Regular Undergraduate Program

Research Methodology

Tuesdays, 10:00 – 12:30

Course Instructors: Prof. Tri Widodo, Ph.D
Telephone: (0274) 548510
Email: widodo.tri@ugm.ac.id
Office Hours: Wenesday, 08.00-10.00 (by Appointment)

I. COURSE OVERVIEW
This course provides students with a complete introduction to research proposal
writing, research methodologies, and foundational research theories and
protocols. Students study about the cyclical nature of applied research and the
iterative process of research writing. The course discusses how to write a
proposal, engage in independent studies, and work collaboratively. The
curriculum is addressed to help students:
 Identifying a study topic,
 Formulating inquiry questions,
 Organizing a literature review, and
 Selecting appropriate research designs and methodologies.
By the end of the course, students will complete a proposal that includes an
introduction, problem statement (significance of study), literature review,
methods section, references, and a project timeline.

II. COURSE FORMAT

We will spend roughly 60 percent of class time on discussions/presentations and 40
percent on lectures. The goal of the lectures is to explain economic concepts and
summarize the discussion of particular cases. Question during the lectures are
welcome and expected.
The course takes place once per week on Tuesdays from 10.00 – 12:30 p.m.
Enrolled students will:
 Attend and actively participate in class sessions and related activities.
 Review course readings and PowerPoint Presentations prior to each
session.
 Learn about the research process, including its guiding principles,
common procedures, written fundamentals, and basic phases.
 Identify a research question, engage in a literature review, and become
familiar with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
 Complete all assignments and the required research proposal

III. GRADING SCALE

1. Midterm exam: 30%
The midterm is based on the theoretical tools and case insights from the first
half of the course. The best preparation for the exam is to review the ideas
from the cases and lectures. The exam will be open books,
2. Final exam: 30%
The final exam will be similar to the midterm. The exam will emphasize the
materials of the second half of the course. The exam will be open books,
3. Discussion/Presentation/Assignments/Quiz: 40%
- Individual : 20%
- Group : 15%
Students are evaluated in the following areas and points are earned
accordingly based on performance:
 Attendance & Participation
  Research Topic & Question(s) (week 7)
 Sample Research Proposals (2 – 3 proposals for reference) (week 8)

 Introduction & Problem Statement (Significance of Study) Section (1

– 3 pages) (week 9)
 Discipline Citation Format & References List (1– 3 pages) (week 10)

 Literature Review Section (3 – 5 pages) (week 11)

 Research Methodology Section (3 – 5 pages) (week 12)

 Draft Research Proposal: Introduction, Question(s), Problem

Statement (Significance of Study), Literature Review, Methodology,
& References (8 – 16 pages) (week 13)
 PowerPoint Presentation Slides (3– 6 slides) (week 14)

The final mark for the course is calculated as: (35%) mid‐term exam + (35%)
final exam + (30%) presentation, assignment and class participation.
A :92‐100
A- :88‐91.9
A/B :84-87.9
B+ :80-83.9
B :76-79.9
B- :72-75.9
B/C :68-71.9
C+ :64-67.9
C :60-63.9
C- :56-59.9
C/D :52-55.9
D+ :48-51.9
D :44-47.9
E/F : <44

IV. TOPICS
 Presentation 1: Understanding Research
(Group 1)
 Presentation 2: Making Academic Decisions (Group 2)
 Presentation 3: Dealing with Practical Issues (Group 3)
 Presentation 4: Indentifying Research Paridgm
(Group 4)
 Presentation 5: Choosing the Methodology (Group 5)
 Presentation 6: Searching the Literature
(Group 6)
 Presentation 7: Writing your research proposal
(Group 7)
 Presentation 8: Collecting Qualitative Data and Excel
(Group 8)
 Presentation 9: Collecting data for Stastical analysis and SPSS
(Group 9)
 Presentation 10: Analyzing using desciptive statistics
(Group 1)
 Presentation 11: Analyzing data using inferenctial and Eviews
(Group 2)
 Presentation 12: Writing up the research
(Group 3)
  Presentation 13: Individual Proposal (Sampled
Students)
VI. REFERENCES
1. Hussey, Jill & Roger Hussey (2009), Business Research: A practical guide
for undergraduate and postgraduate students, Palgrave, New York.
2. Creswell, John W. (2003), Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and
Mixed Methods Approaches, Second Edition, Sage Publications,
Thousand Oaks, California.

VII. FACULTY POLICIES

Absenteeism
Students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings. Absence from class
meetings shall not exceed 20%. Students who exceed the 20% limit without a
medical or emergency excuse acceptable to and approved by the Director of
Undergraduate Program shall not be allowed to take the final exam and shall receive
a grade of E from this course.

Plagiarism and ethical conduct

Academic integrity forms a fundamental bond of trust between colleagues, peers,
lecturers, and students, and it underlies all genuine learning. There is no tolerance
for plagiarism or academic dishonesty in any form, including, but not limited to,
viewing the exams of others, cheating or sharing answers with others, using books or
notes while taking the exam, copying answers or papers, or passing off someone
else's work as one's own. Plagiarism can result in punishment in accordance with the
university regulation.

Policy on extension and late submissions

Students may work together to solve the assignments but must submit the final work
individually. Each student must put name and student number in the submitted
work. Each late submission will get a penalty of 25% from the final assignment mark.