Somali National University

Faculty of Education and Social Sciences

Research Methods in Education

EDU3510
Semester Five, Year 3
Course Syllabus

2018
Course Description

Research Methods in Education is intended to introduce student-teachers into the field of

research. The course also aims to establish the importance of research in education. Research

results play a significant role in informing decisions pertaining to education programs, gathering

evidence to support interventions in education programs and valuing their worth. The course

prepares students to conduct high quality research using various research designs and techniques.

Course Objectives

At the end of Research Methods in Education, students will be able to:

1. Understand the significance of research as a source of knowledge.

2. Know different types of research.

3. Evaluate various types of research designs such as quantitative and qualitative research

designs.

4. Examine how program evaluation and research findings can inform change, provide

accountability and produce evidence-based practice.

5. Demonstrate ethical and culturally relevant strategies for interpreting and reporting the

results of research and/or program evaluation studies.

Required Materials

Textbook: Research Methods in Education module.

WEEK TOPIC (S) LEARNING OUTCOMES READING(S) ACTIVITY/ASSIGNME
NT
1 OVERVIEW OF  Define research Chapter One  Lecture
RESEARCH  Describe research process
 Meaning of  State the characteristics of research
Research
 Characteristics of
research

 Purpose of  Identify the purposes of research Chapter One  Lecture

research  Discuss various types of research
 Types of research

2 THE RESEARCH  State the sources of research topics Chapter Two  Lecture
PROCESS  Evaluate the sources of research  Classroom
 Identifying a topics discussion
research topic
 List the considerations in selecting
 Sources of
research topics a research topic
 Consideration in
selecting a
3 research topic
 Qualities of a  Discuss the qualities of a good Chapter Two  Lecture
Good Research research topic  Classroom
Topic  Explain the importance of research discussion
background
 Research
 Define research problem
Background
 Research Problem
  Identifying a  Describe the process of identifying Chapter Two  Lecture
Research Problem a research problem
 Qualities of a  State the qualities of a good
Good Research research problem
Problem  Define research purpose
 Research Purpose

 Research  Define research objectives Chapter Two  Lecture

Objectives  State the qualities of a good  Group discussion
 Why state research objective
Objectives
 Qualities of a
Good Research
Objective
4  Research  State the importance of research Chapter Two  Lecture
Questions questions
 Research  Define hypothesis
Hypotheses  Explain the various types of
 Types of research hypotheses
Hypotheses
 Theoretical  Explain theoretical framework Chapter Two  Lecture
Framework  Discuss the role of conceptual  Classroom
 Conceptual framework in the research process discussion
Framework
5 TEST ONE

LITERATURE REVIEW  Explain the need for literature Chapter Three  Lecture
 Why Review Literature? review in the research process  Classroom
 Sources of Information for  Discuss the various sources of discussion
Literature Review information for literature
 Preliminary Sources review
 Primary Sources
 Secondary Sources
6 RESEARCH VARIABLES  Differentiate between Chapter Four  Lecture
 Types of Variables independent and dependent
variables
 Define extraneous variables
 Distinguish between
moderator and control
variables

 Levels of Measurement  Describe nominal scale Chapter Four  Lecture

 Define ordinal scale  Classroom
 Differentiate between interval discussion
and ratio scales
7 SAMPLING  State the aims of sampling Chapter Five  Lecture
 Aims of Sampling  Explain the qualities of a good
 Qualities of a Good Sample sample
 Disadvantages of Sampling
 List the disadvantages of
sampling
 Terms Related to Sampling  Differentiate between target Chapter Five  Lecture
and accessible population
 Define random selection
 Explain random assignment
 State what a sampling unit is

8  Probability Sampling Methods  Explain probability sampling Chapter Five  Lecture

 Simple Random Sampling methods
 Aims of Simple Random  Identify the aims of simple
Sampling random sampling
 Stratified Sampling
 Define stratified sampling
 Types of Stratified Sampling
 State the types of stratified
sampling
 Area (Cluster) Sampling  Define area (cluster) sampling Chapter Five  Lecture
 Systematic Sampling  Explain systematic sampling
 Non-Probability Sampling  Discuss non-probability
Methods
sampling methods
 Convenience
Sampling  Describe purposive sampling
 Purposive Sampling  Explain snowball sampling
 Quota Sampling
 Networking Sampling
 (Snowball)


9  The Sample Size  Explain factors influencing Chapter Five  Lecture

 Factors influencing sample size
Sample Size  Describe statistical and non-
 Determination of statistical methods of
Sample Size
determining sample size
MIDTERM EXAMINATIONS

10 VALIDITY AND  Define validity Chapter Six  Lecture

RELIABILITY  Distinguish between construct
 Types of validity and face validity
 Threats to validity
 Define reliability
 Types of reliability
 Explain various types of
reliability
RESEARCH DESIGNS  Define research design Chapter Seven  Lecture
 Choosing a Research  State the characteristics of a good
Design research design
 Characteristics of a
Good Research Design

11  Quantitative Research  Describe quantitative research Chapter Seven 

Designs designs
 Experimental Research  Explain the characteristics of
Designs
experimental research designs
 Characteristics of
 Experimental Research
Designs

 Other Terms in  State the terms associated with Chapter Seven  Lecture
Experimental Research experimental research
 Ex-Post Facto  Define ex-post facto research
Research Design
design
 Survey Research
Design  Explain survey research design
12  Cross-Sectional  Determine the characteristics of Chapter Seven  Lecture
Survey longitudinal surveys
 Longitudinal Survey  Explain exploratory research
 Co-relational Research designs
Designs
 Describe cross-sectional surveys
 Exploratory Research
Designs
 Qualitative Research  Explain case study research Chapter Seven  Lecture
Designs designs
 Triangulation  Describe the importance of
 Case Study Research
ethnographic research designs
Designs
 Ethnography Research 
Designs

13  Historical Research  Define grounded theory research Chapter Seven  Lecture
 Design designs
 Phenomenological
Research Designs
 Grounded Theory
Research Designs

ETHICAL ISSUES IN  Explain major ethical issues in Chapter Eight  Lecture

RESEARCH research
 Informed Consent in  Discuss the importance of
Research
anonymity and confidentiality in
 Privacy
research
 Confidentiality
 Anonymity in  Identify researcher’s
Research responsibility in research
 Researcher’s
Responsibility in
Research
14 TEST TWO

DATA COLLECTION  Differentiate between Chapter Nine  Lecture

 Classification of Data quantitative and qualitative data
in Research  State the types of questionnaires
 Data Collection
Methods
  Questionnaire Methods
 Types of
Questionnaires
15  Constructing a  Explain the procedure in Chapter Nine  Lecture
Questionnaire constructing a questionnaire
 The Interview Method  Discuss various techniques of
 Techniques of interviews
Interviews
 Questions in an  Describe the observation method Chapter Nine  Lecture
Interview in data collection
 Observation Method  State problems of the observation
 Types of Observations
method
 Problems of
Observation  Discuss the document analysis
 Document Analysis method
Method

16 STUDENTS WORK ON THEIR RESEARCH PROJECT

17 STUDENTS WORK ON THEIR RESEARCH PROJECT

18
STUDENTS WORK ON THEIR RESEARCH PROJECT

19 FINAL EXAMINATIONS