Research Methods & Scientific Writing

Scientific research is a process of derivation, summarization, analysis and presentation of authentic and reproducible results (scientific data) following some specific procedures of research methodology.

Academic writing is a specialized (with-reference) writing style focusing the scientific statements or results obtained via scientific research. Every post-graduate student should understand the basics of scientific research, strategies of reading-writing-editing and all the skills required to maximize the scientific output using formal research methodologies.

This course is designed for enhanced learning and improve understanding of scientific research, research ethics, research tools, software and research approaches.

The course explains well the language of research, science inside and outside the lab, ethical principles and challenges, and the elements of the research process within quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Participants will use these theoretical underpinnings to begin to critically review literature relevant to their field or interests and determine how research findings are useful in forming their understanding of their work, social, local and global environment.

This course aims to provide in-depth knowledge of scientific research (research design, research methodology, research publications) and to train the post-graduate students in reading-writing-editing scientific literature.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to;

• Understand basic concepts in scientific research and research designs
• Formulate a research plan, write grant proposal and scientific paper
• Understand correct ways to refer to and cite from scientific literature
• Discuss and explain differences between different research methods
• Perform literature reviews and reference relevant scientific literature
• Critically assess different research designs
• Analyse, set as contrast, compare and review scientific literature
• Discuss own view in relation to the published research
• Write critical commentaries or letters to the published research
• Write, edit and publish research news and stories

Course Outlines and in the Program of Studies (POSs) are described below;

1. Foundations of Knowledge, Science, Research and Scientific/Academic Publishing
2. Scientific Publications & Writing-Editing-Publishing Skills + Assignment I
3. Web Tools and Software (Content Management & Analysis Tools)
4. Critical Reading & Literature Review Analysis + Research Designing Strategies
5. Research Methodologies – I (Introduction & Types of Data Collection)
6. Micro-Writing & Micro-Speaking Skills + Assignment II
7. Basics of a Research Plan & Grant Proposal + Drafting a Research Proposal + Assignments III
8. Philosophy of Scientific Writing (Pre-publishing Phase)
9. Research Methodologies – II (Analysis & Interpretation of Data)
10. Scientific Articles & Types of Scientific Articles + Common Mistakes in Scientific Writing
11. Writing-Editing Extended Abstracts + Assignments IV 12 Strategies for Global Visibility of Published Research
12. Research as a Career (As Researcher, Research Manager & Science Policy Maker)
13. Drafting a Scientific Paper + Assignments V
14. Editing the Drafted Scientific Paper to be Submitted to a Scholarly Journal

Sharing the Research!