RESEARCH METHODS IN OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION
- Education
- 700 level
- 2 credit units
- 220 pages
- 23 units
This course introduces postgraduate diploma students to research methods in Open and Distance Education (ODL). It covers fundamental elements of basic research, including research types, methods, paradigms, and areas. Students will learn to prepare research proposals, design research instruments, and understand population sampling techniques. The course also explores validity, reliability, statistics, hypothesis formulation, testing, and research report writing, providing a foundation for further study and practical application in ODL research.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 156 hours
- Maths
- Intermediate
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study, problem solving, research
- Practical work
- Yes
- Foundations of Education
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ODL732, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- UNIT 1: CONCEPT OF POPULATION AND SAMPLEPage 90
- UNIT 2: SAMPLING TECHNIQUES: RANDOM AND STRATIFIEDPage 96
- UNIT 3: CLUSTER AND MULTI-STAGE SAMPLING TECHNIQUESPage 106
- UNIT 4: NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING TECHNIQUESPage 111
- UNIT 5: SNOWBALL SAMPLINGPage 115
- UNIT 6: SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING ERRORSPage 118
- UNIT 7: VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF RESEARCH INSTRUMENTSPage 124
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ODL732 · UNIT 2: SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE AND PURPOSES OF RESEARCH
It is clearly evident from our discussion in the previous pages that a researcher deals with a wide range of associations, from concrete day-to-day activities and problems to a philosophical level of search for truth. The purpose of research can be captured in a hierarchical/taxonomic fashion.
What you should be able to do
- Define research and educational research concepts.
- Prepare a research proposal.
- Identify and classify research designs.
- Develop instruments for data collection.
- Select appropriate sampling techniques.
- Determine the reliability and validity of research instruments.
- Use appropriate statistics for data analysis.
- Formulate and test hypotheses.
- Conduct a study and write a research report.
What it prepares you for
- Educational Researcher
- Distance Education Coordinator
- Instructional Designer
- Policy Analyst
- Academic Planner
- Education
- E-learning
- Human Resources
- Policy Making
- Research Institutions
- SPSS
- Microsoft Excel
- Online Survey Platforms
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Research Population and Sampling Techniques
Unit 6: Sample size and Sampling Errors
The unit requires a strong understanding of statistical concepts and formulas to accurately calculate sample sizes and interpret sampling errors.
- Module 4: STATISTICS IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
Unit 5 Testing of Hypothesis
Testing of Hypothesis requires understanding of statistical distributions, significance levels, and the ability to apply appropriate tests based on research design and data type.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 43 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Introduction to Research
Unit 1: Research methods in education · 3 hours
Define research and educational research.. Explain the origin and goals of educational research in Nigeria.. Discuss the concepts of educational research and variables.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 2Module 1: Introduction to Research
Unit 2: sources of knowledge and purposes of research · 3 hours
Describe the sources of knowledge.. Explain the purposes of research.. Discuss the levels of theorizing.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 3Module 1: Introduction to Research
Unit 3: basic types of educational research · 3 hours
Explain the various types of educational research.. Highlight the traits of each type of educational research.. Discuss various characteristics of educational research.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 4Module 1: Introduction to Research
Unit 4: Scientific Approach in Educational Research · 3 hours
Explain scientific approach in educational research. Describe the limitations of educational research to scientific approaches. Explain the scope of educational research. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 5Module 1: Introduction to Research
Unit 5: Research Paradigms in Distance Education · 4 hours
Describe the concept of 'paradigm'.. Distinguish between the three paradigms of research.. Explain the approaches to distance educational research.. List the different areas of the research in distance education.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 6Module 1: Introduction to Research
Unit 6: Preparation of Research Proposal · 4 hours
List the components of a research proposal. Describe the components one by one. Write a research proposal. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 7Module 2: Research Designs and Instruments
Unit 1 Historical and Descriptive survey research. · 3 hours
Define historical research design and state its purpose.. Describe the basic characteristics of historical research.. Explain the applications and limitations of historical research.. Provide examples of historical research.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 8Module 2: Research Designs and Instruments
Unit 2: Causal comparative and correlational studies. · 3 hours
Define causal comparative research design and state its purpose.. Describe the basic characteristics of causal comparative research.. Explain the limitations and applications of causal comparative research.. Provide examples of causal comparative research.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 9Module 2: Research Designs and Instruments
Unit 3 Experimental research designs. · 3 hours
Define experimental research design and state its purpose.. Describe the basic characteristics of experimental research.. Explain the steps involved in experimental research.. Explain the limitations and provide examples of experimental research.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 10Module 2: Research Designs and Instruments
Unit 4 Research instrument: Questionnaire. · 3 hours
Define instrumentation and research instruments.. Define questionnaire and list its types.. State basic guidelines for designing and organizing a questionnaire.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 11Module 2: Research Designs and Instruments
Unit 5: Observation, interviews ,and other data collection technique · 3 hours
Explain interview technique and its purpose.. State types of interview and their characteristics. Explain what observation is and state its characteristics. Explain psychometric and sociometric test as research instruments. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) questions..
- Week 12Final Revision
Final Revision and TMA Consolidation · 4 hours
Review all modules and units.. Work on Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs).. Prepare for final examinations..
- Week 13Final Revision
Final Examination Preparation · 4 hours
Complete any outstanding assignments.. Final preparation for examinations.. Review key concepts and theories..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed summaries of each module, focusing on key concepts and definitions.
- Practice preparing research proposals based on different ODL scenarios.
- Review statistical formulas and practice applying them to sample datasets from TMAs.
- Focus on understanding the differences between research paradigms and their applications in ODL.
- Develop a timeline for reviewing each unit, allocating more time to challenging topics like hypothesis testing.
- Create flashcards for key terms and concepts to aid memorization and quick recall.
- Practice writing concise and coherent answers to potential exam questions based on learning outcomes.
- Form study groups to discuss complex topics and share insights on TMAs and course materials.
- Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and incorporate feedback into your study plan.
- Focus on understanding the applications and limitations of different research designs in ODL contexts.
Questions students ask about this course
What is ODL732 about?
This course introduces postgraduate diploma students to research methods in Open and Distance Education (ODL). It covers fundamental elements of basic research, including research types, methods, paradigms, and areas. Students will learn to prepare research proposals, design research instruments, and understand population sampling techniques. The course also explores validity, reliability, statistics, hypothesis formulation, testing, and research report writing, providing a foundation for further study and practical application in ODL research.
How many units does ODL732 have?
ODL732, RESEARCH METHODS IN OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION, has 23 units across 4 modules, over 220 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ODL732?
ODL732 carries 2 credit units, at 700 level in Education.
Is ODL732 hard?
ODL732 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical, case study, problem solving and research work, and it has a practical component.
How long does ODL732 take to study?
About 156 hours of study, spread across its 23 units.
How is ODL732 assessed?
ODL732 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What do I need before starting ODL732?
Foundations of Education
What can I do with ODL732?
Educational Researcher, Distance Education Coordinator, Instructional Designer, Policy Analyst and Academic Planner.