OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDY PROGRAMS

HCMC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Lecture #:

RESEARCH SKILLS

LEARNING OUTCOMES

L.O.2 - Relate the research skills to personal growth and

development

L.O.3 - Behave depending on the research skills

2
 MAIN CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Contents
3. Summary
4. Practice
5. Homework

1. Introduction
Definition
Research skills are cognitive skills, writing skills, information and technology skills
(Leong et al., 2015).

4
 1. Introduction
Motivation
Develop new processes and outcomes
Personal growth
Customer relationship management
Cost effective
Competitor analysis

Application
Application of the research skills in business (new services or products), work
(viable solutions), and daily life (ability to gain insight).

2. Contents of the research skills

Skill overview
Research methodology
Scientific method
Research methods
Planning a research project
Requirements in scientific research

6
 2. Contents of the research skills
Research methodology
Research methodology explains how research is carried out in order to achieve the
objectives of the research.
Research methodologies can be classified in qualitative or quantitative.
Qualitative research is associated with the use of words, sounds, images and objects as the
data for research and the interpretation of the data can be subjective.
Quantitative research is associated with numerical data that are obtained from experiments,
surveys or past records and the interpretation of data is regarded as more objective.
Examples
Qualitative research
Quantitative research

2. Contents of the research skills

Scientific method
The scientific method is generally described as consisting of six to eight stages.
Examples
(1) state the problem;
(2) design the experiment, collect samples and identify the variables;
(3) observe correlations and identify patterns;
(4) form hypotheses to explain regularities;
(5) test explanations and predictions (falsifiability);
(6) develop laws or reject the hypothesis;
(7) make generalizations;
(8) form new theories.

8
 2. Contents of the research skills
Research methods
Research method refers to a specific process of conducting the research work.
Examples
Experimental research
Quasi-experimental research
Survey research

2. Contents of the research skills

Planning a research project
Phases of a research project (six phases)
Project management (objectives, scope, activities, constraints of time, resources)
Example: Gantt chart (Leong et al., 2015)

Figure 6.1 Example of a Gantt chart

(Source: Leong et al., 2015) 10
 2. Contents of the research skills
Requirements in scientific research
Requirements of a research / research proposal
A critical discussion of previous research in your area?
A clear statement of your hypothesis/hypotheses or objective(s)?
The methodology for your research (and the expected stages for proposal)?
Significance and contribution of the study?
Facilities, resources, laboratory equipment needed (for proposal)?
Ethical considerations?
Concise Coherent
Using sources and avoiding plagiarism
References

11

3. Summary
Recap (theory)
Research methodology
Scientific method
Research methods
Planning a research project
Requirements in scientific research

Examples

12
 4. Practice
Case study
Case study description (example of research)
Practice
Apply the contents of the research skills to the case study.
Submit the answers and/or present in class

13

5. Homework
Requirement
Discuss and present group ideas to apply the research skills for assignment 2.
Deadline: 1 week

14
 REFERENCES

Leong, E. C., Heah, C. L. H., & Ong, K. K. W. (2015). Guide to research projects for
engineering students: planning, writing and presenting. CRC Press. [main reference]

15

OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDY PROGRAMS

HCMC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

HAPPY LEARNING