Introduction
This course is designed for beginners with little to no prior experience in preparing or conducting research. Its purpose is to provide a simple, structured approach to research, and to equip you with the foundational knowledge needed to make informed decisions regarding the research question, study design, data analysis, and reporting.
Please note that the course is relatively comprehensive. Some information may not apply to your own research, but understanding the basic principles and the broader context is always valuable. There is no single correct way to conduct research. This course presents one structured framework as a starting point.
Content
This course is composed of 9 modules:
- Module 1: Introduction and pre-considerations
- Module 2: Research questions and hypotheses
- Module 3: Literature review
- Module 4: The concept sheet
- Module 5: Quantitative research methods
- Module 6: Qualitative research methods
- Module 7: Introduction to quantitative data analysis
- Module 8: Protocol writing
- Module 9: Ethics and review boards
Requirements
There are no formal requirements for this course. However, having a research project to work on would be beneficial. Throughout the course, there are optional assignments designed to support the development of your research project, from concept sheet to protocol writing. The assignments are optional.
How Is This Course Structured?
The course includes videos and readings, all of which must be watched and completed. Some questions may need to be answered to verify completion. Modules and sections may include graded quizzes, which must be completed to progress to the next section. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass these quizzes.
Optional assignments are also provided. These help you apply what you have learnt to real-world scenarios and are particularly helpful for those working on a research project. You are encouraged to use your own research as the basis for these assignments. If you do not have a research project, you are welcome to use the example research question and study.
How Do You Pass This Course?
To pass the course, you must achieve a minimum grade of 80% on all required assessments. All course content and assessments must be completed before progressing to the next module.