Basic Course Information

Awarding institution Institute of Graduate Studies and Research

Department offering the course Environmental Studies
Program in which the course is offered Climate change and sustainable development
master degree
Course Title Scientific research skills
Course code 2001791
Credit hours No credit points
Course type Student development learning course

Course aims
The course is designed as a capstone research course. It is tailored to orient students to research
design, critical reading and professional reporting. Students will gain practice in the challenges of
thinking critically during the course of their research progress.

Course intended learning outcomes

Knowledge & Understanding On completion of the course, students should demonstrate
Intellectual Skills
Professional Skills
Transferable Skills
systematic knowledge and understanding of:
 Scientific method for development of sound research
questions.
 Ethics of scientific research.
 Research and professional reporting approaches.
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
 Master critical thinking skills of interpretation, analysis,
inference, evaluation, explanation and self regulation.
 Adopt a critical systematic approach in reading.
 Apply integrated knowledge towards activities that enhance
research settings.
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
 Develop a professional report.
 Appreciate research and copyright ethics within the context of
their study.
 Practice various data presentation styles.
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
 Participate in a work group, where deadlines, professionalism
and quality of work are of paramount importance.

Course contents
 Research ethics.
 Critical thinking.
 Critical reading and writing skills.
 Approaches of professional reporting.

Teaching and Learning methods

o Lecture o Reading information
o Guided Discussion o Case study
o Brainstorming o Problem-based learning
o Demonstration o Project work
Students assessment methods
o Course work
o Exams
o Peer assessment
o Group work
o Presentations

Learning resources
Essential references
Recommended references
Other material
Jean-Luc Lebrun. Scientific writing: a reader and writer guide.
Larry Wright. Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Analytical
Reading and Reasoning.
Galen A. Foresman, Pter S. Fosl and Jamie C. Watson. The
Critical Thinking Toolkit. Wiley Blackwell.