Advanced Research Methods (STAT730)

Assignment No. 2
Marks: 20

Due Date: 19 July, 2016

Assignment Question:
Write a brief document describing your own research question Work Motivation or
Professional Development. How did you "discover" this question? - Describe the process
(Setting the stage, background). How do you propose a research design around your question?

Distribution of Marks
1) Research Question (Not more than 5 lines)

5 marks

2) Background (Not more than one paragraph)

3 marks

3) Research Design

10 marks

a)
b)
c)
d)

Type of Research (Quantitative or Qualitative)

Research Paradigm (Inductive or Deductive)
Nature of Research Study (Descriptive, Explanatory or Exploratory)
Data Collection Tool/Instrument
Which tools will be used for data collection? Why a particular tool is selected?
e) Subjects/Participants
i.
What will be the target population?
ii.
Whether sampling frame will be used or not? (Based on scope of study)
iii.
What type of sampling technique will be used? And Why?
iv.
What will be the sample size? And Why?

4) References (Provide references in APA style at the end)

2 marks

Note: In research design section, provide the rationale for each part. Write the assignment
according to above prescribed heading format. Be concise, rationale and to the point.

Demos to Prepare the Assignment

The following demos will help you to learn about literature review, how to
search articles in Google Scholar, and referencing with EndNote.
Eventually, you will be able to conceptualize rationales from literature
review.
Overview of Literature Review:
If you want to know the overview of Literature Review, watch the
following short video.

Click here to see the video

Literature Review - A Practical Example:
If you want to know the Literature Review with the help of a practical
example, watch the following short video.

Click here to see the video

Research Articles in Google Scholar & Referencing with EndNote:
If you want to know how to search research articles in Google Scholar and
referencing with EndNote then watch the following short video.

Click here to see the video

OTHER IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:
Plagiarism - How not to do it:
If you want to know how to avoid plagiarism then watch the following
video.

Click here to see video

IMPORTANT:

24 hours extra / grace period after the due date is usually available to overcome
uploading difficulties. This extra time should only be used to meet the emergencies
and above mentioned due dates should always be treated as final to avoid any
inconvenience.

DEADLINE:

Make sure to upload the solution file before the due date on VULMS.
Any submission made via email after the due date will not be accepted.

FORMATTING GUIDELINES:

Use the font style Times New Roman or Arial and font size 12.
It is advised to compose your document in MS-Word format.
You may also compose your assignment in Open Office format.
Use black and blue font colors only.

RULES FOR MARKING

Please note that your assignment will not be graded or graded as Zero (0), if:
It is submitted after the due date.
The file you uploaded does not open or is corrupt.
It is in any format other than MS-Word or Open Office; e.g. Excel,
PowerPoint, PDF etc.
It is cheated or copied from other students, internet, books, journals etc.

Note related to load shedding: Please be proactive

Dear students
As you know that Post MidTerm semester activities have been started
and load shedding problem is also prevailing in our country now a days.
Keeping in view the fact, you all are advised to post your activities as
early as possible without waiting for the due date.