VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HO CHI MINH CITY

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

COURSE SYLLABUS
I. General information

1. Course title INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

METHODS
2. Course code NVA115.1
3. Type of course (compulsory, optional) Compulsory
4. Level of course Bachelor
5. Year of study (if applicable) 3
6. Semester when the course is delivered 5
7. Number of course credits allocated 3 (2 theoretical credits + 1 practical credit)
Independent study: 90 hours
8. Name of lecturer(s) N/A
9. Mode of delivery Face-to-face
10. Prerequisites Students are expected to have completed
foundation courses.
11. Language of instruction English
12. Work placement(s) N/A

II. Course overview

This course aims to provide students with basic research knowledge and skills. Students will
learn about foundational research theories, methodologies, methods, and how to write research
proposals and reports. The course develops students’ research abilities and prepares them for
further study or future work related to research.
III. Course learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:
 explain approaches and methods in doing a research project
 write a research proposal
 do a small-scale research
 develop critical thinking skills
 improve team-working skills
IV. Recommended or required readings
Required readings
● Dawson, C. (2009). Introduction to research methods, 4 ed., Oxford: How to books.
th

● Kumar, R. (2011). Research Methodology – A step-by step guide for beginners. London: SAGE
Publications.
 Further readings
● Griffee, D. (2012) An introduction to second language research methods: design and data,
California: TESL-EJ Publications.
● McKay, S. (2006) Researching second language classrooms, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates, Inc. Publishers.
● Website: SPSS online tutorials: http://www.spsstools.net/spss.htm#SpecializedTutorials

V. Course contents and schedules

Sessions Course contents Required readings Planned learning

activities and teaching
methods
1. - Course introduction - Dawson, C. (2009) Chapters 1 - Lecture
- How to define your & 13, pp. 1-13; 149-158. - Group discussion
project - Kumar, R. (2011), Chapters 4 &
- How to be an ethical 14.
researcher - Further reading: Griffee (2012)
Part two, pp. 42-126.
2. -How to conduct - Dawson, C. (2009) Chapters 4 - Lecture
background research & 5, pp. 40-56. - Group discussion
(literature review) - Kumar, R. (2011) Chapters 3 & - Practice: Writing
-How to choose your 10 the literature review
participants (sampling) - Further reading: Kumar, R. for the group
(2011) Chapters 5 & 6. research project.
3. -How to decide upon a - Dawson, C. (2009) Chapters 2, - Lecture
methodology. & 3, pp. 14-39. - Group discussion
-How to choose your - Kumar, R. (2011), Chapters 1 & - Practice: Design the
research approach and 2, 7&8. group research
methods. project: topic,
research questions
and methodology.
4. - Dawson, C. (2009) Chapter 6, - Lecture
How to prepare a pp. 57-65. - Group discussion
research proposal - Kumar, R. (2011), Chapters 1 & - Practice: Preparing
2 the group research
project proposal.
Citing and -UBC’s library (2016) Getting - Lecture
5 referencing: the APA Started with APA Citation Style - Group discussion
referencing system (http://wiki.ubc.ca/images/6/6f/Ap - Practice
astyle.pdf)
6. - Dawson, C. (2009) Chapter 9, - Lecture
How to construct pp.89 -103. - Group discussion
questionnaires - Kumar, R. (2011) Chapter 9. - Practice: Designing
- Further reading: Griffee (2012) questions for
Part three: Chapter 7, pp. 135- questionnaires.
158.
 7. -How to conduct - Dawson, C. (2009) Chapters 7 - Lecture
interviews & 8, pp.66-88. - Group discussion
-How to conduct focus - Kumar, R. (2011) Chapters 9 & - Practice: Designing
groups 14. questions for
- Further reading: Griffee (2012) interviews/focus
Part three: Chapter 8, pp. 159- groups.
176.
8. How to carry out - Dawson, C. (2009) Chapter 10, - Lecture
participant pp.105 -113. - Group discussion
observation - Kumar, R. (2011) Chapter 9. - Practice: Designing
- Further reading: Griffee (2012) observation
Part three: Chapter 9, pp. 177- templates.
198.
9+10 How to analyse your - Dawson, C. (2009) Chapter 11,
data pp.114 -133.
(quantitative and - Kumar, R. (2011) Chapters 10&
qualitative) 11
11. How to report your Dawson, C. (2009) Chapter 12, - Lecture
findings. pp.134 -148. - Group discussion
Kumar, R. (2011) Chapter 15 - Practice: Outlining
the report of the
group research
project.
12. Presentation of the - Group presentation
group research project - Peer feedback and
and feedback instructor’s feedback

TBA - Submission of the revised group project: Two weeks after the completion of the
course.
- Final exam: as scheduled by the Faculty/USSH.

VI. Assessment scheme

Assessment tasks Scores Weighting
A1. Group research project 100 pts Mid-term score 30%
(A1a) Oral presentation of the project 40 pts
(A1b) Written report 60 pts
A2. Final test 100 points Final score 70%
100%
Passing Grade: 5/10

Guidelines for the group research project and final test

(1) Group research project:
Students will work in groups of four/five to choose a research topic, write their research proposal
and do a small-scale research project. The project will be built up through the whole course and
include the following steps:
 1.
Research proposal writing
2.
Proposal presentation and peer feedback
3.
Data collection and analysis
4.
Presentation of the research project and peer feedback.
5.
Project report writing (the report will be about 3000 words, with 1.5 lines spacing, font
size 12, Times New Roman font style, and citing and referencing in APA format).
The group project will be submitted two weeks after the completion of the course.

(2) Final test:

● Test date (TBA): scheduled by the academic office after the course.
● Objectives of the final test: to assess if the students will be able to (i) identify key research
concepts and approaches, (ii) distinguish different methods used in qualitative and
quantitative research, and (iii) write research questions, methodology, and steps to carry out
a research study in a given topic.
● Format of the test: Objective test items (Gap-filling, Matching, True-False, MCQs) and
short-answer questions.

VIII. Course policies

● The course will be conducted in different modes including lecturing, discussion, practice, and
group presentation.
● Attendance in all sessions is strongly recommended. Participants are required to give
advance notice of their absence in case of illness or any other situations. However, they
must attend at least 80% of the sessions in order to pass the course.
● Participants are expected to be well prepared and take an active role in class discussions and
work collaboratively with their peers.
● Failure of the assignment will be imposed as a penalty for cheating and plagiarism.
● For late submitted work, 5% of the component grades will be deducted per day.

Approved by Approved by Prepared by

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Tham