Learn to monitor, analyse and evaluate a common process (or processes) relevant to their stream studies.  (For the purpose of this unit, a "process" is defined as any distinct series of events or changes over a period of time, and which is directly related to the area of study).

COURSE STRUCTURE

There are 6 lessons in this module as follows:

1. Identifying research issues
2. Acquisition of technical information
3. Specialised research techniques
4. Research planning and designing
5. Statistics
6. Conducting research

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE

• Give evidence of your ability to collect, collate and interpret data and prepare reports in ways relevant to the work environment;
• Increase your ability to monitor and evaluate one’s own work in order to develop a responsible attitude to workplace performance and quality assurance;
• Expand awareness of areas where there is a valid need for research which are relevant to area of study;
• Develop your ability to explain research methods, including experimental techniques, commonly used in the learner's area of study;
• Understand the basic statistical methods used for research;
• Develop an ability to locate, collect and evaluate information for a specific research purpose;
• Be able to prepare a research report in a format which conforms to normal industry procedures.

What is covered by each lesson?

1. Identifying research issues

• The nature of research
• Finding research ideas
• Experience
• Literature
• Requests for research
• Curiosity and imagination
• Considering all options
• Formulating a research project
• Is the research topic feasible
• Terminology
• Types of questions: descriptive, rational, causal
• Units of analysis
• Validity
• Conclusion validity
• Internal validity
• Construct validity
• External validity
• Fallacies
• Variables
• Structure of a research project
• Components of a research project
• Nature of a relationship
• Patterns in relationships
• Timing of research
• Ethics in research
  
  

2. Acquisition of technical information

• Literature review
• Research methods
• Methods of collecting information
• Experimental methods
• Correlation methods
• Questionnaires, surveys, tests
• Interviews
• Document reviews
• Focus groups
• Case Studies
  
  

3. Specialised research techniques

• Specialised research
  
  

4. Research planning and designing

• Introduction
• The scientific method
• Testing hypotheses
• Common mistakes when applying the scientific method
• Hypotheses, models, theories and laws
  
  

5. Statistics

• Types of data: quantitative vs qualitative
• Overview of statistics for research
• Sources of statistics
• Statistical data (Plural sense)
• Statistical Method (Singular sense)
  
  

6. Conducting research

• Analyzing and interpreting information
• Start with research goals
• Analysis of quantitative information
• Analysis of qualitative information
• Interpreting information
• Example of a report
• Pitfalls to avoid
• Evaluation
• Evaluation strategies
• Types of evaluation
• Evaluation questions and methods

After the Research Comes a Report.

There are a whole range of conventions that should be followed when reporting on research that you have conducted. Most reports follow a similar, logical structure; but different types of reports can vary in the detail, depending upon what type of research, and type of report is required. Consider a field survey report for example:

Field reports involve combining observations made in the field with theory. The idea is to describe what has been observed and to analyse those observations. They are generally broken down into the following sections:

Introduction - an outline of the research question, the objectives of the research and any underpinning theory. How observations will be recorded.

Description - this is an outline of what has been observed and the parameters of those observations. It is an in-depth description of what has been noted and typically addresses the questions of what, where, who, when and why?

Analysis - this is a detailed analysis of what has been observed and how it relates to the theory. Only observations which are related to the theory should be included. The analysis is the most important component of a field survey report.

Conclusion - a brief summary of what was discovered and any recommendations. Limitations of the research may be highlighted here. This section should not exceed more than a few paragraphs.
 
Appendices - supporting data such as records of observations and anything which is not necessary to the main body of the report may be included here.