Course Title: Research Methodology

Course Code: SS511

Course Objectives:

The aim of this interdisciplinary course is to teach graduate students basic elements of conducting
research that includes developing a clear student's thinking about a research problem, reading and
reviewing a research paper, and conducting an effective literature review. In addition, techniques
for clear and effective writing of a research paper/thesis will be taught. It will also be emphasized
that simple, coherent and well-structured scientific writing is extremely important for developing
a sound research methodology.

Prerequisites:

Graduate status.

Course Deliverables:

A research paper that contains a title, an abstract, an introduction, and a conclusion section. There
should be two versions of the paper. First version should contain Title, Abstract, Introduction, and
Conclusion sections with the same point numbers as in the handouts given in the class. Second
version should contain Title, Abstract, Introduction, and Conclusion sections in a coherent form
without any numbering of points. There should not be any repetition of sentences in any two
sections.

Reference Books:

[1] Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams, "The Craft of Research", 3rd
edition, The university of Chicago press, 2008.
[2] George M. Hall, "How to write a paper", fifth edition, Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
[3] Bryan Greetham " How to write your undergraduate dissertation", Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

Grading:

35% Assignments,
10% Contribution to others' work,
55% Final paper
Zero tolerance for plagiarism.
Final paper
Content and organization 70%
Clear sentences 15%
Grammar 15%

Contribution to others' work

During the interactive feedback sessions, each student will provide a written feedback on work
of the student. The feedback should contain at least one sentence on positives of the work and
one sentence on improving the work. This process will polish reviewing skills of students –
critical for a sound research methodology.

Tentative Course Plan:

Week Main Topics Events

1-2 Introduction to the course, Research Process,
Clarity of thinking, What, How, Why?, Examples

3 How to read and review a paper Every student should have a topic
to work on by the 3rd week.

Assignment assigned for writing a

paper review (5% grade)
4 How to conduct a literature review First draft of the review
assignment due

Assignment Assigned for

Information retrieval + Project
plan (5% grade)
5 Avoidance of confused writing Feedback on the review
assignment provided

Assignment for Information

retrieval + Project plan due
6 Titles, Abstract writing, Examples (Focus Final draft of the review
will be developing students’ thinking in assignment due
terms of i) What is the problem statement
and what has been done so far on this? ii) The Abstract handout will be
How it can be solved? Why solving the provided
problem is important?)
Assignment Assigned for Abstract
(5% grade)
7 interactive abstract reviews of all groups First draft of Abstract due

Each student will explain his

project briefly to
all students of the class
8 Introduction writing, Examples Second draft of Abstract due

The Introduction handout will be

provided

Assignment Assigned for

Introduction (5% grade)

9 interactive introduction reviews of all groups First draft of Introduction due

10 Literature review/Survey writing, Examples Second draft of Introduction due

Assignment Assigned for

Literature review/Survey (5%
grade)
11 interactive Literature review/Survey reviews of all First draft of Literature
groups review/Survey due
12 Hypothesis/Methods/Analysis/Results writing, Second draft of Literature
Examples review/Survey due

Assignment Assigned for

Hypothesis/Methods/Analysis/Res
ults (5% grade)
13 interactive Hypothesis/Methods/Analysis/Results First draft of
reviews of all groups Hypothesis/Methods/Analysis/Res
ults writing due
14 Conclusions/Discussion writing, Examples Second draft of
Hypothesis/Methods/Analysis/Res
ults writing due

Assignment Assigned for

Conclusion/discussion (5% grade)
15 interactive Conclusions reviews of all groups First draft of Conclusions due
2 days after final class Second draft of Conclusions due
Final Final paper due
weeks