Peace Research Methods

1. Understand the foundations of peace research methods.
2. Apply various data collection instruments effectively.
3. Identify and utilize appropriate sources of research data.
4. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data.
5. Understand and apply research ethics.
6. Master different referencing styles.
7. Conduct conflict analysis.

13 weeks, about 58 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Research Foundation

   • Unit 1: Introduction to Research · 3 hours

     Define research and social research.. Identify and differentiate between basic, applied, and practical research.. Discuss the importance of research in solving problems and enhancing knowledge.. Examine the characteristics of research and the research process..

   • Unit 2: Science and Research · 3 hours

     Describe the scientific approach to social research.. Identify and explain the five sources of knowledge: tradition, authority, mystification, common sense, and scientific knowledge.. Explain the types of errors in human inquiry, such as inaccurate observation and overgeneralization..

2. Week 2Module 1: Research Foundation

   • Unit 3: Basic Foundation of Social Research · 4 hours

     Define concepts, models, variables, theory, hypothesis, and law.. Understand the meaning of these concepts and their interrelationships.. Apply these concepts correctly in research work.. State the differences in the use of these terms in social research..

3. Week 3Module 1: Research Foundation

   • Unit 4: Processes or Methods of Social Research · 4 hours

     Explain the procedure of carrying out social research.. Understand how to choose a researchable topic and formulate research problems or hypotheses.. Develop the aims and objectives of the research.. Identify the most appropriate research instrument(s) for the work and how to collect data..

4. Week 4Module 1: Research Foundation

   • Unit 5: Research Proposal and Research Project Report · 4 hours

     Explain what a research proposal is.. Enumerate and discuss the components of a research proposal.. Discuss the structure and content of a research project report, including the preliminaries, main body, and appendix..

5. Week 5Module 2: Data and Data Collection Instruments

   • Unit 1: Meaning and Components of Data · 4 hours

     Define and explain various types of data: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.. State the characteristics of good data collection, including attributability, originality, promptness, accuracy, legibility, indelibility, and storability.. Discuss the data collection procedure or plan, including permission to proceed, data collection, and data handling..

6. Week 6Module 2: Data and Data Collection Instruments

   • Unit 2: Questionnaire as Research Tool · 4 hours

     Define questionnaire and state its types: close-ended and open-ended.. State the merits and demerits of each type of questionnaire.. Draw a questionnaire research flow chart.. Enumerate the qualities of a good question and questionnaire..

7. Week 7Module 2: Data and Data Collection Instruments

   • Unit 3: Interview as Research Tool · 4 hours

     Define interview as a survey technique.. Classify and explain the classes of interview: structured and unstructured.. Enumerate and explain the types of interview methods: face-to-face, panel, telephone, in-depth, and case interview.. State measures promoting good quality of data in interviews..

8. Week 8Module 2: Data and Data Collection Instruments

   • Unit 4: Focus Group Discussion (FGD) · 4 hours

     Define focus group discussion (FGD).. State appropriate and inappropriate times for FGD.. Discuss the process of conducting FGD.. Explain guidelines for conducting FGD and how to write an FGD report..

9. Week 9Module 2: Data and Data Collection Instruments

   • Unit 5: Observation and Indirect Research Tools · 4 hours

     Explain observation as a data collection method.. State the importance of preliminary steps to be taken during observation.. Mention and briefly discuss different types of observation: participant and non-participant.. Discuss indirect methods of data collection, including projective techniques, physical traces, content analysis, and statistical records..

10. Week 10Module 3: Sources of Research Data / Information

    • Unit 1: Library and Research · 4 hours

      Define library and explain library classification systems.. Discuss the contributions of Ranganathan to library classification.. Explain cataloguing and the different forms of library catalogues.. Describe the benefits of the library to research and the library registration and usage procedures..

11. Week 11Module 3: Sources of Research Data / Information

    • Unit 2: Use of Internet Resource for Research Purpose · 4 hours

      Define the internet and its services.. Enumerate and discuss various types of information resources available on the internet.. Understand basic internet tools, including Telnet, FTP, e-mail, mailing lists, newsgroups, and the World Wide Web.. Explain how to find information on the internet using search engines and directories..

12. Week 12Module 3: Sources of Research Data / Information

    • Unit 3: Research Ethics · 4 hours

      Define research ethics and give an account of the historical background of ethics in research.. Explain the basic principles of ethics in social research: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.. Discuss the importance of informed consent in research and how to achieve it..

    • Unit 4: Referencing Styles in Academics Works I · 4 hours

      Define referencing style and enumerate different referencing styles.. State the importance of referencing in academic work.. Discuss the APA and MLA styles of referencing, including basic rules for document layout and formatting citations..

13. Week 13Module 3: Sources of Research Data / Information

    • Unit 5: Referencing Styles in Academic Works 2 · 4 hours

      Explain the Chicago Manual of Referencing Style, including the author-date system and the documentary-note style.. Discuss the Harvard style of referencing and its variants.. Describe the Vancouver style of referencing..