Online Programs - Research Methodology
HUC 5004 Research Methodology (3 credits)
I. Course Description
The HUC 5004 Research Methodology course presents a basic grounding in research methods via an introductory survey of the scientific approach within the context of the social sciences. The course is designed to introduce students to basic concepts and offer a broad systematic survey of scientific inquiry. The course will emphasize the importance and limitations of theory and methodology in social science research via the themed areas of: Foundations of Empirical Research, Design and Structure of Research, Data Collection, and Data Processing and Analysis. Additionally, a familiarization with writing and reporting of professional social science research will be examined and carried out. Notably students will as a culminating course project develop a complete proposal worthy of a planned study.
II. Intended Audience:Â
The intended course is designed to introduce graduate masters-doctoral level students to critical perspectives in the concepts, purposes, models, and methods fundamental to conducting systematic inquiry in the research process.
The format of the course will be primarily dialogic via a potential mixture of:
·        facilitated lecture
·        guided discussion
·        engaged professional writing
·        a culminating research proposal
Note that the course is required of all doctoral students at the International Vedic Hindu University of America (IVHU-A) and needs to be completed as a basic program area requirement prior to any Doctoral Qualifying Examination (DQE) consideration (please see the applicable course catalog elements delineating such conditions). Particularly, there are no exceptions to this process, as IVHU espouses sound research practices as an essential framework pinnacle to scholastic merit and IVHU s guiding principles.Â
III. Course Objectives/Specific Course Purposes:Â
- Dissertation or thesis proposal preparation
- Introduce students to social science research methods
- Understand social science research and sound inquiry basics
- Familiarization with writing and reporting professional social science research
- Improvement of students' scholastic writing skills, with a concentration in practical scientific discourse based on structured research design and reasoned points of view
 IV. Text Â
- Required: Research Methods in the Social Sciences (1996). Chava Frankfort-Nachmias & David Nachmias, (5th Ed.); Saint Martin's Press Incorporated. ISBN: 0-312-10159-7.
- Strongly Suggested Supplemental Text: American Psychological Association (2002). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th Ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. ISBN: 1-55798-791-2.
To register for this course, please contact staff@ivhu.edu
