RM-898 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
COURSE OUTLINE
Course Information
Inclusion of RM-898 Research Methodology course has been approved to be offered to all
Research MS programs as a 2 credit hours compulsory course in addition to the existing
Methodology 30 credit hours requirement for successful completion of MS degree. All MS
Course in students are required to secure passing grade in this course.
the MS (Ref. # 0986/02/SCEE/ R&D, dated 29 Sep 2014)
Program
Code RM-898
Title Research Methodology
Description This course will provide an opportunity for master students to establish or
advance their understanding of research through critical exploration of research
ethics, and approaches. The course introduces the language of research, ethical
principles and challenges, and the elements of the research process within
quantitative, and qualitative approaches. Students will use these theoretical
underpinnings to critically review literature relevant to their field of interests.
Instructors
Course Dr Javed Iqbal
Coordinator:
E-mail javed@[Link]
Phone 051-9085-4473
Off. Address IGIS Building, H-12, NUST
Instructor Dr. Imran Hashmi
E-mail imranhashmi@[Link]
Phone 51-9085-4303
Off. Address IESE Building, H-12, NUST
Instructor Dr. Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem
E-mail [Link]@[Link]
Phone 0092-51-9085-4164
Off. Address NIT Building, H-12, NUST
Instructor Dr. Abdul Waheed
E-mail waheedabdul@[Link]
Phone 51-90854151
Off. Address NIT Building, H-12, NUST
Instructor Mr. Muhammad Ahsan Mahboob
E-mail ahsan@[Link]
Phone 051-90854491
Off. Address IGIS Building, H-12, NUST
Credit 2
Hours
Requirements
Attendance 75 % (As per NUST Statues)
Evaluation Category Weightage
4x Quizzes 10 %
4x Assignments 5%
1x Project 15 %
1x Mid Term 30 %
1x End Semester Exam (Absolute) 40 %
Grading Pass ≥ 50% Marks
I Incomplete
W Withdraw
Instructor
S. No. Schedule Main Topic Sub-Topics
Name
Dr. Javed
1a Week 1 Orientation Course Introduction Iqbal
Formulating the research problem,
literature survey, developing the
hypothesis, preparing the research
design, data collection and data
analysis, generalization and Dr. Imran
1b Week 1 Research Process
interpretation, variables, types of Hashmi
variables, data collection in physical,
observation, questionnaires,
interviewing forms
Background Information, What is
Basic Research? Examples of Basic
Basic vs. Applied Research. What is Applied
Research Research? Examples of applied
Research. The Gray Zone. Recent Dr. Javed
2 Week 2
Trends in Science Research. Iqbal
Possible Future Trends in Basic and
Applied Research. Discussion
Assignment 01 Questions
Sampling & Sampling for different discipline
Surveying Dr. Abdul
3 Week 3 research; Surveying; Survey
Waheed
Forms; etc.
Quiz 01
Measure of Central Tendency: Mean,
Dr Waheed
Median, Mode; Measure of
4 Week 4 Basic Statistics Dr Jamal
Dispersion: Std. Dev. CV, Variance,
Dr Javed
Skewness, Kurtosis; Data Analysis
in Microsoft Excel and other
software
Introduction to Hypothesis Testing,
Test of Hypothesis Single Sample Test of Hypothesis; Dr Waheed
5 Week 5 Test of Hypothesis about Population Dr Jamal
Mean (Sigma Known)-Z Test; Dr Javed
Assignment 02
Dr Waheed
Test of Hypothesis about Pop. Mean
Test of Hypothesis Dr Jamal
6 Week 6 (Sigma Unknown)-Z Test; Analysis
Dr Javed
of Variance.
Quiz 02
Definition; Assumptions; Positive &
Negative Linear Correlation;
Properties of the
Linear Correlation Coefficient r; Dr Waheed
7 Week 7 Correlation Interpreting the Linear Correlation Dr Jamal
Coefficient; Common Errors Dr Javed
Involving Correlation; Excel
Demonstration
Dr Waheed
Dr Jamal
8 Week 8 Regression Definition; Calculation
Dr Javed
All
Instructors
9 Week 9 Mid Term Exam
as
invigilators
Dr Waheed
Term Project Group (05 each) Formation and topic Dr Jamal
10 Week 10
Announcement selection, Presentation format. Dr Javed
Parts of MS thesis: Title, Abstract,
Introduction (including literature
review), Materials and Methods,
Thesis Writing Results. This section is sometimes, Dr. Javed
11 Week 11
combined with the discussion, Iqbal
Discussion, Conclusion &
Recommendation, References
Assignment 03
Reference Management Software
Programs, Software in the Market
How to Cite
i.e. EndNote, ProCite and Dr. Imran
11 Week 12 References
Reference Manager; Database Hashmi
development.
Quiz 03
Parts of a research paper; Process of
Submission; Peer Review Concept;
12 Week 13 Research Paper Impact and Non-Impact Factor Dr Imran
Journals.
Parts of a Project Proposal; Funding
Dr. Imran
13 Week 14 Project Proposal Agencies in Pakistan.
Hashmi
Ethics and Morality What are they?;
Ethical Concerns in Research;
Examples - Unethical Behavior
Nazi “Medical” Experiments;
Examples - Unethical Behavior
Tuskegee Syphilis Study; Research
Research Ethics Abuses; Tuskegee Compared to Dr. Javed
14 Week 15 Nazi War Crimes; Ethics Debate; Iqbal
Nuremberg Code; Informed Dr Jamal
Consent; Privacy and
Confidentiality; Scientific
Misconduct; Example: Cold Fusion
Fiasco; Plagiarism; Authorship;
Assignment 04 Ethical Concern: Physical Sciences
Research.
Dr. Imran
Hashmi Dr
Presentation Waheed
15 Week 16
Dr Jamal
Dr Javed
Quiz 04 Mr. Ahsan
16 Week 17 Presentation
All
Instructors
17 Week 18 Exam Final Exam
as
invigilators
Recommended Books
1. Kothari, C. R. 2004. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, New Age
International (P) Limited.
2. Kumar, R. 2005. Research Methodology: A Step By Step Guide for Beginners, 2/E, Pearson
Education.
3. David E. G. 2004. Doing Research in the Real World, SAGE Publication, London.
Wenzhong Shi, Peter F. Fisher and Michael F. Goodchild. 2002. Spatial Data Quality, Taylor &
Frances, New York.
