RESEARCH PROJECT I BGN102

Learn to plan and conduct research into the current status of an aspect of an industry relating to their area of study, and to complete a descriptive report based on that research.

Research skills improve you capacity to do the job in any career that requires the use of information.

Through this course you learn to discover what you need to know to do the job better; and that makes you into a more valuable employee and a more employable job applicant.

Distance Education Course -Introduction to Research Methods and Techniques

  • Learn to apply research to scientific, social or business needs
  • Use research skills to better plan and manage a business enterprise
  • Learn from highly qualified international experts with a solid reputation and experience in industry applied research

This course focuses on giving you a foundation, enabling you to plan and conduct research into the current status of an aspect of an industry relating to their area of study, and to complete a descriptive report based on that research.

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

There are 7 lessons as follows:

1.       Determining Research Needs

2.       Research Methods

3.       Using Statistics

4.       Research Reports

5.       Searching For Information

6.       Conducting Statistical Research

7.       Reporting On A Research Project.


LEARNING OUTCOMES

·          Evidence of your ability to collect, collate and interpret data and prepare reports in ways relevant to the work environment;

·       An ability to monitor and evaluate one’s own work in order to develop a responsible attitude to workplace performance and quality assurance;

·          Awareness of areas where there is a valid need for research which are relevant to area of study;

·          Ability to explain research methods, including experimental techniques, commonly used in the learner's area of study;

·          Understanding of  the basic statistical methods used for research;

·          Ability to locate, collect and evaluate information for a specific research purpose;

·          Ability to prepare a research report in a format which conforms to normal industry procedures.


 

Course Duration - 100 hours


Tips for finding Reliable Information from Literature, for a Research Project

Acquiring a collection of relevant literature is an ongoing task which will require you to actively search out meaning references. Rarely will they land on your lap, you will need to read and search through journals, other dissertations, conference proceedings and textbooks. It is recommended that you acquire access to a university library and their system of academic databases. You can also search online using search engines such as Google Scholar; DiVA, Academic Index and so on. Researching literature will take you on an investigate journey as reading one article leads to another and so on. You need to be selective .

Textbooks
Books often contain the more complete argument or report of research. They are usually prepared by a scholar or a scientist after the research has been conducted and very often reported to the agency, foundation or group that sponsored it. A book is better edited, which means that there are fewer inconsistencies typographical or otherwise. Books also undergo an evaluation by a publisher with regard to its significance and interest to the research community.

Journal articles
Academic journals are typically edited by experts in the field and the papers contain there in are read by a group of scientists in that field before they are published. These types of journals are referred to as “peer-reviewed” for obvious reasons. The journals editors take great pains to make sure that the author complies with standard practices in the citing and reporting of the researcher’s information. The editors also make judgments about the rigor of the study, very often submitting questions to the author which the author must answer if they want their work published. This forces the author to re-write areas which remain confusing and are not easily understood.
Very often editors will also critique the method, the instruments, and the analysis being conducted by the scientist preparing the article. Sometimes four, five and six submissions by the author are required before all of the concerns of the editors have been satisfied. In this way you can be assured of a certain level of rigor in the work that you are reading.

Indexes
Indexes of periodicals such as journals and magazines contain useful leads. Also consider research reports, reviews of literature (such as the one you are doing now) and articles.

Abstracts
These present summaries of research in various disciplines.