Research methods in Social

Sciences – Introductory

course

(online course)

Having a course related to research methodology derives from BA/MA/PhD students’ need to design and carry out research activities, this need being also confirmed by the curricular practices found in prestigious universities in Europe. Participants are studying this discipline mainly to develop their academic projects, but also their dissertation thesis at higher scientific standards. COORDINATORS: Ramona Țigănașu (UAIC), Constantin Vasile Toca (ISER), David Rotman (BSU) WHO CAN ATTEND THIS COURSE:  Young academics (teachers and researchers) from the network partners: PhD students and post doc researchers/professors (maximum 5 years after doctoral thesis defence) HOW TO REGISTER: all the participants would require to have/make a Gmail account to access and complete the course 1. Access Google Classroom (https://classroom.google.com/); 2. Click on ‚Go to classroom’; 3. Login with your Gmail account; 4. Click on ‚ + ’ sign to enroll in the course; 5. Insert the course code: wlfevaz 6. Access 'Classwork' tab and go through the course units in order. After studying each unit (course and bibliography), complete the quiz. In order to pass the quiz, it is necessary to score at least 60 points. You can answer the quiz again until you get the minimum score. The course is open between: 1 March -  30 May 2021 (this course can be completed until May 30) CERTIFICATE: upon finalizing all the units and the quizzes, participants will receive a certificate  

About this course.

The main objectives of this course are: • To understand the scientific approach in socio- human sciences; • To select, in a proper way, the research methods according to the established objectives/hypotheses; • To strengthen the research methodological skills through the capacity of interpreting and disseminating the research results; • To identify, to collect, analyze and interpret documents, databases, relevant information, in order to formulate new ideas and trends in the field. COURSE UNITS UNIT 1. INTRODUCTION IN RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: 1. Aspects considered in choosing a topic of study; 2. What is qualitative and quantitative analysis? Concept, features and advantages; 3. Why is quantitative analysis important for an undergraduate student/ master student/ doctoral student/ researcher? ; 4. Understanding the scientific approach in socio- human sciences; 5. Research methodology – from idea to results, 6. Instruments used in quantitative analysis UNIT 2. MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF DATA: 1. Formulation of hypotheses – the first step to quantitative analysis: definition, characteristics, types of hypotheses; 2. Variables and their nature; 3. Data collection for quantitative analysis; 4. Methods and means of data collection; 5. Designing a questionnaire – practical guide ; 6. Data processing UNIT 3. USE OF SPSS (STATISTICAL PACKAGE IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES): Multivariate analysis of data – steps, examples and interpretation of results/outputs: 1. Methods of multivariate analysis of data; 2. Correspondence Factor Analysis (CFA), 3 . Discriminant analysis; 4. Cluster analysis; 5. Regression and correlation analysis,; 5. Diagrams design; 6. Interpretation of results; 7. Case studies. Examples UNIT 4 . SURVEYS AND QUESTIONNAIRES IN SOCIAL SCIENCES: 1. Purpose of the research; 2. Type of issues analyzed; 3. Planning the survey; 4. Creating and pre-testing the questionnaire; 5. Data collection; 6. Data verification and analysis; For additional details please send an email to enacted.network@gmail.com