Research Methods
- Arts
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 144 pages
- 12 units
This course introduces students to research methods in Islamic Studies at an advanced level. It equips students with the skills to conduct independent research, covering the nature and functions of research, approaches to research, and components of academic research. The course guides students on selecting research topics, using basic statistics, and referencing sources. It is designed for M.A. Islamic Studies students preparing for their final semester research project.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study, research
- Practical work
- Yes
- Basic knowledge of Islamic Studies
- Familiarity with academic writing
- Understanding of research principles
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ISL801, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ISL801 · Unit 1: Definition, Significance and Types of Research
You will be provided with tutors at your different Study Centers for tutorials on difficult areas of the course. The tutors will have contacts with you for specified periods. You will benefit maximally from your tutor by participating in the tutorials, completing your assignments in the Course Material and asking questions on difficult areas.
What you should be able to do
- Discuss the nature of research
- State the different approaches to research in Islamic Studies
- Highlight the different sources of research topics
- Explain the different components of academic research
- Apply basic statistical tools to Islamic Studies research
What it prepares you for
- Researcher
- Academician
- Consultant
- Analyst
- Lecturer
- Education
- Research Institutions
- Consultancy Firms
- Government Agencies
- Non-profit Organizations
- SPSS
- Microsoft Excel
- SurveyMonkey
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Research Methods and Designs
Unit 1: Qualitative Research Design
Understanding the nuances of qualitative data analysis requires careful attention to detail and interpretation skills.
- Module 4: Basic Statistical Tools for Humanities Research
Unit 3: Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistical Procedures
Applying parametric and non-parametric statistical procedures requires a solid foundation in statistical theory and practical application.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 56 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: The Nature of Research in Islamic Studies
Unit 1: Definition, significance and Types of Research · 4 hours
Define research. Discuss the significance of research. Identify and explain different types of research.
- Week 2Module 1: The Nature of Research in Islamic Studies
Unit 2: Sources of Research Topics and Nature of Research Problems · 4 hours
Identify sources of research topics. Discuss the nature of research problems. Explore personal and professional experiences as sources.
- Week 3Module 1: The Nature of Research in Islamic Studies
Unit 3: Reviewing the Literature and Documenting Research Resources · 4 hours
Learn how to review existing literature. Understand how to document research resources. Practice literature search techniques.
- Week 4Module 2: Components of Academic Research
Unit 1: Writing Research Proposal · 4 hours
Understand the concept of a research proposal. Identify the elements of a research proposal. Practice writing a research proposal introduction.
- Week 5Module 2: Components of Academic Research
Unit 2: Hypotheses and Research Questions · 4 hours
Define hypotheses and research questions. Understand the relationship between hypotheses and research questions. Formulate hypotheses for a research topic.
- Week 6Module 3: Research Methods and Designs
Unit 1: Qualitative Research Design · 4 hours
Understand qualitative research methods. Discuss social surveys and questionnaires. Learn about interviews and discussion groups.
- Week 7Module 3: Research Methods and Designs
Unit 2: Methods of Quantitative Research · 4 hours
Understand quantitative research methods. Discuss quantitative survey methods. Learn about secondary data collation and analysis.
- Week 8Module 3: Research Methods and Designs
Unit 3: Library/Desk Research · 4 hours
Define desk research. Identify sources of desk research. Understand the differences between primary and secondary research.
- Week 9Module 3: Research Methods and Designs
Unit 4: Survey and Experimental Design · 4 hours
Compare survey and experimental designs. Understand the etymology of experiment and survey. Discuss the differences in data and research involved.
- Week 10Module 4: Basic Statistical Tools for Humanities Research
Unit 1: Introduction to Statistical Data Analysis · 4 hours
Understand statistical data analysis. Discuss the significance of data. Learn about statistical data analysis tools.
- Week 11Module 4: Basic Statistical Tools for Humanities Research
Unit 2: Basic Steps of Statistical Data Analysis · 4 hours
Mention and explain the basic steps of statistical data analysis. Understand how to define the problem. Learn how to accumulate and analyze data.
- Week 12Module 4: Basic Statistical Tools for Humanities Research
Unit 3: Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistical Procedures · 4 hours
Discuss parametric and non-parametric statistical procedures. Compare parametric and non-parametric methods. Identify areas of differences between the two methods.
- Week 13Module 5: Documentation of Research Sources
Unit 1: Introduction to Documentation of Research Resources · 4 hours
Understand documentation and referencing. Discuss academic integrity and plagiarism. Learn what to document and how much to document.
Unit 2: The Classical Style and Abbreviations · 4 hours
Discuss the classical styles of citation and referencing. Learn about classical abbreviations. Understand the use of Ibid, Op. cit., and Loc. cit..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all module summaries and key terms
- Practice applying statistical tools to sample data sets
- Focus on understanding different referencing styles and their applications
- Create concept maps linking research methods to specific Islamic Studies topics
- Practice writing research proposals based on provided scenarios
Questions students ask about this course
What is ISL801 about?
This course introduces students to research methods in Islamic Studies at an advanced level. It equips students with the skills to conduct independent research, covering the nature and functions of research, approaches to research, and components of academic research. The course guides students on selecting research topics, using basic statistics, and referencing sources. It is designed for M.A. Islamic Studies students preparing for their final semester research project.
How many units does ISL801 have?
ISL801, Research Methods, has 12 units across 5 modules, over 144 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ISL801?
ISL801 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is ISL801 hard?
ISL801 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical, case study and research work, and it has a practical component.
How long does ISL801 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 12 units.
How is ISL801 assessed?
ISL801 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What do I need before starting ISL801?
Basic knowledge of Islamic Studies Familiarity with academic writing Understanding of research principles
What can I do with ISL801?
Researcher, Academician, Consultant, Analyst and Lecturer.