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Centre for Policy Research (CPR)  |  Main Campus  |   USM Apex W 

Research Methodology
Semester I,
Academic Session 2026/2027

28.9.2026 - 7.3.2027

Synopsis

This course aims to develop student research and analytical skills. In enhancing students’ paradigms of research methodology in the social sciences, this course deepens the understanding of research strategies and philosophies as well as the underlying debates. Students will also be equipped with the logic of inquiry as well as the ethics to guide their research process. Emphasis will also be given to the knowledge related to research design, data collection, foundational data analysis, and report writing. While deliberating on the quantitative and qualitative methods, the course includes overview of specific methodological approaches. It also gives special attention to practical knowledge of the research process and in preparing students to conduct their own basic research projects. Students will leave the course with a better understanding of the ways to conduct their own research in various fields. This is a foundational course that will prepare students for advanced research courses in their chosen fields.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the following knowledge and skills:

  1. Ability to develop a suitable research problem accompanied with a set of research questions based on relevant and key literature review.
  2. Ability to present their research proposal at the foundational postgraduate level.
  3. Ability to propose a viable design to begin their planned post-graduate research while upholding professional research ethics.
  4. Ability to comprehend the importance of synthesising research findings and relating them to the relevant theories and works vis-à-vis the research objectives and sustainability issues.

Assessment

POL500 Assessment

 

CPR Academic Staff

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sazlina Md Salleh

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tang Chor Foon
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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk
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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Reevany Bustami
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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Goh Soo Khoon
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Dr. Dayang Haszelinna Abang Ali
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Dr. Illisriyani Ismail
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Dr. Dina Miza Suhaimi
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Respective Schools/ Centres

Centre for Policy Research 
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Centre for Global Archaeological Research
Dr. Suresh Narayanen
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Center for Islamic Development Management Studies  (ISDEV)
Profesor Madya Dr. Mohd Syakir Bin Mohd Rosdi
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Centre for Instructional Technology & Multimedia
Dr. Mageswaran Sanmugam
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National Higher Education Research Institute
Devisakti Annamali
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School of Distance Education
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School of Languages, Literacies & Translation 
Prof. Dr. Malini Ng Ganapathy
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School of Management  
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School of Social Sciences  
Assoc. Prof Dr. Paramjit Singh Jamir Singh
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School of Communication  
Dr. Kamaruzzaman Bin Abdul Manan
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School of Arts  
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School of Educational Studies  
Dr Mageswary Karpudewan
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Topic Week 1-Week 15

Week 1 (30.9.2026) : Introduction to Research, Research Philosophies & Strategies

Introduction to Research, Research Philosophies & Strategies

Understanding the philosophies and strategies of research: Inductive, Deductive, Retroductive and Abductive Research

By: Dr. Dina Miza Suhaimi & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Reevany Bustami

Week 2 (7.10.2026) : Research Problem

Research Problem

  • Logical
  • Reasonable research problem
  • Using AI for brainstorming and refining the problem
  • Identifying and developing resolvable problems

By : Dr. Illisriyani Ismail

Week 3 (14.10.2026) :Plagiarism, Ethics and Decolonizing Social Research & Research Ethics

Plagiarism, Ethics and Decolonizing Social Research & Research Ethics

Assignment Briefing

  • Research ethics
  • Plagiarism
  • Paraphrasing
  • The difference between referencing and plagiarising
  • The importance of decolonising knowledge and indigenous knowledge

By Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk

Week 4 (21.10.2026) : Literature Review

Literature Review

  • Past review & recent review
  • Gaps in literature
  • Essences of literature review

By : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Goh Soo Khoon

Week 5 (28.10.2026) : References and Citation   

References and Citation  

Library Session + Mendeley  

By : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Goh Soo Khoon

Week 6 (4.11.2026) : Research Framework

Research Framework

Theoretical / Conceptual framework

By : Dr. Dina Miza Suhaimi

Week 7 (11.11.2026) : Part 1: Quantitative Research Design

Part 1: Quantitative Research Design

  • Descriptive
  • Correlational
  • Causal-comparative/ quasi-experimental
  • Experimental research
  • Software skills - SPSS
  • Sampling methods
  • Design of questionnaire

By: Dr. Dayang Haszelinna Abang Ali

Week 8 MID-TERM BREAK (16.11.2026 - 22.11.2026)

MID-TERM BREAK (16.11.2026 - 22.11.2026)

Week 9 (25.11.2026) : Part 2: Quantitative Research Design and Quantitative Data Analysis

Part 2: Quantitative Research Design and Quantitative Data Analysis

  • Descriptive
  • Correlational
  • Causal-comparative/ quasi-experimental
  • Experimental research
  • Software skills
  • Characteristics of data
  • Modelling
  • Regression Analysis

By: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tang Chor Foon

Week 10 (2.12.2026) : Qualitative Research Design

Qualitative Research Design

  • Understanding resign-design
  • Selected qualitative methods, g. ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, and case study

By : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Reevany Bustami

Week 11 (9.12.2026) : Sustainability & Futures Episteme and Multidisciplinary Research

Sustainability & Futures Episteme and Multidisciplinary Research

  • SDGs and sustainability-related research

By: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sazlina Md Salleh

Week 12 : Findings Writing, Overall Report Writing

Findings, Comparison with prior studies, Limitations of your work, The difference between findings and conclusions, major / key findings, conclusion and implications.

*Organised by and Referred to the Students’s Respective School/ Centre

Week 13 : Issues and Realities in Research

Problems with Implementation in the field.  Access to data, emerging issues 

*Organised by and Referred to the Students’s Respective School/ Centre

Week 14 : Writing citation, Academic publication

Writing citation, Academic publication

APA, MLA/ Turabian, Chicago; Book, journal, indexed, ISI, SCOPUS, ESCI, peer review, predatory journal, mass media, popular writings, referencing Style, Citation Databases, Impact Factors, and H-Index 

*Organised by and Referred to the Students’s Respective School/ Centre

Week 15 : Presentation to respective supervisors / schools

Presentation to respective supervisors / schools

*Organised by and Referred to the Students’s Respective School/ Centre