Research Methods
- Arts
- 300 level
- 2 credit units
- 105 pages
- 12 units
This course, ISL 302 Research Methods, is designed for third-year Islamic Studies students. It provides a comprehensive overview of modern research methodologies essential for conducting final year research projects. Students will learn about research approaches, topic selection, proposal writing, literature review, data collection techniques (written and oral), information technology usage, and questionnaire administration. The course aims to equip students with the skills to conduct credible research in Islamic studies.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 156 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Basic knowledge of Islamic studies
- Familiarity with academic writing
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ISL302, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ISL302 · UNIT 1 RESEARCH CONCEPT AND IMPORTANCE, TYPES OF RESEARCHERS
The overall aim of Research Methods is to relate you to the nature and functions of research approaches to research and criteria for selecting research topics. Students will also be introduced into writing research proposal, literature review, collection of written and oral data, use of the information technology and administration of questionnaire as research instrument etc.
What you should be able to do
- Define research and identify various types of research
- Apply basic components of research to Islamic Studies
- Formulate research questions/hypotheses and develop research proposals
- Differentiate between reference, bibliography, and citation
- Explain different styles of referencing
- Demonstrate processes involved in oral and written data collection
- Conduct credible research projects in Islamic studies
What it prepares you for
- Researcher
- Academician
- Consultant
- Analyst
- Archivist
- Education
- Research Institutions
- Government Agencies
- Religious Organizations
- Cultural Heritage
- Internet
- Microsoft Word
- SPSS
- Online Databases
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Hypotheses, Variables, Proposal and Literature Review
Unit 1: Formulation of Hypotheses
Formulating testable hypotheses requires a deep understanding of research questions and variable relationships, which can be challenging for students new to research.
- Module 3: Data Collection and Analysis, Referencing
Unit 2: Sampling Techniques
Understanding the nuances of different sampling techniques and their applicability to various research scenarios requires careful consideration of population characteristics and research objectives.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 54 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Basic Knowledge about Modern Methods of Research
Unit 1: Research Concept and Importance, Types of Researchers · 4 hours
Define research concepts and importance. Identify types of researchers. Discuss the characteristics of a good researcher.
- Week 2Module 1: Basic Knowledge about Modern Methods of Research
Unit 2: Various Approaches to Research (Methodology) · 4 hours
Analyze various approaches to research. Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research methods. Relate research approaches to Islamic studies.
- Week 3Module 1: Basic Knowledge about Modern Methods of Research
Unit 3: Problem Identification · 4 hours
Identify researchable problems in Islamic studies. State different sources of research problems. Apply criteria for a good problem statement.
- Week 4Module 1: Basic Knowledge about Modern Methods of Research
Unit 4: Choice of Topic and Problems of Research · 4 hours
State the sources of project topics. Discuss the characteristics of a good research topic. Narrow down a topic to a specific area.
- Week 5Module 2: Hypotheses, Variables, Proposal and Literature Review
Unit 1: Formulation of Hypotheses · 4 hours
Formulate research hypotheses for Islamic studies. State sources of hypotheses. Explain the functions and characteristics of a good hypothesis.
- Week 6Module 2: Hypotheses, Variables, Proposal and Literature Review
Unit 2: The Variable and Its Types · 4 hours
Explain the concept of a variable. List and explain different types of variables. Differentiate between independent and dependent variables.
- Week 7Module 2: Hypotheses, Variables, Proposal and Literature Review
Unit 3: Research Proposal · 4 hours
Discuss the concept and meaning of a research proposal. Describe the features of a research proposal. Highlight the format for writing a project proposal.
- Week 8Module 2: Hypotheses, Variables, Proposal and Literature Review
Unit 4: Literature Review · 4 hours
Relate the concept of literature review. State the purpose of literature review. State sources of literature review. Write an example of a literature review.
- Week 9Module 3: Data Collection and Analysis, Referencing
Unit 1: Research Instruments (Oral Tradition, Interview and Questionnaires) · 4 hours
Identify processes involved in oral data collection. State the usefulness of oral data collection. Discuss the research instruments used for oral data collection.
- Week 10Module 3: Data Collection and Analysis, Referencing
Unit 2: Sampling Techniques · 4 hours
Explain population and sample. Identify probability and non-probability sampling techniques. List and explain examples of sampling methods.
- Week 11Module 3: Data Collection and Analysis, Referencing
Unit 3: Use of Information Technology · 4 hours
Expatiate on the components of information technology. Relate types of research resources available on the internet. Explain methods of finding information on the internet.
- Week 12Module 3: Data Collection and Analysis, Referencing
Unit 4: Referencing · 4 hours
Highlight classical abbreviations used in referencing. Relate the Modern Language Association style of citing references. Discuss the American Psychological Association principles of documenting research sources.
- Week 13Module 3: Data Collection and Analysis, Referencing
Final Revision · 6 hours
Review all modules and units. Work on assignments. Prepare for final examination.
Preparing for the exam
- Review all unit objectives and ensure you can meet them
- Create detailed summaries of each module's key concepts
- Practice formulating hypotheses and research questions based on different Islamic studies topics
- Familiarize yourself with different referencing styles (APA, MLA, Chicago) and practice applying them
- Review past assignments and tutor-marked assessments to identify areas for improvement
- Allocate specific time slots for focused study and avoid distractions
- Form study groups to discuss challenging concepts and share insights
- Practice answering essay questions under timed conditions to improve exam technique
- Focus on understanding the application of research methods to Islamic studies contexts
- Create concept maps linking units 3-5 data collection methods
- Review examples of research proposals and literature reviews to understand their structure and content
Questions students ask about this course
What is ISL302 about?
This course, ISL 302 Research Methods, is designed for third-year Islamic Studies students. It provides a comprehensive overview of modern research methodologies essential for conducting final year research projects. Students will learn about research approaches, topic selection, proposal writing, literature review, data collection techniques (written and oral), information technology usage, and questionnaire administration. The course aims to equip students with the skills to conduct credible research in Islamic studies.
How many units does ISL302 have?
ISL302, Research Methods, has 12 units across 3 modules, over 105 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ISL302?
ISL302 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Arts.
Is ISL302 hard?
ISL302 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does ISL302 take to study?
About 156 hours of study, spread across its 12 units.
How is ISL302 assessed?
ISL302 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What do I need before starting ISL302?
Basic knowledge of Islamic studies Familiarity with academic writing
What can I do with ISL302?
Researcher, Academician, Consultant, Analyst and Archivist.