SEMESTER: 2nd Semester 2021/2022 Academic Session

COURSE CODE: SOC 302

COURSE TITLE: Data Analysis
LECTURER: Prof Rufus Femi Tinuola

OUTLINES
1. Choosing an appropriate topic for Academic Research
2. Research Proposal
3. The nexus of Research Objective, Research Questions and Research Hypothesis
4. Research Instruments; types & development
5. Field Work Strategy
6. Processing and Analysis of Data
7. Application of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
8. Mini-Project

Outline 1: CHOOSING AN APPROPRIATE TOPIC FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH

WORK

What is a topic?

 A topic is the main organizing principle guiding the analysis of an academic writing.
Topics offer an occasion for writing and a focus that governs what we intend to write.

 Topic represents the core subject matter of scholarly communication

 A topic is the means by which we discover new knowledge.

The first step in an academic paper is to select a topic, narrow and then define it. This is an
important step to the overall success of your paper. Sometimes this process may mean that you
choose from a list of subjects while other times, you may have freedom to select a topic of your
choice.
Sources of a topic for an academic research work

1. Your lecturer assigns one to you.

2. Your lecturer gives you some guidelines for choosing one.

3. Your lecturer gives you complete freedom to choose whatever topic you want based on your
understanding on the subject matter.

4. Your lecturer provides you with a general topic from which choose a particular aspect of it

5. Your lecturer provides you with a list of possible topics

6. Your Lecturer leaves it up to you to choose a topic and you only have to obtain his/her
permission to write about it before beginning your investigation.

Considerations in choosing a title

The following considerations can assist a student in choosing a title, from any of the sources
above:

1. Don't choose a title that is too broad

2. Choose a title that is of interest to you.
3. Choose a title that will enable you to read and understand the literature.
4. Choose a title that has enough academic resources.
5. Choose a title that is relevant to your situation
6. Your title must be researchable.

After getting a title

Step 1: Identify concepts and terms that make up the topic statement. For example, if you
are writing on sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS infection among students of Federal University,
Lafia, the following concepts are relevant: sexuality, diseases, health, Interaction. It is important
to identify the phrases, nouns and action verbs in the topic.

Step 2: Review related literature: This will help you to refine how you will approach focusing
on the topic and finding a way to analyze it. You can begin by reading through background
information from materials listed in your course syllabus. You may need to do this several times
before you finalize how to approach writing about the topic.

Step 3: Since researchers are generally designed to get you to develop your own ideas and
arguments, look for sources that can help broaden, modify, or strengthen your initial
thoughts and arguments

Step 4: Prepare an outline for the paper: A detailed outline for your paper lays the foundation
for a more in-depth and focused review of relevant research literature.
OUTLINE 2: RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Definition

A research proposal is a document written by a researcher that provides a detailed description of

the proposed program. It is like an outline of the entire research process that gives a reader a
summary of the information discussed in a project. A research proposal is intended to convince
others that you have a worthwhile research project and that you have the competence and the
work plan to complete it. It is the step by step outline of stages involved in an attempt to
undertake a re-search for answers on basic issues affecting a significant proportion of the
population.

Regardless of your research area and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must
address three basic questions:

1. What plan do you intend to accomplish?

2. Why you want to do it?
3. How you are going to do it?

The proposal should have sufficient information to convince your readers that you have an
important research idea, that you have a good grasp of the relevant literature and the major
issues, and that your methodology is sound.

The quality of your research proposal depends not only on the quality of your proposed project,
but also on the quality of your proposal writing. A good research project may run the risk of
rejection simply because the proposal is poorly written. Therefore, your writing must be: (i)
coherent (ii) clear (iii) compelling (iv) presented in good grammar. Research proposals are
written in future tense and have different points of emphasis.

The proposal is not a fixed blueprint. One cannot predict one's findings beforehand or
mechanically stick to an argument since the research will inevitably alter or even unseat one's
initial expectations. There is no fixed formula for writing a proposal. At times, the organization
requesting for proposal for research often specify in concrete terms, some of their expectations
for consideration.

However, it is important for any research proposal to:

1. identified at least a scientific problem

2. develop a theoretical background and a methodical approach to solving the problem(s)
3. present a realistic time frame for the research and at reasonable expenses.
4. Make a reasonable budget detailing the expenses that will be required at every stage of
the research.

Reasons for writing Research Proposal

Research proposals are written for various reasons:

1. Requesting a budget (grant) for the research they describe

2. Certification requirements for research (as from an institutional review board
committee
3. As a task in tertiary education (e.g., before performing research for a
dissertation),
4. As a condition for employment at a research institution (which usually
requires sponsor-approved research proposals).

Components of Research Proposals

Most often, the components of any research proposal depend on the type, nature and the
organization requesting for the proposal. In the social sciences, the following components are
required when presenting a research proposal for the award of degree(s)

1. Title

It should be concise and descriptive. Often titles are stated in terms of a functional relationship,
because such titles clearly indicate the independent and dependent variables. However, if
possible, think of an informative but catchy title. An effective title not only pricks the reader's
interest, but also predisposes him/her favourably towards the proposal.
 2. Introduction

The main purpose of the introduction is to provide the necessary background or context for your
research problem. Sometimes the introduction is enriched with a brief review of related literature
to provide a historical context of the subject under study.

3. Statement of Problem

How to frame the research problem is perhaps the biggest problem in proposal writing. If the
research problem is framed in the context of a general, rambling literature review, then the
research question may appear trivial and uninteresting. However, if the same question is placed
in the context of a very focused and current research area, its significance will become evident.

4. Research Questions

Majorly, research questions are framed from specific issues in the statement of problem. They
are basic questions which the whole research intends to provide answers. Writing good research
questions depends on the researcher’s: (a). creativity (b). ability to think clearly (c) depth of his
understanding of problem areas.

5. Research Objectives
Research objectives are derivable and drawn directly from the research questions. However, it is
not a rule that the number of research objectives should tally with research questions, because,
two or more research objectives can be derived from one research question.

6. Research Hypothesis
The expected relationship between two or more variables can be expressed tentatively either in
null or alternate forms. Null hypotheses show that there is no relationship between the variables
while alternate hypotheses shows that there at least a relationship exist. The hypothesis will be
tested with the available data to determine the (non)acceptability of the two tentative positions
 7. Significance of the Study
This is the expression of real output of the research and the individuals, organizations and sectors
of the end-users of the research product who will benefit from the outcome of the research.

8. Scope of Study

This is the outline of the extent and limit of the research based on the time and funding available

9. Literature Review

A short and precise overview about the current state of research that is immediately connected
with your research project with specific reference to the most important contributions of other
scholars is needed. State clearly how your research will cover an existing gap and contribute to
the existing knowledge on the subject.

There are different ways to organize your literature review. Make use of subheadings to bring
order and coherence to your review. For example, having established the importance of your
research area and its current state of development, you may devote several subsections on related
issues. It is also helpful to keep in mind that you are telling a story to an audience. Try to tell it in
a stimulating and engaging manner. Do not bore them, because it may lead to rejection of your
worthy proposal.

10. Theoretical Framework

Discussion of the theme of study within the framework of existing theories is done to explore the
relevance of the study in the framework of existing body of knowledge. After exploring relevant
theories, variables are linked in a diagrammatic form to explain the relationship existing between
of among them.
Explain the theoretical scope or the framework of ideas that will be used to back the research and
demonstrate that you are fully conversant with the ideas you are dealing with and that you grasp
their methodological implications.

11. Research Methods

In this section, the researcher explains how he plans to tackle the research problem. Research
methods provide the work plan and describe the activities necessary for the completion of the
research. The guiding principle for writing this section is that it should contain sufficient
information for the reader to determine, in stages, the methods and procedures for obtaining and
analyzing the data. Some of the components of research methods are listed below:

a. The study area

b. Research Design
c. Sample size and Sampling Technique
d. Types of data: Qualitative or Quantitative
e. Field Work
f. Instrument of data collection
g. Data analytical technique(s)
h. Approval of Ethical Board

12. Time Table

Time table time-frames and outline systematically, specific period within which the research
will be conducted.

13. Budget
For research requesting for funding, the budget section provides an outlay of all expenses
that will be expended at every stage of the research. At times, the budget is prepared on the
basis of the lump sum of grant available for the research.

14. References