FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Course Name: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Course Code: PUB 212/222

Lecturer: Mrs. U Omoruyi
Email: uomoruyi@ufh.ac.za
Office Ext 3406

Module Description
This course is suitable for students seeking to understand and obtain the required skills
necessary for carrying out research in Public Administration. This module examines in detail
certain key terms and instruments necessary for carrying out both qualitative and quantitative
research in the social sciences. It presents an overview of the various perspectives in research
and why we need research, the research methods – both qualitative and quantitative in data
collection analysis, and the use of the case study method, etc.

Overall, the module is designed to assist students understand how to design and carry out
research, the theoretical and conceptual issues involved in research methodology, and some of
the limitations and challenges inherent in the research process. At the end of the course, the
students should be able to design and execute a thesis on a socially relevant theme through an
understanding of the types of researches and data sources available and/or used, as well as
knowing the conditions under which variously methods are used, and the tools for analysing
and interpreting data.

Teaching Methodology
Teaching in this course will be through lectures, general class discussions and group
presentations. Lectures will only form a small part of the course as emphasis at this level is
placed more on students familiarising themselves with the prescribed concepts and literature
and developing their own views on major issues through individual analysis and collective
discussions.

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Course Aims
The basic aim of this course is to expose students to the various methods of research in Public
Administration. Get them to appreciate the various efforts and methods of understanding
relevant issues in this discipline, and the necessity of good background.

Course Objectives
To introduce students to:
• Key objectives of empirical research in the Public Administration.
• Important concepts in research.
• Major qualitative and quantitative research methods used by public administrators and
scientists.
• Methodological debates and their implications for doing research.
• Different approaches to data collection and analysis.
• Approaches to representing and writing research.

Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course students will be able to:
• Reflect critically on the advantages and drawbacks of different approaches to empirical
social science research.
• Distinguish between key methods of data collection and analysis used by social
scientists.
• Identify key steps in the research process.
• Appreciate the merits and disadvantages of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method
studies.
• Understand basic statistical language and concepts.

COURSE OUTLINE
Lecture
Units
1. Lecture 1: What is Research?
1.1 Definitions of Research
1.2 Characteristics of Research
1.3 Objectives of Research
1.4 Types of Research
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2. 2.1. The Research Problem
2.2. Selecting and /identifying the Problem
2.3 Sources of Research problem
2.4. Steps in formulation of a research problem
2.5 Identifying variables and constructing hypothesis
2.6 Types of Variables
2.7 Formulating a hypothesis

3. 3.1. The Literature Review

3.2. Purpose of Literature Review
3.3. The necessity of literature Review
3.4. Sources of Literature
3.5. Understanding the role of the Review

4. 4.1. The Research Design

4.2. Defining the research design
4.3. Need for Research design
4.4. Research designs versus Methods
4.5. Types of Research designs
4.6. Selecting a Research design

5 5.1. Research Methods versus Methodology

5.2. Research Approaches

SECOND SEMESTER

6. 6.1. Population and sampling in research

6.2. What is population?
6.3. What is sampling?
6.4. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques

7. 7.1. Data collection techniques/instruments

•7.2. Qualitative data collection instruments e.g. interviews, focus group discussions,
observation.
7.3. Quantitative data collection instruments e.g. survey questionnaires

8. 8.1. Data Analysis

8.2. Transcription, coding and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data
8.3. Analysing Qualitative Data e.g. content analysis, thematic analysis
8.4. Analysing Quantitative Data e.g. soft wares to analyse quantitative data.

9. 9.1. Ethical Considerations in research

• Examples of ethically questionable research practices and ethical guidelines for
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 social science research
❖ Informed consent
• Voluntary Participation
• Confidentiality/ Anonymity
• Expectations and compensation
• Reciprocity and sustainability

10. Introduction to Field Work, Case Studies and Interviewing

• Fieldwork logistics
❖ Affiliation
❖ Timing
❖ Access and timing issues in the field
❖ Ethics of fieldwork
❖ Field notes

• Open-ended, semi-structured and structured interviews

❖ Ethics and power relations in interviewing

MODULE ASSESSMENT
DP + Final Exam: Students will write two assignments and one tests as part of assessment
strategies and these are to be judged using the following criteria: amount of literature covered;
relevance of literature reviewed; critical assessment of the literature; structure of essay
presentation; creative thinking; coherence of arguments; and credibility of conclusions, and any
other criteria decided by the lecturer. Students are required to take each of the two components
seriously as they have a bearing on the final mark. It is absolutely vital that you read widely
before you write your essay in order to fully appreciate the subject matter and therefore be able
to come up with a convincing piece of work.

Assignments Course can take one or a combination of two of the 25% Each
following:
• Turn it in assignments
• Group assignment & presentation
Tests One venue-based test (Theory) 50%

PLAGIARISM
Students should be aware that plagiarism, which is presenting someone’s work or self-
plagiarising your own work will not be tolerated or accepted. This is standard academic and
University policy. Therefore, students are expected to properly acknowledge their sources.

SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS
Unless otherwise specified by the lecturer, all students’ assignments ideally must be submitted
before or on the date of submission determined by lecturer or agreed to between the lecturer
and students. The working hours are Monday to Friday (8am to 4pm). A student who fails to
submit the two assignments would be deemed as having failed to fulfil the assessment
requirements of the course, and risk failing the course or being barred from sitting for the

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examinations.