BTP4752

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
DR NADIYA ABDUL HALIM
PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM, FTEK
 INTRODUCTION

COURSE OUTCOME:
By the end of semester, students should be able to:

CO1 - Analyze the different kind of research design and methodology and apply the
appropriate method according to the niche area of research interest
CO2 - Develop independent critical thinking for analysing research report/article
CO3 - Generate appropriate research proposal to undertake research project as well as
for grant application
CO4 - Contribute and complete the given task in timely manner

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 ASSESSMENTS

20% 50% 30%

TEST INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT GROUP ASSIGNMENT

MID TERM TEST CLASS PARTICIPATION (20%) TECHNICAL PAPER (20%)
SHORT ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (20%) PRESENTATION (10%)
PEER REVIEW (10%)

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 IMPORTANT DATES

th 12th
17
OCT DEC
SUBMISSION OF
MIDTERM TEST* TECHNICAL PAPER *
10%
14th 20%

NOV
SHORT ANNOTATED
BIBLIOGRAPHY *
20%

*subject to change Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 WHAT IS RESEARCH?
WHY DO WE DO RESEARCH?
UNDERSTANDING
Relationships among
Investigation variables.

Solutions
RESEARCH FORECASTING
Future behaviour of
METHODOLOGY the variables.
Organized

Analysis CONTROLLING
Direction of the
variables
Study
Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim
 WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Exploratory/Formulative
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon
or to achieve new insights into it
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY DEFINITION Descriptive
To portray accurately the characteristics
of a particular individual, situation or
• Research is the journey of known to unknown; a group
from problem to solution.
Diagnostic
• Methodology bridged gap between problem To portray accurately the characteristics
and solution. of a particular individual, situation or
• Methodology
Analysisconsisted of Scientific or a group
systematic process where every element of
Hypothesis-testing
the process based on thought reasoning To test a hypothesis of a causal
simply called logic. relationship between variables
Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim
 RESEARCH METHODS VS METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH METHODS
------------------------------
Include techniques/methods that are adopted for conducting research.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
--------------------------------------
The way in which research problems are solved systematically.
A science of studying how research is conducted scientifically.
Researcher acquaints himself/herself with the various steps generally adopted to study a
research problem, along with the underlying logic behind them.
Hence, it is not only important for the researcher to know the research
techniques/methods, but also the scientific approach called methodology.
Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS CHAPTER

Identifying a Research Topic
9
Reviewing the Literature
Developing and Stating Hypotheses
8 10
Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim
The Choice and Statement of a Research Problem

Choice of a problem:
 Requires originality and creative thoughts
 Problem should be important in the larger picture of one’s
view of the world
 Solve old problem because of some new tool, experimental
or theoretical, has become available from another source
 Explore a region which is really new
•Purpose of the research
 The cost of experiments
 Moral considerations

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

The Choice and Statement of a Research Problem

Identifying a topic
A research topic focuses the study to a defined, manageable
size
 It provides structure for the steps in the scientific method
 It is discussed in many ways
•Research question
•Research problem
•Purpose of the research

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 Identifying a Topic

Four main sources of topics

 Theory – an organized body of concepts, generalizations and
principles that can be subjected to investigation
• Provides conceptually rich topics
• Provides confirmation of some aspects of theory
 Personal experience
 Replication
 Library immersion

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 Identifying a Topic

Narrowing and focusing topics

Three problems with broad topics:
 Enlarges the scope of the review of the literature beyond
reason
 Complicates the organization of the review of the literature
itself
 Creates studies that are too general, too difficult to carry
out, and too difficult to interpret

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 Identifying a Topic

Suggestions for narrowing topics

 Talk to experts in the field
• Professors in your college or department
• Researchers you know
 Read secondary sources that provide overviews of your topic
• Handbooks
• Encyclopedias
• Reviews

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 The Literature Review

The review of the literature involves the systematic

identification, location, and analysis of documents containing
information related to the research problem

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 Sources of Literature Review

Homework:

 Identify the sources of literature reviews

 Meet up with a librarian and ask them how to find
sources according to you research interest
 Present your findings in the next class
 Searching the Literature

 Necessity for a search

• before beginning a new research project it is essential to
find out the existing state of the field
 Two goals which are important and feasible:
• to find out if the information which is the object of the
proposed research is already available
• to acquire a broad general background in the given field
 The structure of the scientific literature
 Developing Hypotheses

What is a hypothesis
 The hypothesis is what the researchers' predict the
relationship between two or more variables, but it involves
more than a guess.

 Most of the time, the hypothesis begins with a question

which is then explored through background research. It is
only at this point that researchers begin to develop a
testable hypothesis.

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 Developing Hypotheses

Defining a hypothesis
 A researcher’s tentative prediction of the results of the
research
 Formulated on the basis of knowledge of the underlying
theory or implications from the literature review
 Testing a hypothesis leads to support of the hypothesis or
lack thereof

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 Developing Hypotheses

Two views of hypotheses

 Inductive – a generalization made from a number of
observations
• Typical of qualitative studies
 Deductive – derived from theory and aimed at providing
evidence to support, expand, or contradict aspects of that
theory
• Typical of quantitative studies

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 Developing Hypotheses

How Is a Hypothesis Used in the Scientific Method?

The scientific method involves the following steps:
 Forming a question
 Performing background research
 Creating a hypothesis
 Designing an experiment
 Collecting data
 Analyzing the results
 Drawing conclusions
 Communicating the results

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 GROUP ACTIVITIES

Divide into 8 groups; consisting of 6 students per group

• In your group, identify a topic of research that you wanted

to do and develop a hypothesis.
• Brief background of your research.
• Cite relevant references.
• Present in front of the class.

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim

 READING ASSIGNMENTS

Any reading assignment materials will be put up in KALAM.

Students must print and bring their reading materials to classes.
Some assignments require the students to search for their own
materials and to be discussed in class.
Please always check KALAM for any reading materials posted
online.

Dr Nadiya Abdul Halim