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RESERCH METHODS COURSES AT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY. M. Nabasirye FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE. Departments. Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Extension Education Animal Science Crop Science Soil Science Food Science & Technology
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RESERCH METHODS COURSES AT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY M. Nabasirye FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
Departments • Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness • Agricultural Engineering • Agricultural Extension Education • Animal Science • Crop Science • Soil Science • Food Science & Technology • Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK)
Undergraduate programmes B.Sc. Agric. (4 options in Year IV) • B.Sc. Agric. Engineering • B.Sc. Food Science & Technology 4 years • B. Agribusiness Management • B. Sc. Agric. Extension/Education • B. Sc. Land Use & Management • B. Sc. Horticulture 3 years
Graduate programmes • M.Sc. Agric. Econ., Agric. Eng., Agric. Ext. & Educ., Animal Sc., Crop Sc., Soil Sc., Food Sc. & Tech., Applied Human Nutrition • M. Agribusiness Management • Ph.D.
Undergraduate Courses • Introduction to statistics Year I, all • Applied Statistics/Biometry Year II, all • Social Research Methods I Year III, B.Sc Agric, FST, AEE, LUM • Social Research Methods II Year IV, ANS, AEC, SOS, FST, AEE
Graduate Courses • Applied Statistics/Biometry Year I, Semester I All, except MABM • Research Methodology Year I, Semester II All, common course
Introduction to statistics(year 1) • Basic definitions, Descriptive summaries, Distributions, Hypothesis testing, Correlation & Simple linear regression
Practical teaching (year 1, recess term) • Approaches to data collection, Field data collection, Data analysis, Introduction to experimental design concepts
Applied Statistics/Biometry (year 2) • Role in agric. research, Experimentation, Objectives & hypotheses, Experimental design concepts, Basic designs & ANOVA, Treatment comparisons & contrasts, Factorials, Assumptions, Linear regression, Analysis of frequency data, Introduction to statistical software (Genstat)
Social Research Methods I (year 3) • Research & its importance,Types of research & their limitations, The research process, Research methodology/procedures, Data collection and instruments • Research proposal
Social Research Methods II (year 4) • Data collection, Data processing, Qualitative and quantitative data analysis & interpretation, scientific presentation and reporting
Applied Statistics/Biometry (M.Sc. year 1, semester I) • As in B.Sc. Year 2 (review) • Design concepts on students’ field • Split/strip plot, Combined analysis, Repeated measures, Non-parametric, Covariance, Multivariate, On-farm trial design & analysis, Presentation of results, Data management & analysis
Research Methodology (Year I, Semester II) • The scientific process, Search for knowledge, Attributes of science, Research ethics, Process • Planning scientific research Elements of research proposal, Reviewing literature, Selecting & defining problem, Research proposal
Research Methodology (Year I, Semester II) • Research design, Experiments, Surveys, Sampling design, Survey instruments, Secondary data, Data collection and processing • Communicating the results Scientific writing, Expression of ideas, Presentation of data, Interpretation of results, Oral presentations, Writing a manuscript, Bibliography & references
Teaching methods & assessmant • Undergraduates Lectures Practical/tutorials Field attachment • Course work and tests • University examination • Special project
Teaching methods & assessmant • Graduates Lectures, Group assignments Faculty seminars, Proposal preparation & presentation • Course work and term papers • University examination • Annual graduate workshops • Thesis
Challenges • Common courses, diverse fields • Large number of students, limited facilities and time • Low instructor to student ratio • 3 credit units • 2-4 contact hours • 13-15 effective weeks • Ltd. flexibility on teaching methods
Challenges • Influence by Govt. policies • Decentralisation, PMA, NAADS, etc. • OFR vs. OSR at MUARIK • Teaching staff • Not well equipped with new trends • Attitude to change • Ltd. cooperation between departments
What next? • Need to change the teaching approach in response to changes in approach to research & policies • Review of curriculum • Personal mastery & soft skills approach • Strengthen collaborations between University departments, Universities, NARS and CGIAR centers