MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND CURRICULUM STUDIES

BACHELOR OF EDUCATION

COURSE OUTLINE

UNIT CODE: EBCU 001 UNIT TITLE: EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH METHODS

LECTURER: Dr. MARY MUGWE CHUI
EMAIL: [email protected] or CELL NO. 0722 360069
SEMESTER: May-August, 2017

Course Aim: To give students an understanding of education research methodology procedures and principles that
governs research.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Identify a researchable problem

2. Demonstrate a clear understanding and application of research methods.
3. Discuss the ethical considerations in research in protection of study subjects.
4. Identify relevant research designs for social research.
5. Collect research information from the field.

Course Description: This course is intended to provide learners with an understanding and application of research
methods.. It will also provide the students with opportunities to measure, quantitatively and qualitatively the various
processes of research as it applies to the school syatem and the developing world. It will equally provide the
students with an opportunity to examine the various the ethical considerations in research in protection of study
subjects.. The student will equally be able to interface the research design and data collection procedures in the
research process.
CONTACT HOURS: 42 hours; Credit units: 3
Prerequisite: None

Course Content: Introduction to research, Selection of a research title and Identification of a research problem,
Approaches and types of research, Research process, Proposal writing-preliminary pages and chapter one,
Literature review, Research methodology and Design, Location and Sampling Methods, Data Collection
Instruments, Trustworthiness, validity and reliability, Data analysis and ethical considerations, Report writing

Course Plan
All the readings mentioned in the Course Plan are compulsory. Students are expected to complete their readings for
the class in which they will be discussed. All readings will be made available on the e-learning site.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week/ Topic Intended Learning Outcomes: Activities

Lesson The students will be able to:
/Dates/
September
2015
Lesson 1: Introduction to  Definition of research  Group
2015 research  Purpose of research discussion and
 Characteristics of research allocation.
 Importance of research  Distinction
 Motivational factors of engaging in research between terms
 Educational research/social science  Work out
characteristics questions

Lesson 2: Selection of a  Selection of a research title/topic  Group
2015 research title and  Identification of a Research Problem discussion and
Identification of a  Ways of Identifying a Specific Problem from a allocation.
research problem Broad Area  Distinction
 Evaluation of a Research Problem between terms
 Factors Determining Scope of a Study  Work out
questions

Lesson 3 Approaches and Explore the various research approaches and  Group
2015 types of research types discussion and
Approaches of Research allocation.
 Qualitative paradigm  Distinction
 Quantitative paradigm between terms
 Mixed method paradigm  Work out
Types of Research questions
i) Classification by the purpose 
• Basic research
• Applied research
• Action research
• Evaluation research
• Experimental research
• Observational research
• Experimental research
 Definitions of basic terms in research

Lesson 4 Research process  Enumerate the various stages of the research  Group
2015 process discussion and
 Step 1.Problem identification allocation.
 Step 2;Review the Literature  Distinction
 Step 3: Clarify the Problem between terms
 Step 4: Clearly Define  Work out
Terms/objectives/questions/ and questions
Concepts/research design 
 Step 5: Define the Population
 Step 6: Develop the Instrumentation
Plan/measurement design
 Step 7: Data collection
 Step 8: Data analysis
 A brief review of the research process for a
thesis/project using MKU format to be
expounded in the rest of the lessons

Lesson 5 CAT 1  CAT will cover lessons 1-4  Students’

2015 evaluation
Lesson 6 Proposal writing Unravel the proposal writing procedure  Group
2015  Discuss the purposes of the research discussion and
proposal allocation.
 Outline the format of research proposal  Distinction
 Discuss the research proposal development between terms
process  Work out
-Title page questions
-preliminary pages
-chapter one: Introduction
-chapter two: Literature Review
-Chapter Three: Research methodology and
design
Lesson 7 Literature review  Discuss how to identify appropriate literature  Group
 Explain how to make notes and record discussion and
excerpts, allocation.
 Discuss approaches to critical reading  Distinction
 Explain approaches to critical writing between terms
 Work out
questions
Lesson 8 Research  Research methodology
2015 methodology,  Research Designs  Group
Design ,Location  Location of the study discussion and
and target  Target population allocation.
 population  Distinction
between terms
 Work out
questions

Lesson 9 Sampling  Description of the sampling procedures  Group

2015 Methods and  Qualitative and quantitative discussion and
sample size  Probability allocation.
 Non-probability  Distinction
between terms
 Work out
questions

Lesson 10 CAT 2  NB – C.A.T will be cover all topics  Students’
2015  Concept paper evaluation

Data Collection  Description of the research instrument  Group

Lesson 11 Instruments  Questionnaires discussion and
2015  Observational methods allocation.
 Interviews  Distinction
 Content analysis between terms
 Data collection procedure  Work out
questions

Lesson 12 Trustworthiness,  Discuss establishment of qualitative and  Group

2015 validity and quantitative reliability and validity discussion and
reliability  Trust worthiness allocation.
 Reliability and Validity  Distinction
between terms
 Work out
questions
Lesson 13 Data analysis and  Explore the data Analysis  Group
2015 ethical  Discuss Ethical issues in research discussion and
considerations allocation.
 Distinction
between terms
 Work out
questions
Lesson 14 Report writing  Title page 
2015  Preliminary pages
 Chapter one: Introduction
 Chapter Two: Literature review
 Chapter three : Research Methodology and
design
 Chapter Four: Research findings and
 discussion
 Chapter five: summary, conclusions and
recommendations
Lesson End of term Exam End of term Exam  End of term
15/16 Exam
2015

Academic/Course Assessment

The student's grade will reflect achievement in the following areas as weighted in the table below:

Type Weighting (%)

Discussions/CAT 1 10

CAT 2 20

Final Examination 70

Total 100 %

Mode of delivery

The modes of delivery will include: lectures, e-learning activities, Facilitation, Discussion, Exploration,
Assignments, presentations, visits, Project/article work (Practitioner research that contributes to
improvement of effectiveness in educational management in schools).

Instructional, support materials and resources

The lecturers will require a laptop computer, a projector, flipchart, whiteboard, case studies worked on by
Strathmore University staff and teachers in the field compiled over a period of four years.

Student Lecture attendance

Students must attend no less than two-thirds of all sessions to meet the course requirements; the
attendance register will be withdrawn 15 minutes after the commencement of the lecture. This course
outline is intended to be a course guide. It is subject to change in order to accommodate class/instructional
needs.
References
1. Baugmgartner, T, Stron, C.H& Hensley, L.D (2002) conducting and Reading research in Health
and Human Performance.McGraw Hill, Boston
2. Borg, W.R. and Gall, M.D. (1983).Educational Research. New York, Longman Inc.
3. Berg, K.E. and Latin, R.W. (1994). Essentials of modern research methods in Health, Physical
Education and Recreation. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
4. Kombo, D.K. and Tromp, D.L.A (2006). Proposal and Thesis Writing: An Introduction. Nairobi,
Paulines Publications, Africa.
5. Kumar,R. (2005) Research Methodology: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners. Sage publications.
New Delhi.
6. Malim, T. and Birch, A.(1997). Research Methods and Statistics. Hound Mills, Macmillian Press
Ltd.
7. Mugenda, O.M. and Mugenda, A.G.(2003). Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative
Approaches. Nairobi, Acts Press.
8. Slavin, R.E.(1984).Research Methods in Education: A Practical Guide. Englewood Cliffs, New
Jersey, Prentice-Hall Inc. Internet Information Use different search Engines.