Programme Outlines and Overviews

The importance of conducting scientific research lies in developing a systematic understanding of the phenomena, issues, and problems that surround us. In this course, you are introduced to the fundamentals of scientific research and its role in generating such understanding. You learn how to design, implement, analyse, and interpret research using a scientific and systematic approach. You also explore approaches for identifying and reviewing relevant literature to form sound empirical and theoretical foundations for the phenomenon being investigated. The course further guides you in academic writing, understanding the research process, how to write a thesis, and beginning to problematise and formulate a purpose for a research project and its relevance for practice. A range of research methodologies is introduced to help you determine suitable data collection strategies. By the end of the course, you will be able to use theory and empirical research to formulate relevant research questions, independently design and analyse qualitative or quantitative studies, and demonstrate the skills needed to collect empirical material and write academically. You also learn to assess and critically evaluate research ethics, research limitations, and potential avenues for future inquiry.