HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION

English Language Teaching Reforms (ELTR) Phase II LI Division, Islamabad

Research Skills

Short Term Courses/Fellowships

One Month (108 hrs)

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION

English Language Teaching Reforms (ELTR) Phase II LI Division, Islamabad

Course Description: The course aims at developing the participants knowledge about research and related activities, as well as, providing them with hands-on practice with designing research tools, using the SPSS Package, and developing a research proposal. Objectives: By the end of the course, participants will be able to: 1. Explain the nature of research, key concepts, and reasons for doing research; 2. Differentiate among the different types of research and choose appropriate research methods for the research projects; 3. Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative data analysis procedures; 4. Manage record keeping of their notes and data either on cards or electronically; 5. Write coherent abstracts and understand format of research reports; 6. Choose appropriate statistics/format for data analysis; 7. Use appropriate research tools and statistical package; 8. Develop citation and referencing skills 9. Develop a research proposal. Pre-Course Assessment Course Content I. What is Research? A. What research is and what it is not i. Definitions of research ii. The purpose of research (4.0 hours) (1.0 hour)

B. Qualitative Research C. Quantitative Research D. Mixed-Method Research

II. Research Paradigms A. Ontology B. Epistemology

(3.0 hours)

III. Types of Research A. Experimental Research B. Ethnographic Research C. Case Studies D. Action Research E. Historical Research IV. Identifying and Formulating a Research Problem A. Key Concepts and Content B. Define a Research Problem C. Key Concept: Variables D. Writing a Statement of Research Problem

(12.0 hours)

(4.0 hours)

V. Ethical Considerations

(3.0 hours)

VI. Literature Review: Why and How? A. What is Literature Review?

(15.0 hours)

C. Literature review as sources of information and its procedure D. Why review literature? E. Sources of literature review F. Managing the literature

G. Presenting the Literature Review

VII. Research Tools A. For Quantitative Research i. Questionnaire ii. Test iii. Survey iv. Oppinionaire v. Checklist B. For Qualitative Research i. Interviews ii. Observations iii. Content Analysis iv. Thematic Analysis v. Focus Groups

(15.0 hours)

VIII.

Data Analysis A. What is Data Analysis? B. Quantitative Data Analysis

(24 hours )

i. Descriptive Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode, Variance, Standard Variation) ii. Comparing Means: One or Two sample t-Test iii. Comparing Means: One or Two Samples t-Tests iv. Comparing Means: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) v. Correlation Analysis, Chi Test of Independence for Discrete Data vi. SPSS Lab Practice

C. Qualitative Data Analysis Key Concept: Qualitative Data Analysis i. Ethnography

ii. Case Studies iii. Grounded Theory Stages of the Qualitative data Analysis Classification of the Data Analysis Techniques/Strategies

IX. Academic Research Writing Characteristics of academic research writing Documenting and structuring research writing

(03.0 hours)

X. Referencing Skills A. APA Style Sheet B. MLA Style Sheet

(04.0 hours)

XI. Developing Research Proposals A. Parts of Proposal B. Writing and Critiquing a research proposal

(15.0 hours)

XII. Academic supervision A. Roles and responsibilities of a Researcher B. Roles and responsibilities of a Supervisor

(03.0 hours)

Summative Assessment Submission of Individual Research Proposals

(2.0 hours/50 Marks) 50 Marks

Recommended Reading List Singh, Y. K. (2006). Fundamentals of research methodology and statistics. New Delhi: New Age International Publishers. Grix, J. (2001). Demystifying postgraduate research. Birmingham: The University of Birmingham Press. Silverman, D. (2009). Qualitative research methods. London: Routledge Famer

Course Evaluation and Closing Ceremony