UUM COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCESUNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

No. Information on Course

1. Course Name : RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2. Course Code: SZRZ6014

3. Name(s) of Academic Staff:

Dr Noor Hashima Abd. Aziz

4. Rationale for the inclusion of the course in the programme:

This is a compulsory course for all Masters and is highly recommended for PhD programmes.

5. Semester/Year Offered: 2/1

6. Total Student Learning Time (SLT) Face to face SL TLT

L = Lecture

T = Tutorial

P = Practical

O = Others

L T P O

24 12 15.8 107.8 159.6

7. Credit Value: 4

8. Pre-requisite (if any):

NIL

9. Objective(s) of Course :

After completing this course, students should be able to:

i. understand the research process and stepsii. use the knowledge acquired to conduct research

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10. Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the course, students are able to

i. Formulate research problem [C3, P2, A1]ii. Postulate the proper research questions [C5, P5, A4]iii. Design appropriate research methods to address the research questions [C5, P5,

A3]iv. Prepare a research proposal [C6, P6, A4]

11. Transferable Skills:

Communication, critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork, information management and continuous skill, professional ethics and leadership skill.

12. Teaching-learning and assessment strategy:

Mixed method between teacher-centred and student-centred. For the assessment strategy it is a continuous assessment.

13. Synopsis:

The course will provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and carry out a research. In particular, the course aims at teaching students about research design, strategies, methods, and process. The important steps in planning a research project, such as problem identification and formulation of the research question, developing the study objective, reviewing related literature and formulating a model will also be covered. Additionally, methods for data collection and analysis are included. The course also discusses the preparations involved in writing a research proposal.

14. Mode of Delivery:

Lectures, discussions, field work, presentations and computer lab works.

15. Assessment Methods and Types:

Coursework – 100% (Report, test, quiz, and presentation)

16. Mapping of the course/module to the Programme Aims

Programme Aims Course Learning Outcomes

1 2 3 4

The aim of this programme is to produce graduates with the advanced knowledge, principles and skills in term of theoretical and practical foundation

3 3 3 3

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for designing, implementing and managing information technology solutions and resources and also recognizing the impact of technology on individuals, organization and society.

17. Mapping of the course/module to the Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

1 2 3 4

elaborate the advanced concept of Information Technology in accordance with the business needs of the nation.

3 3 3 3

apply the acquired knowledge in solving problems utilizing advanced programming skills and appropriate tools to develop applications.

demonstrate professional responsibilities and ethical behaviour within social environment.

2 2 3 3

demonstrate professionalism in managing tasks incorporated with motivated attitudes and values that carry ethical considerations.

3 3 3 3

demonstrate effective communication and teamwork capabilities in managing and conducting IT projects and research.

3 3 3 3

integrate and synthesize business and IT issues, and critically propose potential solutions utilizing scientific approach.

3 3 3 3

combine suitable business and entrepreneurial skills in IT related projects.

apply acquired skills and knowledge to pursue lifelong learning and career advancement, and keep up to date with emerging information and communication

3 3 3 3

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technologies advancements.

practice excellent leadership in managing IT projects and research. 3 3 3 3

18. Content outline of the course/module and the SLT per topic

TopicLearning Outcome

s

Face to FaceSL TLT

L T P

1. Introduction to Research

Definition of researchCharacteristics of researchTypes of research Basic AppliedApproaches in research

Quantitative Qualitative Mixed method

Overview of research paradigm Positivist Social constructionist Post-positivist Pragmatism Post-modernism Critical theory

1 2 1 6 9

2. Overview of research process

Formulating research problem and literature review

Conceptualizing research design Constructing an instrument for data

collectionSelecting sampleWriting research proposalCollecting DataProcessing DataWriting Report

1,2 2 1 4 7

3. Formulating research problem

Importance of formulating research problem

Sources of research problem

1,2 2 1 4 7

4

Consideration in selecting a research problem

Steps in the formulation of a research problem

Formulation of research objectiveLinking research problem and objective

4. Reviewing the literature

Reasons for reviewing Bring clarity and form Improve methodology Broaden knowledge

Procedure for reviewingReview the literature selectedDevelop theoretical frameworkDevelop conceptual framework

Identifying variables Constructing hypothesis

Writing up the literature reviewedForms and structure of a literature review

1,2,3 2 2 6 10

5. Research design

Definition of designFunction of designQualitative vs. quantitative designs

Exploratory Descriptive Causal

Selecting a study design Cross-sectional Before-and-after Longitudinal Prospective Experimental

1,2,3 2 1 4 7

6. Data collection method for quantitative

Secondary sourcesPrimary sources

Observation Interview Questionnaire

Measurement and Scaling Difference between concept and variableConcepts, indicator and variableLevels of measurement scales

1,2,3 1 4 5

5

Ordinal Nominal Interval Ratio

Types of scale Numerical Semantic differential Likert Thurstone Guttman, etc.

Goodness of measurement instrument Validity Reliability Sensitivity

7. Data collection method for qualitative

Focused interview Semi standardized interview Problem centred interview Ethnographic interview Phenomenography interview

Validity and reliability in qualitative data

1,2,3 2 1 4 7

8. Sampling

Concept of samplingTerminology of sampling Principal of samplingFactors affecting inferences drawn from

sampleAims in selecting sampleTypes of sampling Calculation of sample sizeSampling Strategies in qualitative research

1,2,3 2 1 4 7

9. Components of research proposal

IntroductionProblem statementResearch objective Significance of the researchScope of the researchReview of literatureStudy design and hypothesisMeasurement procedureSampling

1,2,3,4 2 1 4 7

6

Analysis of dataExpected findingWork Schedule

10. Ethical issues

ParticipantsConsentIncentive Sensitive informationHarmConfidentialResearcher

Avoid bias Deprivation of treatment Correct reporting Plagiarism

Sponsor Restriction imposed Misuse of information

1,2,3,4 2 1 4 7

11. Processing and analyzing data

Editing dataCoding dataAnalyzing quantitative data

Frequency of distributions Cross tabulation Statistical procedure

Analyzing qualitative data Thematically analysis Content analysis

1,2,3,4 1 4 5

12. Writing report

Content of reportReferencing Report outline

1,2,3,4 2 1 4 7

13. Research methodology in different fields

1,2,3,4 2 1 4 7

24 12 56 92

Assessment Face to Face SL TLT

Coursework 100% 51.8 107.8 159.6

7

Total Notional Hours 159.6

Credit Hours 4

References:

Main Reference:

Kumar, R. (2010). Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners. London: Addison Wesley.

Additional References:

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (3rd

ed.). California: SAGE Publication.

Hair, J. F. Jr., Money, A. H., Samouel, P. & Page, M. (2007). Research methods for business. Chichester: John Wiley.

Silverman, D. (2006). Interpreting qualitative data (3rd ed.). London: SAGE Publication.

Wolcott, H. F. (2009). Writing up qualitative research (3rd ed.). California: SAGE Publication.

Zikmund, W. G. (2003). Business research methods (7th ed.). Ohio: Thompson- Southwestern.

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