This document outlines the course content for the first week of a 6-credit research methods course taught by Dr. Noora Al-Malki in spring 2014/2015. The week will introduce students to key research concepts like defining research, the research process, and topic selection. Students will learn about the advantages of research, a researcher's responsibilities, and essential research skills. They will also complete assignments introducing themselves and brainstorming potential research topics. Readings assigned for the first week cover research basics, writing a research paper, and developing a research topic. The next class will focus on research paper components, organization, resources, ethics, and documentation styles.

1. Course Title: Research Methods
Course Credit Hrs.: 6 per week
Level: A+B+C
Program: Joint Supervision -Graduate Partnerships Program
Term: Spring 2014/2015
Week I
Instructor: Dr. Noora Al-Malki
Credits of images and online content are to their original owners
Copyright (a) noora malki 2014

2. Presentation Content
- Learning Outcomes
- Define Research
- What can you do with Research?
- What are the advantages of doing
Research?
- What do you have to do as a Researcher?
- Research Skills
- Research Design
- Research Structure
- Research Steps and Action Plan
- Topic Selection
- Research Proposal
- Essential Reading for the Week
- NEXT Week
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3. Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the 6-hour session in the first week, students will be able to:
1-define research and describe the research process and research methods.
2-describe the processes and requirements for conducting successful research at KAU (or
their college)
3-complete the following e-tivities:
a. Introduce themselves and their research interests in the "Join Us for a Cuppa" Forum in
the Discussions Area (obligatory but not graded)
b. Complete the learner profile survey ( obligatory but not graded)
c. Forum Brain Storming Session (1) (5 points)
d. Group Blog Entry (1) “KAU research” for both Teams A+B (5 points)
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4. Define Research!
A research paper is your opinion on a
topic, informed by research you have
done. It is not a summary of others’
thoughts, a personal essay or a review or
critique.
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5. Define Research!
 Research is an activity
 Research Methods are techniques
Chapter 1 "Research Basics" from Walliman's Research Methods (pgs. 7-14)
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6. What can you do with Research?
1. Categorize
2. Describe
3. Explain
4. Evaluate
5. Compare
6. Correlate
7. Predict
8. Control
Chapter 1 "Research Basics" from Walliman's Research Methods (pgs. 7-14)
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7. What are the advantages of doing
Research?
1. Help you learn about a topic (in which you are interested).
2. Teach you to forge a mishmash of researched opinions into a
single, coherent viewpoint.
3. Teaches you the conventions of scholarly writing.
4. Equip you with skills and competences which are essential to
your academic and professional development (like time
management, etc.): It “is an exercise in logic, imagination, and
common sense”
Chapters 1 & 2 from Winkler's and Metherell's Writing The Research Paper (pgs. 3-17)
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8. What do you have to do as researcher?
1)develop professional working relationships
with your supervisor and colleagues,
2)meet deadlines,
3)communicate results using a variety of
methods.
4)Manage your research project
5)Mange motivation.
6)Observe ethics
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9. Research Skills
1) Independence
2) Critical thinking
3) Problem solving
4) Contributing as a professional
5) Initiative
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10. Research Design
Chapter 1 "Research Basics" from Walliman's Research Methods (pgs. 7-14)
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11. Research Structure
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12. Research Structure
Checklists
Discussion
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13. Research Steps
and Action Plan
Extracted from
Winkler's and Metherell's pg. 10)
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14. Topic Selection: Research Topic
“A research topic is an interest defined
narrowly enough for you to imagine
becoming a local expert on it.”
Chapter 3 "From topics to questions" from Booth et al The Craft of Research (pgs. 40-53)
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15. Topic Selection: Idea Sources
1. Interest (listing)
2. The Library (skimming)
3. The Internet (Do Not go astray!)
4. Supervisor (suggestions)
5. Brainstorming Sessions
Chapter 3 "From topics to questions" from Booth et al The Craft of Research (pgs. 40-53)
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16. Topic Selection: Topics to avoid!
1. Broad topics
2. Single-source topics
3. Trivial topics
4. Hot topics
5. Exhausted topics
Chapters 1 & 2 from Winkler's and Metherell's Writing The Research Paper (pgs. 3-17)
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17. Topic Selection: Narrow it down!
1. Break it down
2. Ask questions
3. Mind mapping
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18. Research Proposal
1. Nottingham University Guidelines for Research Proposals
2. Leister University Guidelines for Research Proposals
3. Exeter University Guidelines for Research Proposals
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19. Week One Essential Readings
For this week's three sessions, you are supposed to read the following:
1.Chapter 1 "Research Basics" from Walliman's Research Methods (pgs. 7-14)
2.Chapters 1 & 2 from Winkler's and Metherell's Writing The Research Paper (pgs. 3-17)
3.Chapter 3 "From topics to questions" from Booth et al The Craft of Research (pgs. 40-53)
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20. NEXT Lecture
Topic
Components of a research paper, Research organization, research resources,
research ethics & reliability, internet resources, writing a bibliography &
documentation styles
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21. Have a super day….
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