Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ISS5220

 
TITLE Research Methodology

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Islands and Small States Institute

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit will provide students an introduction to ontology and epistemology applied to island studies, and to the concept of research design. Students will also be provided with an understanding of useful quantitative and qualitative techniques for assessing variables and relationships between variables. The focus will be variable relating to small island states.

The key topics that will be addressed are the following:
- Introductory statistics
- Econometric methods
- Impact Evaluation methods
- Using statistics and econometric software packages: SPSS, Stata, R, EViews
- Spatial statistics software packages such as QGIS

Qualitative assessments
- Using software packages for qualitative assessments, such as NVivo
- Writing studies as dissertations, research papers
- Submitting articles for inclusion in peer-reviewed journals

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit will provide students with an understanding of useful quantitative and qualitative techniques for assessing variables and relationships between variables, using appropriate software packages for this purpose. The study-unit will also cover techniques and methods for writing of research papers and dissertations.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

At the end of the study-unit students will be able to utilise quantitative and qualitative techniques for assessing tendencies in individual variables and relationships between different variables, using appropriate software packages for this purpose. Students will also acquire improved knowledge on how to deal with ethical issues, and how to interact with sensitive and non sensitive data, as well as how to conduct fieldwork, especially applied to islands and small states. The students will also be familiar with techniques and methods for writing of research papers and dissertations.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit student will be able to apply quantitative and qualitative techniques to estimate relationships between variables and to prepare studies for publication. The students will thus have the required skills for employment in research institutions and other entities that draw up reports on economic, social and environmental realities. The student will also be able to participate in funded projects that require quantitative and qualitative assessments and to lead teams for this purpose.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Peck, R., Olsen, C., & Devore, J. L. (2015). Introduction to statistics and data analysis. Cengage Learning.
- Bazeley, P. & Jackson, K. (2013). Qualitative data analysis with NVivo. London: SAGE.
- Lester, J. D., & Lester Jr, J. D. (2015). Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide (paperback). Pearson.

Supplementary Readings:

- Gujurati D. (Latest edition). Basic Econometrics.
- Adkins, L. and Carter Hill, R. (2011). Using Stata text for Principles of Econometrics. Wiley.
- Andy P. Field, Miles, J.; Zoë Field (2012). Discovering statistics using R. Sage.
- Griffiths, W. and Carter Hill, R.. (2012). Using EViews or Principles of Econometrics. Wiley.
- Gibbs, G. (2002). Qualitative data analysis : exploring with NVivo. Buckingham/Philadelphia: Open University Press.
- Wiltshier, F. (2011). Researching with NVivo. Forum : Qualitative Social Research, 12(1).
- Dillard, D. (2014). Research Guides: DISSERTATIONS: Finding and Writing Dissertations and Theses: Meta Analysis and Systematic Review Resources.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Online Learning

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Classwork SEM1 No 50%
Long Essay SEM2 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Pedro Manuel Sobral Pombo
Karl Agius
Lino Briguglio
Glorianne Camilleri
Saviour Formosa
Stefano Moncada

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit