Learn to Research Any Subject Better
Learn how to collect, collate and interpret and evaluate data and prepare reports.
This is a great course for the serious student who needs to conduct research as part of their educational program and for people working in data collection, insights and interpretation.
Learn more about -
- Deciding on a research questions
- Finding out information
- Carrying out statistical investigations
- Writing Reports
This is a useful course for anyone who has to conduct research or projects and write reports as part of their job or education.
What this Course Covers
There are 6 lessons in this course:
1. Determining Research Needs
Introduction
Identifying research needs
The research goal
The research question
Other questions to clarify the research goal
Sources of information
What information is required
Depth and breadth of data
Constraining factors: time, resources
2. Searching For Information
Kind of exploratory research
Primary data research
Literary reviews
Research objectives
3. Research Methods
Research terminology
Experimentation
A controlled environment
Other field trial considerations
Steps in collection and analysis of data
Setting up a comparison trial
Running the trial
Evaluating the trial
Interviewing skills
Procedure
Asking questions
Types of questions
Ways of handling difficult questions
4. Using Statistics
Introduction
Official statistics
Reasons for using statistics
Disadvantages of statistics
Issues to consider
Descriptive statistics
Observed and expected rates
Confidence intervals
Standardising
Conducting Statistical Research
Reliability of statistics
Presenting statistics: pie charts, bar charts, histograms
Descriptive statistics: mean, median, mode, variation, standard deviation, etc
Correlation, Probability
5. Research Reports
Collecting quantitative data
Conducting a survey
Procedure for designing a survey
Forms of data
Planning a formal survey
Designing a questionnaire
Common problems
6. Research Reporting
Report writing tips
Structure of a report
The report outline
Research papers
Referencing
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most
students, the course can be completed with a total of around 100 hours
of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve
desired learning outcomes.
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site are relevant supplementary reading for this course
-
Learning Tips
- Technical Writing
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are
essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self
Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what
was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete
this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of
you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as
it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a
habit of working to specification in the field of human behaviour, will
impress employers, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments.
This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will
have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass
Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under
prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award
you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as
proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of
colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS
Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these
colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and
needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are
checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been
completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to
have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is
discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any
results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to
anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment.
This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and
marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
How This Course Could Help You
helps you to efficiently research, collate and evaluate data - a must for students in higher education plus this working in research or researchers across a wide variety of industry sectors.