UHPP 0010
MPPU 1070/1080
MPPU 1074
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & DATA ANALYSIS
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
1. This course will introduce students to research methodology and data
analysis
2. There are 5 assignments to be completed & submitted at the end of the
semester
3. Submission of all assignments does not consider as pass for the course –
the assignment must fulfil the requirement of the tasks
4. All submission must be done through eproject
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
ASSIGNMENT 1 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW MATRICES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
There are no specific format of this task
Generally it is a Compilation Of Literatures based on specific research interest issues/variables
It is expected for the students to explore specific issues related online learning – last 5 years, minimum 10
At the end of the compilation students should write the review & analysis of the past findings, overall analysis if available
The length of the writing should be 2 pages at minimum
Below are the sample of how the compilation & analysis can be done:
ISSUE/PROBLEM/VARIABLE
Researcher/Author
Year of
Publication
Title of Study
Research Design
Used
Population &
Sampling
Instruments
Used
General review and analysis of the literatures (to conclude the context of the study based on the literatures)
Prepared by:
(Student Name & ID)
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
The Findings
RUBRICS FOR ASSIGNMENT 1 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW MATRICES
ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENT 1:
SYSTEMATIC
REVIEW
MATRICES
CRITERIA
Appropriateness
of Sources
Grouping of
Constructs
Synthesis of
Methodology
Synthesis of
Findings
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
DESCRIPTORS
Extract constructs from relevant journals
Constructs are grouped according to
appropriate themes
The synthesis contains summary of
research methodology (design, population
and sampling, instrument and data
analysis)
The synthesis contains summary of findings
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
Not
Need
Moderate Satisfactory
Stated Improvement
(2)
(3)
(0)
(1)
ASSIGNMENT 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
RESEARCH DESIGN
There is no specific limit of length for this task – as long it covers the required information
As a continuation, you have to utilise the same issues (online learning) in your Assignment 1 to complete this task
Evaluate your research design for the issues based on the following aspects as below
State you name & ID at the end of your report
Issue(s)/problem(s)
State the issues/problems that you are interested to explore
Possible Research
Objectives/Research
Questions
Research Design Proposed
List down the possible research objectives/questions of the study
Justification to use the
design
State the justification why the proposed design is suitable for the study
Prepared by:
(Student Name & ID)
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
Propose the suitable design for the study in detail – including three fundamental
aspects such as data collection, data analysis, data interpretation & data reporting
RUBRICS FOR ASSIGNMENT 2 RESEARCH DESIGN
ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENT 2:
RESEARCH DESIGN
CRITERIA
Issues/Problems
DESCRIPTORS
Issues/problems are clearly
stated
Research
List of research
Objectives/Questions objectives/questions aligned
to the issues
The Design
The design is explain clearly
& suitable to answer the
research objectives/questions
Justification of the
The design is clearly justified
design
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
Not
Stated
(0)
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
Need
Moderate Satisfactory
Improvement
(2)
(3)
(1)
ASSIGNMENT 3
DATA SIMULATION
1. Answer both simulations, quantitative & qualitative accordingly. You may also use
your own sets of simulation to complete the task
2. There is no specific pages limit – as long it covers the required information
3. Please provide your name & ID at the end of the report
A. Simulation of Quantitative Data Analysis
You are given a ten-items questionnaire as below for your data collection. Collect the data
from 10 samples, run the analysis based on the 2 constructs (knowledge & experience) and
prepare the report.
Student’s Knowledge & Experiences on Research
Item Statement
1
2
Not
True
1
1
Partly
True
2
2
Mostly
True
3
3
True
I have involved in a small-scale research
4
I have experience working as a research assistant
4
I can understand well materials related to research
3
1
2
3
4
methods
Reading materials relating to research methods are easy to
4
1
2
3
4
understand
The main reading material that I use (related to research
5
1
2
3
4
methods) is textbooks
Reading materials related to research methods are based
6
1
2
3
4
on my instructor/lecturer suggestion
I know/recognize the key figures in the research
7
method/design
that
I
use
for
my
1
2
3
4
study
I can distinguish the characteristics of different research
8
1
2
3
4
designs
Research methodology is related to the research questions
9
1
2
3
4
posed in a study
10 Data analysis depends on the type of data that one gathers
1
2
3
4
Student’s Demography
Gender
Male
Female
Field Of Study
State: ____________________
Notes:
Items no 1,2,4,5,6 – Experience
Items no 3,7,8,9,10 - Knowldege
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
B. Simulation of Qualitative Data Analysis
Instruction:
1. Read the following transcript between a Researcher and Participant A.
2. Use the transcript and run the data analysis by showing the process of analysis – thematic
analysis & coding
Researcher:
Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
Participant A: I am a PhD candidate in Durham University. School of Education. I have been
here for a year and half. I am an academic staff in one of the local universities
in Malaysia and therefore, I receive scholarship from the government. I did my
undergraduate and masters at a local university prior coming to UK.
Researcher:
You mentioned about getting scholarship to further your study here. Is it the
UK government or Malaysian government?
Participant A: The scholarship is from Malaysian government. To be specific, from the
Ministry of Higher Education.
Researcher:
I see. Regarding the Phd program that you are now undertaking in Durham, do
you have to take any taught course prior to conducting your doctoral research?
Participant A: For the PhD program?
Researcher:
Yes.
Participant A: I didn’t take any taught course because it is not part of the requirement for a
full time students but I attended courses that the graduate school offers or the
school from time to time upon recommendation from my supervisor or based
on my own initiative.
Researcher:
What kind of courses that you have attended?
Participant A: There are many. The recent one, I have attended courses about NVivo which
was held last week. It was held for two days consecutively and it was
conducted from 9am until 4pm. There are breaks for lunch and tea. Other than
that, I also attended a course on SPSS twice. This semester and last semester.
Other than the courses which related to data analysis, I also attended a course
called ‘How to manage Long Document’ couples of times which involve using
Words and EndNote.
Researcher:
It seems that you have attended some courses more than once. May I know
why do you attend such courses more than once?
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
Participant A: Well, I attended some of the courses more than once because I feel that it is
not enough to attend such courses only once. Many of the things are related to
hands-on thing. We need to practice using software for instance. Like NVivo or
SPSS, it is software that I might use for data analysis in my study. Even though
they provide handouts for the course but I find it hard to understand or master
using new software for the first time, unless I have someone beside me to help
me when I encounter any problem. So, by attending to the courses more than
once, other than befriending the facilitator, I also get to know others from
different schools. You know, I might be able to get some help from them or we
could share problems and solutions in the future since we know that we are
using the same software for our research.
Researcher:
What make you decide to attend such courses?
Participant A: Well, other than based on my supervisors’ recommendation, I attended those
courses even without their recommendation because I think that some of the
courses are needed to help me in completing my study. Like the SPSS or NVivo.
Researcher:
Is it important to attend such courses? What do you think about the
importance of such courses?
Participant A: Umm….
Researcher:
How important is it for you to attend such courses?
Participant A: Well, the importance may vary depending on circumstances. Most of the time,
I find it useful to meet others who are attending such courses because I could
befriend with them. I always feel that I do not know many who can help me or
share similar problems with me. It is kind of frustrating when it happens that
way. PhD is a lonely journey. Many of my friends say the same thing. Even the
ones attending the courses feel the same. So, finding that there are people
who use similar software and might be able to share information or solutions
really helps. Especially after the courses. There are many times when I sought
their help when I encountered a problem while using EndNote, for instance.
Researcher:
Based on the examples that you have given, it seems that you attended the
courses related to software like Words, NVivo and SPSS. Are there any other
courses that you have attended or going to attend that not related to any
software?
Participant A: There are other courses too like ‘How to manage your supervisor’, speed
reading or ‘How to survive a viva’. These are some of the courses that organize
by the graduate school. But I also attended some courses which my school
organizes which are more specific to my field of study like something related to
research methodology or statistical analysis. But usually it is based on my
supervisors’ recommendation or I requested my supervisors to give their
approval. This is because some of the courses have fees which are quite
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
expensive for a student like me. The school has a budget for students to attend
such courses and they will cover the fees up to GBP100 per student per year.
All these need the approval from the supervisors though. We need to fill in a
form and send it to the secretary at school. I have attended a one-day course at
the Newcastle University about mixed method designs. One of the facilitators is
Jennifer Greene. The cost to attend this course is GBP75. Quite a lot for a
student like me. I applied to my school to attend this course. They approved my
application since my supervisors gave their approval. But they only cover the
fees but not the traveling expenses. So, I took a train with my friends to
Newcastle from Durham and we walked to the university from the train station
to save budget. Luckily, it just cost us GBP3.50 for a return ticket after a
discount.
Researcher:
When you came here, what was your reaction to your first UK course? What do
you think about the style and method of presentation?
Participant A: When I attended my first course in Durham, my first reaction is, it is not that
different as compared to the courses that I have had attended at a local
university in Malaysia for both undergraduate and masters courses or any
other courses that were held in any seminar or workshop. The facilitator used
power point slides and there are some activities as well. It is the same as what I
have experienced back home. I think one of the main differences is in terms of
the handouts and such which are given before the courses. Some materials can
be downloaded from the university webpage or the facilitator will send the
participants some of the notes prior to the course through email. The facilitator
expected us to read the materials before coming to the course and normally,
there are discussion, rather than one-way of presentation. In Malaysia, such
handouts might be given during the course or after the course. In terms of style
and method of presentation, well, it is almost the same. For example, in
Malaysia, other than using power point slides, facilitators still use white board
to write or draw illustration which is the same in UK. Some facilitators who are
IT savvy might use a much more advanced gadget or software. There are some
activities in which participants are requested to work in group or pair which is a
similar practice either in UK or Malaysia. These are similar, I think both in UK
and Malaysia except in UK universities, the discussion was more regular as
compare to Malaysia. The other difference is perhaps the medium of
instruction. In Malaysia, even though the courses where I have attended makes
it compulsory for the facilitators to use English as medium of instruction, yet
majority of them are Malaysians and can understand and speak Malay very
well, so if the participants have difficulty to understand certain things, they can
always request the facilitators to explain in Malay. This is different in UK for an
obvious reason in which English is the main language
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
Prepared by:
(Student Name & ID)
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
RUBRICS FOR ASSIGNMENT 3 DATA SIMULATION
ASSIGNMENTS
CRITERIA
ASSIGNMENT 3:
DATA
SIMULATION
Selection of
Appropriate
Methods for
Data
Analysis
(Quantitative
&
Qualitative)
The Output
answer the
Research
Questions
(Quantitative
&
Qualitative)
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
DESCRIPTORS
Identifies appropriate data analysis method/
techniques to answer research questions
Identifies appropriate steps involved in data
analyses relevant to research questions.
Run appropriate data analysis according to
research questions
Usage of methods / techniques of data
processing is appropriate to answer each of
the research questions
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
Not
Need
Moderate Satisfactory
Stated Improvement
(2)
(3)
(0)
(1)
ASSIGNMENT 4
RESEARCH IDEAS OUTLINE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
You have to prepare a brief research idea about your own research interest
There is no specific pages length – but all required information should be included
The write up of the ideas by point-form are not accepted - you have to discuss it
Close discussion, especially in completing this assignment with your supervisor is required
At the end of the report the supervisor agreement/verification is required before the
submission.
6. Your brief research ideas should be constructed based on the following headings:
1.0 Research Issues/Problems

Discuss critically in brief your background of study in not more than 500 words
2.0 Research Objectives/Questions

List down the focus of your study in statement form
3.0 Research Designs

Identify the suitable design for the study & give justification
4.0 Population & Sampling/Subject of Study/Sources of Data

Show & explain how & why of your population & sampling procedure, or sources of study, or
subject of study will be used
5.0 Research Instruments/Data Collection Procedures

Describe your research instruments or data collection procedures & explain how they are
developed or constructed
6.0 Data Analyses

Propose specific data analysis for answering your ROs/RQs
7.0 Expected findings


List down your expected findings
Usually related to what have been decided for Research Objectives & Questions
8.0 List of References

List down your references
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
Prepared by,
(Student Name & ID)
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
Verified by,
(Supervisor’s Name & Stamp)
RUBRICS FOR ASSIGNMENT 4 RESEARCH IDEAS OUTLINE
ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENT
4:
RESEARCH
IDEAS
OUTLINE
CRITERIA
Research
Issues
Research
Objectives
/ Research
Questions
Research
Design
Population
/ Sample
Research
Instrument
Data
Analysis
Methods /
Techniques
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
DESCRIPTORS
Research Issues/Problem
 The title of study is precise and researchable
 The background of study is clearly & critically
defined
 The references used are from the last 5 years
Research Objectives/Questions
 Aligned to the background of study
Research Design
 Defined with clear justification why the design
is proposed
Population & Sampling
 Aligned to the problem of study and the
design
Research Instrument
 Aligned to the problem of study and the
design
Data Analysis
 Clearly explained the process of analysing the
data
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
Not
Need
Moderate Satisfactory
Stated Improvement
(2)
(3)
(0)
(1)
ASSIGNMENT 5
RESEARCH IDEAS OUTLINE PRESENTATION
.
1. You have to present your brief research ideas
2. There is no specific format of presentation but your creativity in presenting your ideas is encouraged
3. The recording of the presentation should be 10 minutes maximum – state your name, ID, programme, the research ideas, especially on how the
study will be completed
4. Upload your presentation video to youtube before you share the link in the eproject submission.
RUBRICS FOR ASSIGNMENT 5 RESEARCH IDEAS OUTLINE PRESENTATION
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENT 5:
PRESENTATION
VIDEO OF RESEARCH
IDEAS OUTLINE
CRITERIA
Content of
Presentation
Outlook of
Presentation
Courtesy of Dr Hadijah Jaffri (SOE FSSH 2020)
DESCRIPTORS
 Background of study is stated
 ROs/RQs are listed
 The methodology is explained [ design, population &
sampling/ instrumentation/ data analysis]
 The expected findings are indicated
 Voice is clear
 Ideas are presented in a logical sequence
 Transitions are eloquent
 Conclusion is stated
Not
Stated
(0)
Need
Improvement
(1)
Moderate
(2)
Satisfactory
(3)