This document provides an overview of the CGCR 501 research methods course taught by Associate Professor Dr. İbrahim Kahramanoğlu. The course covers various topics related to the research process over 14 weeks, including selecting a research topic, literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data collection, plagiarism, and writing a research proposal. The document also provides guidance on how to select a research topic, with steps such as brainstorming ideas, focusing the topic, developing keywords, researching the topic, and formulating a research question or thesis statement.
This document provides an overview of the CGCR 501 research methods course taught by Associate Professor Dr. İbrahim Kahramanoğlu. The course covers various topics related to the research process over 14 weeks, including selecting a research topic, literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data collection, plagiarism, and writing a research proposal. The document also provides guidance on how to select a research topic, with steps such as brainstorming ideas, focusing the topic, developing keywords, researching the topic, and formulating a research question or thesis statement.
This document provides an overview of the CGCR 501 research methods course taught by Associate Professor Dr. İbrahim Kahramanoğlu. The course covers various topics related to the research process over 14 weeks, including selecting a research topic, literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data collection, plagiarism, and writing a research proposal. The document also provides guidance on how to select a research topic, with steps such as brainstorming ideas, focusing the topic, developing keywords, researching the topic, and formulating a research question or thesis statement.
This document provides an overview of the CGCR 501 research methods course taught by Associate Professor Dr. İbrahim Kahramanoğlu. The course covers various topics related to the research process over 14 weeks, including selecting a research topic, literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data collection, plagiarism, and writing a research proposal. The document also provides guidance on how to select a research topic, with steps such as brainstorming ideas, focusing the topic, developing keywords, researching the topic, and formulating a research question or thesis statement.
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1/ 26
CGCR 501 – Research Methods
Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kahramanoğlu
Postharvest Expert | Horticultural Scientist Lecture Contents Weeks Contents Week 1 Introduction / description of course outline Week 2 Research steps, basic concepts and ethics Week 3 Scientific Research & Literature Review Week 4 Selecting a research topic Week 5 Searching literature Week 6 Research Types Week 7 Qualitative and quantitative research methods Week 8 Primary and secondary data collection methods Week 9 Plagiarism Week 10 Preparing bibliography Week 11 Writing a research proposal Week 12 Student presentations Week 13 Student presentations Week 14 Student presentations How to select a topic The ability to develop a good research topic is an important skill. An instructor may assign you a specific topic, but most often instructors require you to select your own topic of interest. When deciding on a topic, there are a few things that you will need to do; How to select a topic Be aware that selecting a good topic may not be easy. It must be narrow and focused enough to be interesting, yet broad enough to find adequate information. Before selecting your topic, make sure you know what your final project should look like. Each class or instructor will likely require a different format or style of research project. Use the steps below to guide you through the process of selecting a research topic.
Reference for this section is from: https://
www.umflint.edu/library/how-select-research-topic Steps brainstorm for ideas choose a topic that will enable you to read and understand the literature ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available make a list of key words be flexible define your topic as a focused research question research and read more about your topic formulate a thesis/research statement Step 1: Brainstorm for ideas Choose a topic that interests you. Use the following questions to help generate topic ideas. Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political controversy? Did you read or see a news story recently that has piqued your interest or made you angry or anxious? Do you have a personal issue, problem or interest that you would like to know more about? Do you have a research paper due for a class this semester? Is there an aspect of a class that you are interested in learning more about? Look at some of the following topically oriented Web sites and research sites for ideas. Are you interested in current events, government, politics or the social sciences? Try Washington File https://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/library/eur506.htm Are you interested in health or medicine? Look in Healthfinder.gov, Health & Wellness Resource Center or the National Library of Medicine Are you interested in the Humanities; art, literature, music? Browse links from the National Endowment for the Humanities For Horticultural studies: https://www.hortweek.com/news For other subject areas try: the Scout Report or the New York Times/ College Web sites
And.. https://theconversation.com/europe Follow more, Read more, … Write down any key words or concepts that may be of interest to you. Could these terms help be used to form a more focused research topic? Be aware of overused ideas when deciding a topic. Guidelines for Critical Thinking
Ask questions Distinguish between facts and opinions Examine the evidence Analyse assumptions and biases Avoid emotional reasoning Do not overgeneralise Consider other interpretations Facts vs Opinions
Facts are scientific statements that can be proven through evidence.
Vegetables can be grown on farms and in backyards.
Opinions are personal ideas which are subjective and might result from personal bias. The best-tasting tomatoes come from farms. The best-tasting tomatoes come from backyards.
An opinion may be valid, but it represents a personal interpretation and is, therefore, a weak support for an argument. “To analyse” is to break information into its elements. ‘To be critical’ is to make careful judgements about information and to evaluate its quality. Facts vs Opinions
Scientists can manipulate the make up of genes.
UFOs are real. The earthquake was terrible but the aftershocks were worse. The earthquake was the largest ever recorded on the Richter scale. Eating salty pretzels makes one thirsty. Men are better cooks than women. The nursing profession is open to both men and women. Pan-Pacific Airways offers the lowest fares to Hawaii. Women are not good drivers. Step 2: Read General Background Information Read a general encyclopedia article on the top two or three topics you are considering. Reading a broad summary enables you to get an overview of the topic and see how your idea relates to broader, narrower, and related issues. It also provides a great source for finding words commonly used to describe the topic. These keywords may be very useful to your later research. If you cant find an article on your topic, try using broader terms and discuss this issue with your supervisor or your lecturer. Step 3: Focus on Your Topic Keep it manageable A topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or narrow. One way to narrow a broad topic such as "the environment" is to limit your topic. Some common ways to limit a topic are: by geographical area Example: What environmental issues are most important in the Southwestern United States by culture Example: How does the environment fit into the Navajo world view? by time frame: Example: What are the most prominent environmental issues of the last 10 years? by discipline Example: How does environmental awareness effect business practices today? by population group Example: What are the effects of air pollution on senior citizens? Remember that a topic may be too difficult to research if it is too:
locally confined - Topics this specific may only be covered in these (local) newspapers, if at all. Example: What sources of pollution affect the Genesee County water supply? recent - If a topic is quite recent, books or journal articles may not be available, but newspaper or magazine articles may. Also, Web sites related to the topic may or may not be available. broadly interdisciplinary - You could be overwhelmed with superficial information. Example: How can the environment contribute to the culture, politics and society of the Western states? popular - You will only find very popular articles about some topics such as sports figures and high-profile celebrities and musicians. Step 4: Make a List of Useful Keywords
Keep track of the words that are used to describe your topic. Look for words that best describe your topic Look for them in when reading encyclopedia or review articles and background and general information Find broader and narrower terms, synonyms, key concepts for key words to widen your search capabilities Make note of these words and use them later when searching databases and catalogs Step 5: Be Flexible It is common to modify your topic during the research process. You can never be sure of what you may find. You may find too much and need to narrow your focus, or too little and need to broaden your focus. This is a normal part of the research process. When researching, you may not wish to change your topic, but you may decide that some other aspect of the topic is more interesting or manageable. Step 6: Define Your Topic as a Focused Research Question You will often begin with a word, develop a more focused interest in an aspect of something relating to that word, then begin to have questions about the topic. For example: Ideas = Frank Lloyd Wright or modern architecture Research Question = How has Frank Lloyd Wright influenced modern architecture? Focused Research Question = What design principles used by Frank Lloyd Wright are common in contemporary homes? Step 7: Research and Read More About Your Topic Use the key words you have gathered to research in the catalogue, article databases, and Internet search engines. Find more information to help you answer your research question.
You will need to do some research and reading before you
select your final topic. Can you find enough information to answer your research question? Remember, selecting a topic is an important and complex part of the research process. Step 8: Formulate a Thesis/Research Statement
Write your topic as a thesis statement.
This may be the answer to your research question and/or a way to clearly state the purpose of your research. Your thesis statement will usually be one or two sentences that states precisely what is to be answered, proven, or what you will inform your audience about your topic. Now is time to talk about your Research Proposals… Thanks
