ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Department of Environmental Design, Health and Nutritional Sciences)

Course: Research Methods (7765) Semester: Autumn, 2018

Level: Post Graduate Credit: 3(2+1)

CONTENT LIST

Following items are included in the study pack:

1. Course Book (Unit 1–9)

2. Theory Assignment One
4. Practical Assignment One
5. Assignment Forms 06
6. Schedule for Submitting the Assignment & Tutorial Meetings.

Note: If any item from the above-mentioned content is missing from your study pack
kindly contact:

Mailing Officer
Mailing Section
Services & Operational Block
Allama Iqbal Open University,
Sector H-8, ISLAMABAD

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 ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
(Department of Environmental Design, Health and Nutritional Sciences)

WARNING
1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING
THE ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD
OF DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENT(S) BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM
OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN
“AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.
Course: Research Methods (7765) Semester: Autumn, 2018
Level: Post Graduate Total Marks: 100
Credit Hours: 03 Pass Marks: 50

Note: All questions are compulsory. Distribution of marks is given against each.

ASSIGNMENT No. 1
(Units: 1-9)

Q.1 Elaborate on application of research from the view point of service provider (15)

Q.2 Formulation of a research problem requires thorough study of existing Review of

related literature. Discuss with examples. (15)

Q.3 Differentiate between concept and variable. Discuss types of variables according to
study design. (15)

Q.4 Differentiate between cross sectional and interventional studies. Which one is more
appropriate to study the cause and effect relationship? (15)

Q.5 Enumerate methods of data collection. Explain the importance of primary data in
Community Health and Nutrition research. (15)

Q.6 Write short notes on the following. (5+5+5+5+5=25)

a) Ethical issues related to subjects in research
b) Characteristics of Snowball sampling
c) Importance of data editing
d) The contents of covering letter for mailed questionnaire
e) Use of modern technology in research

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 ASSIGNMENT No. 2
Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 50
WORKSHOP
Guidelines for completion/ submission of 2nd assignment/ workshop:

a) This assignment is of practical nature. You will have to prepare a research

proposal/synopsis in consultation with your tutor before commencement of
workshop. Same will be submitted to the tutor concerned within due date for
evaluation.
b) This synopsis will be presented by each student in the workshop at the end of the
semester. Marks obtained after presentation will be included in the final result of
the course. Each student will have to prepare 02 copies of the synopsis in spiral
binding for submission. (One for the tutor and one for the departmental record).

INSTUCTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYNOPSIS:

1. Selection of the topic: – Select your research topic from the field of Community health
and Nutrition and it should be approved by the tutor. Relevance of the topic to the
discipline and Researcher’s interest in the research topic is key to quality research.

2. Format of research proposal/synopsis shall be as follows:

a. Introduction/theoretical framework/review of literature/Background/ Rationale
i. Statement of the problem
ii. Objectives
iii. Hypotheses where appropriate/Research Questions.
iv. Significance of the study.
v. Assumptions where applicable
vi. Delimitations
b. Method of Research/Research methodology
i. Population/Locality
ii. Sample and sampling technique
iii. Research Design
iv. Research instrument: Type, Development, pilot testing.
v. Data Collection
vi. Techniques Analysis and interpretation of data
c. Definition of terms where applicable.
d. References
e. Annexure

3. The research proposal/Synopsis should not exceed 8-10 typed pages.

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 STUDENT GUIDE
Dear Student,
We welcome you to the MS Community Health and Nutrition Course entitled “Research
Methods”. This course is the part of the first semester of your MS Program. For
introduction to the course please go through the introductory pages of the course book,
here some guidelines for successful completion are given.
In order to understand the course contents, it is vital to know its aims and objectives
properly. Let’s go through its aims and objectives first.

Course objectives
This course aims to build the basic concepts and background of the students regarding
research and techniques to conduct a valid and purposeful research. Where other courses
are designed to improve your skills related to the Community Health and
Nutrition/studies this course would develop your basic knowledge about research
methods and techniques.

Part time tutor’s/ lecture sessions

Students are allocated a part time tutor. The name and address of your tutor will be
provided to you. The tutor will help and guide you in studying the books and conducting
activities related to study units. You are expected to take full advantage of the tutor
knowledge and experience. These tutors are also responsible for marking your
assignments.

Make all efforts to complete your written assignment according to the prescribed
schedule and try your best to attend all the study sessions according to the time table
provided to you. Schedule for lecture sessions / mandatory workshops will be provided
separately. Attend these lectures regularly to get proper guidance from your tutor.

Assignments
The course includes two assignments which are compulsory for successful completion of
the whole course. Each assignment is of 100 marks and out of these students obtaining 50
marks will be declared pass.

Assignment no. 1 is theory based and must reach your assigned tutor before the due date.
The schedule of submitting the assignment is provided separately. The tutor will send the
marked assignment back to the students within 15 days, if you do not receive the marked
assignment after 15 days please contact your tutor or regional office of the Allama Iqbal
Open University.

The assignment no. 2 is based on research part. You have to develop research synopsis as
guided and submit it to the tutor, within due date for 2 nd assignment. Same will be orally
presented in final workshop.

Note: Do not forget to dispatch the prescribed forms along with the complete
assignments.

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Method of Study
Study period of 16 weeks has been allocated for studying this course through blended
learning whereas 17th and 18th weeks are kept for general assessment and for final
examination.

Units Assignments Study period

1-2 4 weeks
3-6 4 weeks
7 Assignment 1 2 weeks
8-9 2 weeks
Revision Assignment 2 4 weeks
Preparation for examination 2 weeks

You are expected to spend four weeks on studying first two units, this will help to
improve your reading speed and get familiar with the contents of the units. The next three
units 3 to 6 will become easier for you and you will be able to study them in
comparatively less time. You can spend four weeks on studying these four units, during
the ninth week you can study the unit no. 7 and during the tenth week you complete your
first assignment and dispatch to your tutor.

Unit 8 to 9 can be studied during 11 th and 12th week respectively and you can complete
your second assignment along with the revision of your book during the weeks 13-16.The
last two weeks can be kept for examination and its preparation

Final workshop
Final workshop will be arranged for three days. Schedule of the workshop and venue will
be sent to the students during the study period. Workshop will cover some of the lectures
of the specialist on important topics and the students will present their research work
done in lieu of the assignment no. 2. The tutor will provide guidance for the workshop.
Attendance in workshops is compulsory for the students.

Final Examination
At the end of the course there will be a final examination, all the students will be
expected to take this examination in the examination halls especially established for this
purpose.
For any queries you can write to the course / program coordinator Suggestions for
improvement will also be welcomed. We wish you all the best.

Programme Coordinator,
MS Community Health and Nutrition
Department of Ed, H & N Sciences
Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad

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 TUTOR GUIDE
Dear tutor,
Students enrolled in MS. Community Health and Nutrition offered through the blended
learning system belong to different professions and have a variety of educational back
grounds and experience.

These students have very limited contact with their course mates and the part time tutors.
It is therefore important to keep in mind that some of the blended learning students have
had no links with education during the past few years after completing their formal
education, therefore they might lack confidence. Secondly blended learning students are
involved in studying during their spare time, probably after office hours. You are
therefore requested to guide and help the students while keeping these issues in mind.
Some students may need help in developing professional attitudes as well as
understanding the facts about research techniques and methodology.

Assignments
In the blended learning system, studying the course units has its own importance but
assignments and workshops are the major source of link between tutor and the student.
Therefore, it is important to offer your comments through these assignments. Express
your views in such a way that the student is not discouraged hurt or feels depress after
going through your comments.
You are also expected to guide on issues like methods of solving assignments, effective
methods of studying and methods to improve study habits and working hard.
Assignment two is development of research synopsis. You are expected to guide on
selection of topic, importance of review of literature, and synopsis format
It is anticipated that the student will submit their assignment in time according to the
prescribed schedule.

You are therefore requested to mark the assignments with in 15 days and return these
with detailed comments within the scheduled dates.

Marking Guides are provided to you. You are expected to follow the instructions and
make full use of these guides while marking the assignments. The students are expected
to avoid giving unnecessary details and try to be brief and comprehensive. While marking
the assignments the tutor has to assess whether the students have followed the
instructions provided to them or not.

Workshop
A three-day workshop will be arranged for the students for each course in their respective study
center. You will be intimated before time as your presence in the workshop is necessary.
 During the workshop the experts will be delivering lectures to the students in the
main areas of the subject.
 Also, the students would be presenting their research based assignment
and you are required to mark the assignments after their presentation.
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Marking Guide:
It is anticipated that the tutors mark the assignments carefully and follow the similar
marking standard for all the students.
For the theory based assignments you are requested to follow the marks division as
indicated on the assignment, making a total of one hundred (Assignment 01). The
questions that are further divided into parts a, b etc. accompany a further division of
marks as well.
For marking of assignments & workshop, the allocation of marks is indicated as under:

S.No Assignment Number Component Total Marks

01 01 Theoretical Questions 100 200
02 02 Synopsis 100
03 Presentation 06 60% 10
Compulsory Workshop
04 Attendance 04 40%

Teachers are expected to stick to the guidelines provided to maintain the standardization
and uniformity.

COURSE OUTLINE
RESEARCH METHODS (7765)

Level: Postgraduate Credit Hours: 3(2+1)

UNIT 1: RESEARCH: A WAY OF THINKING

– Introduction
– Definitions of Research
– Characteristics of Research
– Types of Research
– Applications of Research

UNIT 2: FORMULATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM

– Reviewing the Literature
– Formulating a Research Problem
– Identifying Variables
– Constructing hypotheses

UNIT 3: CONCEPTUALIZING A RESEARCH DESIGN

– The Research Design
– Selecting a Study Design
– The Number of contacts
– The Reference Period
– The nature of the Investigation
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UNIT 4: CONSTRUCTING AN INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION
– Selecting a Method of Data Collection
– Collecting Data Using Primary Source
– Collecting Data Using Secondary sources
UNIT 5: SELECTING A SAMPLE
– The Concept of Sampling
– Principles of Sampling
– Factors Affecting the inferences drawn from a Sample
– Types of Sampling
UNIT 6: WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
– The preamble/Introduction
– The Problem
– The Objectives of the Study
– The hypotheses to be Tested
– The Study Design
– Measurement procedures
– Analysis of Data
– Structure of the Report
– Problems and limitations, Work Schedule
UNIT 7: DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING
– Ethical Issues in Data collection
– Tools of Data Collections
– Data Processing
UNIT 8: DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATION
– Data Analysis
– Data presentation in the Form of Tables, Graphs and Figures
UNIT 9: WRITING A RESEARCH REPORT
– Introduction to Research Writing
– Tools of Data Collection
– Developing an Outline
– Referencing
– Writing a Bibliography

Recommended Books:
1. Ranjit Kumar, Research Methodology – A Step by Step Guide for Beginners. Latest
Edition.Published by Sage Publications.
2. Michelle Lowe, Beginning Research a Guide for Foundation Degree Students – 2007.
Published by Routedge New York.

AIOU-AS-549(18)PPU-14-9-2018-100
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