod (2019), Practical Research: Planning and Design (12th Edition), Pearson.

Supplementary Texts

1. Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (7th ed.). Pearson.
2. Babbie, E. (2020). The Practice of Social Research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
3. Robert K. Yin, Case Study Research: Design and Methods (6th Edition), Sage Publications, 2018

Additional Resources

1. Journals: Journal of Social Science Research and Social Research Quarterly.
2. Online resources: Tutorials on research methods and proposal writing from platforms like Coursera and Khan Academy.
3. Online databases and academic journals (e.g., IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library).
4. Online tutorials on statistical tools (SPSS, R, NVivo)
5. Relevant academic journals and articles from databases like JSTOR and ResearchGate
6. Open-access resources on research ethics and proposal writing
7. Open-access resources on referencing styles (e.g., APA, Harvard)
8. Research guides and citation tools (e.g., Zotero, Mendeley).