Research Course Outline Y2 S1
Research Course Outline Y2 S1
Research Course Outline Y2 S1
Literature review
Definition
Reasons for reviewing literature
Scope of literature review
Performing literature search- formulating answerable questions
Sources of literature (primary & secondary)
How to retrieve literature (steps)
Tips in reviewing of literature and organization of literature
Citation and referencing (referencing style (APA), Havard)
Intellectual skills (reading, writing, argument formation, reasoning, critical thinking)
Methodology
Research designs: -
o Observational and experimental
o Characteristics of a good design
Study area
Study population
Target population
Sampling frame
Sampling bias
Sampling errors (type I and type II)
Sampling methods: probability (simple random, systematic, stratified, cluster,
multistage); Non probability (purposive sampling, snowball sampling, quota sampling,
convenient sampling)
Sample size determination (statistical sample size determination tables)
Data collection method (qualitative/quantitative)
Tools for data collection:
Qualitative (observation, key informants interview, desk review, social mapping),
organization, advs & disadvs;
Quantitative (structured interviews (types, adv & disadv, rules pertaining to interviews,
communications during interviews, training of interviewers), self-administered
questionnaire (types, rules for constructing questionnaire & questionnaire items, general
principles for writing questions, steps in developing questionnaire, ordering of items in a
questionnaire, types of questions, types of responses, structure of a questionnaire (format
and layout, question order, length of questionnaire, the cover letter), presentation of a
questionnaire, pretesting of a questionnaire
Data processing and analysis methods
Steps in data analysis-(quantitative & qualitative),
Qualitative data analysis methods (categorization, themes, subthemes), statistical
packages used in qualitative data (Excel).
Quantitative data analysis ( Excel, SPSS, STATA), levels of measurements (nominal,
ordinal, ratio)
Data presentation;
Ratios, rates, percentages, proportions,
Frequency distribution (tables, contingency, cross tabulation), graphs and charts (bar
graphs, line graphs, histograms, scatter graphs, pie charts),
How to create tables and figures from data, how to label tables and figures, choosing a
method of data presentation
How to present findings (narrative, draw table/ figure, title)
Bioethics
Definition
Development and history of bioethics in research
Reasons for addressing bioethics in research,
Principles of bioethics (respects to persons, beneficence, distributive justice, informed
consent, elements of informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality)
Bioethical issues for special and vulnerable groups
Regulation of conduct of research: authority letters (institution, National Commission for
Science and Technology, Institutional Ethics and Research Committee)
Proposal writing
Components
Title
Fore matter
Background of the problem
Problem statement
Purpose of the study
Objective of the study
Research questions
Theoretical background or conceptual framework
Limitations and assumptions
Literature review
Methodology
References
Appendices
o Time schedule
o Budget
Qualities of a good research proposal
Preliminary activities before writing a project proposal
Biostatistics
Introduction to data analysis
Data tabulation and display
Measurement scales (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio)
Pilot study
Purpose of descriptive statistics (measures of central tendencies and measures of
dispersion or variability,
Measures of relationship, inferential statistics (Chi-square, Analysis of variance, T-test)
Results
Differentiating between findings and interpretations
Linking findings to research questions
Discussion
Interpret and discuss the findings as per specific objectives
How to link the findings with existing literature
Explain the emerging issues (contradictions with previous findings)
Discuss implications of findings, meaning of the findings, constructing a discuss
Conclusion
How to conclude (base conclusions on findings/specific objectives, indicate whether
purpose of study was achieved), no citation
Recommendation
Based on findings and research results
Recommendations for further research based on emerging issues that were not within the
scope of current study
Report writing
Title, dedication, abstract, table of contents, list of tables, figures, abbreviations and
acronyms
Introductions
Literature review
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations
References
Appendices (country map, map of study area, authority letters (training institution,
national commission for science and technology), tools for data collections
Forums for dissemination of research findings