Doctorate programmes

UNIVERSITY OF ELDORET

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

 

COMMON COURSE FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

COURSE CODE: EDU 900C:

COURSE TITLE: ADVANCED RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

 

CREDIT HOURS 3                        ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026   SEMESTER 1/2

 

 Lecturer: Dr. Jacob Lolelea Natade, PhD Ed

University of Eldoret, Kenya

Contact: loleleajacob@gmail.com/lolelea.jacob@uoeld.ac.ke

 

INTRODUCTION

EDU 900C Advanced Research Design and Methodology is a common course designed for PhD students in education to provide them with the understanding and knowledge of the entire process of education research using quantitative, qualitative and mixed research designs and advanced techniques of statistical data analysis and report writing. The course is designed to provide students with a broad introduction to the advanced statistical methodological orientations and tools in preparation to carry out PhD Thesis writing.

 

COURSE PURPOSE

This course is intended to equip a PhD student with skills in advanced research designs and statistical data analysis techniques in preparation for research proposal and thesis writing in education. The student should be able to conduct and submit a comprehensive research report in the area of academic research problem.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Research as a Critical, Creative, Strategic and Logical Thinking Process, The role of philosophy in research, Research Philosophy, Research and epistemology, Philosophical Paradigms,  Concepts of Advanced Research Method, Design and Methodology, Quantitative research methodology design, experimental design; Action Research, qualitative research methodology design; Mixed Research Designs, Methods and Techniques of Educational Research; sampling; validity and reliability; development of instruments; collection; presentation; analysis and interpretation of data, quantitatively and qualitatively; Mixed Research report writing and editing. Application of Research Philosophies and Philosophical Paradigms in Thesis and Dissertation Writing.

The functions of ANOVA and Chi Square; Power of a test: Advanced methods of data analysis: Clustering systems; Hotelling’s T-square; c Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA); Discriminant function or canonical variate analysis; Multiple Regression analysis; Principal components analysis; Redundancy analysis; 7Correspondence analysis or Reciprocal; Linear discriminant analysis (LDA); Artificial neural networks; Multidimensional scaling; Canonical correlation analysis; Recursive partition.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, a PhD student should be able to:

I) Give various definitions of concepts in Research Design and Methodology

II) State the role of Philosophy and philosophical paradigms in Educational Research

III) Explain the types of Educational research designs and techniques

IV) Design research instruments for data collection

V) Describe Sampling Designs and Sampling Techniques

VI) Identify and apply the use of sampling designs and sampling techniques in educational research

VII) Apply advanced statistical data analysis techniques in educational research

VIII) Conduct data analysis, present, interpret and discuss the research findings

IX) Discuss the interpretation of advanced methods of data analysis

 

TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS

Online and face to face Lectures, Individual/group discussions, group presentations, panel discussions, seminars and assignments

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Google Meet, Zoom Meeting, BigBlueButton web conferencing platform, videos, voice recordings, phones, LMS, smartphone, whiteboard, lecture notes, smart board, laptop and LCD

 

COURSE ASSESSMENT

Continuous Assessment Tests/Assignments 40%

Final Examination                         60%.

 

WEEK DAY LESSON COVERAGE

 

WEEK 1 LESSON 1

 

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Course Expectations

1.2 Research as a Critical, Creative, Strategic and Logical Thinking Process

1.3 The Role of Philosophy in Education Research

1.4 Research Philosophy

1.5 Research and Epistemology

1.6 Descriptions of Techniques of Educational Research

1.7 The Concepts of Advanced Research Design and Methodology

A) Research Design

B) Research Methods

C) Research Methodology

1.8 The Role of Advanced Statistics in Educational Research

1.9 Action Research

WEEK 2 LESSON 2

2.0 Types of Educational Research Designs

2.1 Quantitative Research Designs

2.2 Qualitative Research Designs

2.3 Mixed Research Designs

WEEK 3 LESSON 3

3.0 Designing Research Instruments for Data Collection

3.1 Descriptions of Research Instrument

3.2 The Types of Research Instruments

3.3 Designing and Developing Research Instruments

3.4 Establishing Validity and Reliability of Instruments

3.5 Data Collection Procedures

WEEK 4 LESSON 4

4.0 Sampling Designs and Sampling Techniques

4.1 Sampling Designs

4.2 Sampling Techniques

WEEK 5 LESSON 5

5.0 Advanced Statistical Data Analysis Techniques

5.1 Inferential statistical analysis

5.2 Associational statistical analysis

5.3 Prescriptive Analysis

5.4 Predictive Analysis:  

5.5 Causal Analysis

5.6 Exploratory Data Analysis

5.7 Mechanistic Analysis

WEEK 6 LESSON 6

6.0 Data Analysis, Presentation, Interpretation and Discussion

6.1 Software in Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses

6.2 Quantitative Data Analysis, interpretation and Discussion

6.3 Mixed Data Analysis and reporting techniques

6.4 Report Writing and Editing

6.5 Practical Quantitative Tests:  ANOVA, Chi Square and Power of a test

WEEKS 7-9 LESSON 7-9

7.0 Interpretation of Advanced Methods of Data Analysis

7.1 Clustering systems

7.2 Hoteling’s T-square

7.3 Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA)

7.4 Discriminant function or canonical variate analysis

7.5  Multiple Regression analysis

7.6 Principal components analysis

7.7 Redundancy and Correspondence analysis or Reciprocal;

7.8 Linear discriminant analysis (LDA)

7.9 Artificial neural networks

7.10 Multidimensional scaling

7.11  Canonical correlation analysis

WEEK 10 LESSON 10

8.0  Philosophy of Educational Research

8.1  Philosophy of Educational Research

8.2 Philosophical Paradigms

8.3 Application of Philosophy and Philosophical Paradigms in Thesis and Dissertation Writing

8.4 Philosophical Relationship Between Conceptual Framework, Theory and Paradigms

WEEK 11-12

9.0 Presentation for Continuous Assessment for the 40%

10. Proposal and Thesis Writing

 

REFERENCES / READING MATERIAL FOR STUDENTS

Baxter, L.A & Babbie, E. (2003). The Basics of Communication Research. Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning

Best, W.J. & Kahn, V.J. (1989). Research in Education. 6^th Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Boeije, H. (2010). Analysis in Qualitative Research. New Delhi.

Borg, R.W. & M.D. Gall. (1989). Educational Research: An Introduction. New York: Longman, Inc.

Chandran, E. (2004.) Research Methods: A Quantitative Approach. Nairobi: Daystar University.

Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (2nd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative & Mixed Methods Approaches. 4th Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Dawson, C. (2002). Practical Research Methods: A user-friendly Guide to Mastering Research Techniques and Projects. Oxford: How to Books Ltd.

Daymond, C & Holoway, I. (2011). Qualitative Research Methods in Public Relations and Marketing Communications (2^nd Edition). New York: Routledge

 Donald et. al. (2001). Business Research Methods (7th Ed.) New York: McGraw hill

Dornan, E. A. & Charles W. D. (1984). The Brief English Module. Little: Brown & Company.

Hart, C. (2005). Doing Your Masters Dissertation: Realizing Your Potential as a Scientist. New Delhi: Vistaar Publications viii

Kathuri J.N. & Pals D.A. (1993). Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics in psychology. (2nd Ed.). Njoro: Educational Media Center, Egerton University

Kerlinger, N. F. & Lee, B.H. (2000). Foundations of Behavioral Research. 4^th Edition. NY. Harcourt College.

Kothari, C.R. (2004). Research Methodology. New Delhi: New Age TRU Library. APA Citation Style - Quick Guide. 6th edition. 2011. Type: Online Guide

Koul, L. (2015). Methodology of Educational Research. 4^th Edition. New Delhi: Vikas.

Maina, M.S. (2015). Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods Simplified. Nairobi: Frajopa.

Mcmillan, J. & Schumacher, S. (2010). Research in Education. Instructors Copy. 7^th Edition. NY. Pearson.

Mugenda, A. G & Mugenda, M.O. (2012). Research Methods Dictionary. Nairobi: Applied Research & Training Services.

O’Leary, Z. (2009). The Essential Guide to Doing Research. New Delhi: Vistaar Publication.

Orodho, J.A. (2004). Techniques of Writing Research Proposals & Reports in Education & Social Sciences. Nairobi: Masola Publishers.

Peil, M. (1995). Social Science Research Methods: A Module for Africa. Nairobi: EAEP. Strunk.

Saunders et. Al. (2000). Research Methods for Business Studies. (2nd Edition). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall

Upagade, V. & Shende, A. (2020). Research Methodology. Revised Edition. New Delhi: S Chand.

William, J. &. White, E. B. (1972). The Elements of Style. New York: Macmillan

RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR PURCHASE

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2002). Research methods in education (5^thed.).London: RoutledgeFalmer.

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (2^nded.). London: Sage Publications.

Dawson, C. (2002). Practical Research Methods: A user-friendly Guide to Mastering Research Techniques and Projects. Oxford: How to Books Ltd.

Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research Methodology: Methods and techniques (5th ed.). New Delhi: WishwaPrakashan.

Koul, L. (2015). Methodology of Educational Research. 4th Edition. New Delhi: Vikas.

Maina, M.S. (2015). Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods Simplified. Nairobi: Frajopa.

Upagade, V. & Shende, A. (2020). Research Methodology. Revised Edition. New Delhi: S Chand.