1.1.1.

Research Methodology and Research Methods

COURSE UNIT: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH METHODS

COURSE CODE: GBL 3207
COURSE WEIGHT: 4 CREDIT UNITS
CONTACT HOUR: 60 HOURS
COURSE TYPE: CORE
COURSE LEVEL: UNDERGRADUATE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course covers two components: first, research methodology; that is, the selection of
the general approach to take towards investigating a problem; and secondly, research
methods; that is, the specific techniques to use during the investigation. It is designed to
equip students with the skills to conduct systematic independent legal and interdisciplinary
research and to present the results in a coherent and convincing document. In a wider
context, it will fortify the students’ legal research and writing skills that were introduced in
the earlier curriculum and prepare the students for the advanced independent research and
writing that will be expected of them in their advanced courses.

The course will emphasize how to conduct systematic legal research and write an extensive
interdisciplinary law-focused academic dissertation. However, students will also find the
course relevant for other legal writing assignments during their study.

Good research and writing are intertwined and, thus, the course will cover the conventions
and skills of good legal writing as an integral part of the course. The topics that will be
covered include the importance of good research, a systematic approach to legal research,
the conventions of legal writing, proper legal referencing, proposal writing; qualitative
research methods; quantitative research methods; data analysis & management; report
writing and referencing; and ethics in research.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The general short-term objective is to increase the students’ skills so that they write better
essays, while the general medium-term objective is to prepare the students for the research
and writing of the dissertation element of their LLB programme. Specifically, the course
intents to:
 Equip students evaluate the quality of published research

 Identify the methodology best suited for their research at hand;

 Apply specific steps of information discovery to reach the desired correct outcomes

 Equip students with the knowledge and information to write a research proposal

 Enable students write a research report.

LEARNING METHODS

Learning will be conducted through formal lectures, seminars, group discussions or projects,
the assessed writing component, case studies, and independent study.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Individual written assignments, take home assignments, tests, group work, and active
seminar participation account for 30% of total marks possible, while the final examination
constitutes the remaining 70%.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students should have sufficient knowledge and skills to:
1. develop appropriate research methodology for a given research topic;

2. identify the key legal issues to research;

3. formulate research objectives, and questions, and problem statement;

4. follow a systematic approach to researching the topic by identifying and using

relevant sources of information;

5. apply analytical thinking techniques and skills in practical research projects;

6. write comprehensively and convincingly; and

 7. prepare a research proposal.

READING MATERIALS

Lincoln Law Library, Referencing Handbook: OSCOLA

Robin C. A. White, Writing Guide 2: Writing a Research Paper 2009.
John Knowles & Philip Thomas, Effective Legal Research, (4th Edition, Sweet &
Maxwell, 2016).
Edwina Higgins & Laura Tatham: Successful Legal Writing, 2nd Edition, Sweet & Maxwell,
2011).
Emily Finch & Stefan Fafinski: Legal Skills, 8th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2021.
Adrian Holliday, Doing and Writing Qualitative Research, 2nd edition, SAGE Publications,
2007).
Sarah Valentine, “Legal Research as a Fundamental Skill: A Lifeboat for Students and Law
Schools” (2010) 39 Baltimore Law Review 173.

Ranjit Kumar: Research Methodology: A step-By-Step Guide for Beginners, Sage

Publications, London, 1999. (2nd Ed. 2005, not available in UCU Lib)

Denis Asiimwe Katebire: Social Research Methodology: An Introduction, Makerere

University Printery, Kampala, 2007.

Timothy Wangusa: Essentials of Research Methodology in Human & Social Sciences, Bow &
Arrow Publishers Ltd, Kampala, 2007.

Earl Babbie: The Basics of Social Research, Thomson, Wadsworth, USA, 2008.

Margaret Peil: Social Science Research Methods, A Handbook for Africa, 2nd Revised
Edition, East African Educational Publishers Ltd. 1995.

Martin E. Amin: Social Science Research, Conception, Methodology & Analysis, Makerere
University Printery, Kampala, 2005.

John W. Creswell: Research Design, Qualitative, Quantitative & Mixed Methods

Approaches, 2nd Edition, SAGE Publications, London, 2003.

Uganda Law Reform Commission, Revised Domestic Relations Study Report

Uganda Law Reform Commission, Final Succession Study Report

DETAILED COURSE OUTLINE

WEEK ONE – TWO

Introduction to research methodology and research methods
The importance of research and different types of research

WEEK THREE – FIVE

Academic research and project research Proposals
- Content & Structure
- In the third week of the class, students must put together a reading list for their research
topic which they will refine for their coursework presentation.

WEEK SIX – SEVEN

A systematic approach to legal research
WEEK EIGHT – NINE
Qualitative analysis with an emphasis on legal analysis
Quantitative research methods: Why? / Their contribution

WEEK TEN – ELEVEN

Data analysis & management
- Organising
- Interpreting
- Analysing data for use
- Management of data
WEEK TWELVE
Report writing
- Citation of literature
- Writing an abstract and executive summary - content; length

WEEK THIRTEEN
Budgeting
- Costs
- Time

WEEK FOURTEEN – FIFTEEN

Ethics in Research

WEEK SIXTEEN – SEVENTEEN: Revision and Examination