Course Information

FieldValue
Course TitleResearch Methodology
Course CodeD-005-01
LevelPhD
ECTS Credits3.00
Faculty/unitEngineering Faculty
FieldInterdisciplinary course
Course TypeStandard
Course LeaderKabaškins Igors - Dr. habil. sc. ing. professor
AnnotationThis is a compulsory course for all PhD students. The course covers all the conceptual and methodological issues that go into successful conduction of research. It includes philosophy of science, the methodological issues in proposing research hypotheses, scientific communication and the ethical issues in the practice of science. Course introduces to research design from a methods perspective. Examines various research methods with illustrations drawn from specific studies. Includes discussion of the science method and research design, issues of problem selection, data collection, data analysis, and research report evaluation of the significant issue of this Part - preparing draft of introduction to PhD thesis with state-of-the-art and recognized gaps in area of research.
AimThis course aims to give PhD candidates the skills necessary to carry out scientific work that underlies the production of a PhD's thesis. It will help them to select a suitable research topic, conduct a literature review of scientific publications and apply principles of analysis and evaluation in their research. They will also learn how to structure a PhD's thesis and present their ideas and findings using a suitable academic style. Students acquire also basics of PhD thesis structure and prepare introduction and state-of-the-art in the selected topic/domain based on the systematic review
LO1The course aims to give students a broad understanding of research methodology, including research design and qualitative and quantitative methods.
LO2The course aims to give students skills for critical reading of research literature and for developing a research proposal for a PhD's thesis project and research paper
LO3PhD candidates will be able to formulate and write research questions, hypotheses and research objectives; effectively select the correct research design
LO4PhD candidates are able to carry out research methodology with an ethical awareness and academic integrity, and disseminate his/her research in international forums
Required Literature
  • Kassu Jilcha Sileyew. Research Design and Methodology. Intechopen, 2019. https://www.intechopen.com/books/cyberspace/research-design-and-methodology
  • Wee, B.V., Banister, D., 2016. How to Write a Literature Review Paper? Transport Reviews 36, 278–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2015.1065456
  • Elsevier Research Academy https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com
  • Bell, J. (2005). Doing Your Research Project. A Guide for First-Time Researchers in Education, Health and Social Science. Berkshire: Open University Press. 288 p. ISBN/ISSN 0-335-215-04-1
Assessment MethodThis is a compulsory course for all PhD students. The course outline will be followed throughout 3 semesters. The condition for obtaining the final grade for the course is to obtain a positive evaluation (at least 5 points) for all components of the course. Students are expected to do independent reading of research papers and engage in a term reports. The final grade for the course is cumulative and includes the following components: 1) PhD Thesis Proposal (as introduction to PhD dissertation) and 2) Presentation of task setting with state-of-the-art and recognized gaps An individual academic text on a methodological issue related to the student's own PhD topic.
Independent studyAll students independently research during the course will prepare for publishing at least one abstract for RaTSif Conference; conduct at least one presentation for Scientific Conference and write draft of Introduction and state-of-the-art for PhD thesis.
Full-time
First Sit ElementsElement Weighting, %Group WorkLinks to Results
Reports50 LO1, LO3, LO4
Presentations50 LO2, LO3, LO4

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