Overview
LEARN BY DOING:
This is a virtual instructor led course taught online by expert faculty who have experience in basic and applied research and have published papers in international journals. This is a “Hands-On” Research Methods course where participants will learn the basics of Research Methods by working on a research problem of their interest. Through the use of simulation method participants follow the steps in research, starting with literature review, determining the problem statement, choosing an appropriate research design, determining the sample, analyzing the data and writing a paper. Participants will write a draft of a paper written in APA style and will present their research to the class.
FOR WHOM
Final Year Bachelors (UG), and Master’s students (PG) and Post Master’s students (MPhil, PhD Candidates) in psychology, social sciences, management, health sciences, etc., those who want to write research proposals for PhD or Grants, or Professionals who are interested in learning how to do research.
COURSE FEATURES
This course follows a simulation of research where each week participants will apply what they learn in class to a research topic of their interest.
- Participants work on problems of their choice individually or in a small group
- Moderately paced so participants can balance their schedules
- Thoughtfully designed to allow participants time to do assignments and activities
- Designed and delivered by expert faculty in research
- Evaluation is based on assignment submissions and final presentation
- Network with peers and enrich your own competencies
- Access additionally free courses
NOTE: Participants can bring their on-going research topics into the course to gain research skills and insights, but they must keep in mind that the course does not substitute any advice they are getting from their faculty and research guides.
Course Methodology
- Use of simulation method to simulate research process
- In every module participants will apply the concepts and frameworks taught in that module to their research
- Virtual instructor led course delivered on Zoom.
- Recordings of all sessions are available for two weeks after each session
- Some contents are self-paced, and participants will work on the content before coming to class
- Interactive classes with lectures, demonstrations, discussions, individual and group work
- Use of a learning management system to access course materials, videos, tools, templates and assessments for a seamless learning experience
Key Takeaways
The course is designed to introduce participants to Research Methods and equip them with skills required for research. By the end of the course participants will be able to:
- Define research problems and objectives- Frame the research questions and distinguish between problem statement and objectives
- Conduct a thorough review of literature- Identify the scope of review and draw the problem statement from the review
- Formulate hypotheses- Frame the null hypothesis and alternative hypotheses
- Choose appropriate designs for research- Determine the internal and external validity of the research design, determine the statistics that are associated with the design
- Determine the sample size and sampling techniques and minimize sampling errors
- Choose or create appropriate data collection tools
- Analyze data using Excel or SPSS software
- Discuss the results, draw conclusions and implications from the analysis
- Write a paper using APA style guides and citations
- Present research findings to specific audiences and stakeholders
Course Contents
Module 1: Introduction and how to choose a research Topic
Module 2: Review of Literature:
Using data bases, Google Scholar, Organizing the review, Consolidating Review, Writing a Review of Literature, Arriving at the problem statement through the review of literature
Module 3: Defining Variables, Formulating the Problem Statement and Hypotheses:
Operational definitions of variables, refine the problem statement, frame the null hypothesis and alternate hypotheses, Meaning of Null Hypothesis
Module 4: Research Designs:
Determine which design to use, Experimental, Correlational, Regression Designs, Other designs
Maintaining internal and external validity of research designs
Dealing with moderating, mediating and intervening variables
Designing creative and elegant experiments- Determining controls in experiments
Module 5: Probability and Effect Sizes:
Probability and Area under the curve, what it means, what is effect size
Module 6: Sampling:
Population and Samples, Sampling Frames, Sampling techniques, Effect Size
Determine the sample size for your research
Module 7: Data Collection Methods and Tools:
Choosing methods and tools, creating tools
Validity and reliability of data collection tools
Module 8: Data Analysis:
Using data analysis tools, Excel, SPSS and other free resources, Analyze the data
Discuss the results in light of the data, review of literature and theory
Draw conclusions and state the implications and limitations of the study
Module 9: Writing a Paper:
APA styles for Writing a Paper and citations
Module 10: Presentation of Paper:
Presentation Skills, Power Point and Poster
Presenting the paper to different audiences and stakeholders
Module 11: Present the Paper
Present your research to the class
Faculty
