Research Methodology Lecture 1 -minicourse- 🔖 📥

Explaining "why" something happens (cause and effect). Summary and Next Steps

are the tools. They are the specific instruments and techniques you use to collect and analyze data. Think of these as the hammer, the saw, and the drill in a carpenter’s toolkit.

| Characteristic | Meaning | Example | |---|---|---| | | Clear goal or objective | “To test if X reduces blood pressure.” | | Rigor | Thorough, controlled design | Using a control group and random assignment. | | Testability | Hypotheses can be confirmed/rejected | Measuring blood pressure numerically. | | Replicability | Others can repeat the study | Publishing full methods so another lab can replicate. | | Precision | Confidence in findings | Reporting confidence intervals or p-values. | | Objectivity | Minimizes researcher bias | Using double-blind procedures. | | Generalizability | Applicable beyond the sample | Testing diverse populations. | | Parsimony | Simplicity in explanation | Choosing the simplest adequate explanation (Occam’s razor). | Research Methodology Lecture 1 -MiniCourse-

1. Identify a broad topic / problem area ↓ 2. Review existing literature ↓ 3. Formulate a research question or hypothesis ↓ 4. Choose a research design & methods ↓ 5. Obtain ethical approval & collect data ↓ 6. Analyze the data ↓ 7. Interpret results (discuss limitations) ↓ 8. Disseminate findings (report, thesis, article)

Research moves us from opinion to evidence. Explaining "why" something happens (cause and effect)

At its core,

The most critical takeaway of Lecture 1 is that Students are introduced to the FINER criteria—ensuring a research question is: F easible I nteresting N ovel E thical R elevant Summary Conclusion Think of these as the hammer, the saw,

Finding a specific "Lecture 1" paper can be tricky because it's often the name of a general introductory session in many courses. However, several high-quality academic papers and lecture sets are frequently cited as the gold standard for starting a Research Methodology mini-course. 1. The Philosophical Foundation

By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:

Research Methodology Lecture 1: Foundations of Scientific Inquiry -MiniCourse-