ASM6222: Research Methodology and Data Analysis

Brief description of aims and content

The aim is to provide students with practical understanding, guidance and a vision of the key issues involved in development and execution of scientific research, especially in the field of agroforestry, soil management and sustainable rural development studies. This will enhance quality research based on systematic and organised knowledge of the environment, society, economy and political realities and problems.

 Learning Outcomes

            Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Understand the principles of developing and executing scientific research
• Know several research methods and methodologies and relevance of techniques in different situations

      Cognitive/Intellectual skills/Application of Knowledge

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

• Can apply different research methods on problems in the field of agroforestry and soil management
• Are able to choose between conventional or alternative research methods, as well as between quantitative or qualitative research

     Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

• Use basic statistic calculations and statistical packages (further elaboration in other course)
• Use interview techniques and proper design of questionnaires.
• Project planning and evaluation
• Presentation of results, with help of ICT

            General transferable   skills

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

• Are able to design research methods appropriate for different situations

• Can assess the relevance, feasibility, coverage, accuracy,      objectives and ethics of research

Indicative Content

Lectures

• Introduction
       Introduction to issues in agroforestry and soil management; definitions;      purpose of research; requirements of research; type of research; study      designs; and general methods of data collection.

• Why research?
       Rationale for conducting research; nature of research problems; the      research process; and evidence for decision-making matter
• Strategies for Research
       Surveys, Case Studies Experiments and categorizing      study designs according to research perspective.
• Qualitative      Research Process
       Understanding Qualitative      Research; analysing Qualitative Data; bridging Methodologies; and      participatory approaches.
• Quantitative Research Process
       Understanding quantitative research; examine      assumptions underlying data collection techniques; collecting      quantitative data: The sampling process - the Sample, sampling plans /      strategies, and non-response. Collecting quantitative data: Experiments;      analysing quantitative data; and special issues of using the regression      model.
• Designing Questionnaires
       Types of questionnaires; use; kinds of data to be collected; planning;      design; routine essentials; the      length; the visual appearance; constructing questions; types of      questions; evaluating questionnaires;      advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires.
• On-Farm and Station Research
       Visit to farm setting and a research station to: Review selection of the      site; examine the design; assess on-going research process; and simulate      alternative scenarios to on-going study designs.
• Policy      Research (Reading Assignment with an overview)
       Nature; preparation: Information inquiry; conceptualization; technical      analysis; and analysis of study recommendations.
• Project Planning and Evaluation
       Project Planning: Survey extent; resources management; logistics;      equipment and supplies; managing the process; managing project databases;      and managing data analysis. Evaluation research: Purpose; project types;      why an evaluation; types of evaluation measurements; measuring evaluation      variables; and evaluation techniques.
• Presentation of Research Results
       Introduction; tables; maps:      Cartographic and GIS; and graphical presentation. Application of      Statistical packages (e.g. SPSS, STATA, SAS, S-PLUS, etc, and the role      of ICTs in research).
• Ethical Issues in Research (All      lecturers)
       Definition of ethics; researcher responsibilities towards; questionable      practices; ethical research principles; legal Issues, and plagiarism.

Practical (structured) Exercises:

• Outline the phase of the evolution of agroforestry sciences and indicate methodological challenges
• To what extent is a groforestry and soil management theories necessary to bringing about sustainable change in a given geographic landscape?
• Agroforestestry and rural development researchers often talk of the need for theoretical framework. To what extent does such a framework contribute to knowledge development?
• Discuss the major agroforestry and rural development issues in your country. To what extent do the raised issues have an impact on the nature of research activities undertaken at leading institutions?
• Evaluate the major debates on the efficacy of qualitative and quantitative research, taking into consideration your justification for your choice of study.

Individual Home work/Assignment:

Either (i)          Write brief notes on the logistic approach in solving

a problem.

            Or (ii)               Examine the influence of feminist theory on the

development and use or adoption of agroforestry

technologies.

Group Work:  

• Design a suitable research strategy for the study of a selected problem or phenomenon of interest to you, taking into consideration economy of time and budget.