The PRL: Spring 2025 Course Outline

Course Title: The PRL: Spring 2025

Insitute: CHINTA Research Bangladesh
Mentors: Mohammed Mamun and Firoj Al Mamun
Course Objective: To empower participants to independently design, execute, and publish research
projects through hands-on training, fostering critical thinking, and developing essential skills for
academic and professional success.
Course Duration: 6-8 months
Target Audience: Beginner to intermediate-level researchers, students, and professionals eager to gain
practical research experience and publish academic papers.

Course Modules and Contents

Module 1: Research Literacy and Scientometrics

1. Introduction to Research: Objectives, Importance, and Context
2. Evolution of Scientific Research: Historical Perspectives
3. Understanding Scientometrics: Measuring Research Impact
4. Bibliometric Indicators: h-Index, g-Index, i10-Index, and Beyond
5. Indexing Tools and Platforms: Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar
6. Altmetrics: Social Media and Alternative Impact Metrics
7. Types of Research Papers: Original, Review, Case Study, Systematic Reviews
8. Research Literacy: Scientific Terminology and Processes
9. Open Access Publishing: Benefits and Challenges
10. Research Ethics: Standards, IRB Protocols, and Human Rights
11. Common Pitfalls: Plagiarism, Data Fabrication, and Research Misconduct

Module 2: Research Methodology

1. Introduction to Research Methodology: Basics and Applications
2. Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning in Research
3. Qualitative Research: Techniques and Thematic Analysis
4. Quantitative Research: Surveys, Experiments, and Statistical Analysis
5. Mixed-Methods Research: Integration Strategies
6. Action Research: Bridging Theory and Practice
7. Community-Based Participatory Research
8. Ethical Considerations in Research
9. Design Thinking in Research: Framing Problems

Module 3: Research Designs

1. Overview of Research Designs: Descriptive to Experimental

2. Descriptive Research: Purpose and Applications
3. Correlational Research: Identifying Relationships
 4. Causal Research: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs
5. Cross-Sectional vs. Longitudinal Studies: Pros and Cons
6. Case Studies: Deep-Dive Analysis
7. Ethnography: Capturing Cultural Contexts
8. Comparative Research Designs: Cross-Cultural and International Studies
9. Adaptive Research Designs: Adjusting to Real-Time Data
10. Designing Big Data Studies: Challenges and Opportunities

Module 4: Understanding and Critiquing Research Papers

1. Strategies for Reading Research Papers Effectively
2. Analyzing the IMRAD Structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
3. In-Depth Analysis of at least 30 Case Reports and Qualitative Papers
4. Critical Appraisal: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Relevance
5. Understanding Frameworks and Theories in Papers
6. Identifying Gaps in Literature for Future Research
7. Individual or Group Presentation on Papers

Module 5: Basic Statistics for Research

1. Introduction to Variables: Types, Scales of Measurement, and Operationalization
2. Reliability and Validity: Ensuring Accuracy in Measurements
3. Random and Systematic Errors: Identification, Examples, and Mitigation Strategies
4. Descriptive Statistics: Central Tendency, Variability, Percentiles, and Quartiles
5. Probability Concepts: Introduction to Probability Distributions and Normality
6. Inferential Statistics: Basics of Hypothesis Testing, Confidence Intervals, and One-Way ANOVA
7. Statistical Significance vs. Practical Significance: Key Differences and Examples
8. Correlation vs. Causation: Understanding and Differentiating Relationships
9. Correlation Tests: Pearson’s Correlation and Spearman’s Rank Correlation
10. Effect Size and Power Analysis: Tools (e.g., G*Power), and Sample Size Determination
11. Regression Analysis: Simple, Multiple Regression, and Interpretation of Results
12. Non-Parametric Tests: Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, etc.
13. Data Visualization: Creating Insightful Charts and Graphs (Bar Charts, Histograms, Scatterplots)

Module 6: Statistical Analysis Using SPSS

1. Introduction to SPSS: Overview, Installation, and Interface Navigation
2. Data Entry and Management: Importing, Organizing, and Cleaning Data
3. Handling Data Issues: Addressing Missing Data, Detecting and Managing Outliers
4. Data Transformation: Normalization, Standardization, and Recoding Variables for Consistency
5. Descriptive Statistics: Measures of Central Tendency and Variability
6. Inferential Statistics: Hypothesis Testing Using t-Tests, Chi-Square, and ANOVA
7. Regression Analysis: Conducting Linear and Logistic Regression Models
8. Non-Parametric Tests: Applications of Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis Tests
9. Data Visualization in SPSS: Generating APA-Compliant Graphs and Tables
10. Practical Workshop: Hands-On Analysis Using Project Datasets

Module 7: Papeer Based Research learning

1. Understanding Research Papers and Strategic Reading: Types and Key Components
2. Evaluating Methodological Rigor, Validity, Reliability, Biases, and Limitations
 3. Statistical Analysis in Papers: Reviewing Statistical Tests,
4. Hypothesis Testing: Understanding Null and Alternative Hypotheses
5. Finding Research Gaps: Identifying Unaddressed Questions and New Research Directions
6. Frameworks and Theories: Analyzing Conceptual Frameworks and Theoretical Models
7. Reasons for Acceptance or Rejection: Understanding Success Factors
8. Practical Exercises: Analyzing 50–90 Papers, Group Discussions, and Presentations of Findings
9. Literature Review and Questionnaire Development

Module 8: Sampling Strategies

1. Population vs. Sample: Key Differences
2. Commonly Used Sampling Techniques:
• Probability: Simple Random, Stratified, Cluster
• Non-Probability: Convenience, Purposive, Snowball
3. Addressing Sampling Bias: Identification and Mitigation
4. Sample Size Estimation: Ensuring Statistical Power
5. Weighting and Representativeness in Sampling

Module 9: Data Collection Techniques

1. Planning and Executing Data Collection
2. Designing Surveys and Questionnaires
3. Measurement Tools: Likert Scales and Beyond
4. Digital Data Collection Tools: Google Form
5. Pilot Testing and Data Quality Assurance
6. Ethical Management of Participant Data
7. Practical Project: Designing and Conducting a Survey

Module 10: Developing a Research Project and Manuscript

1. Defining Research Scope and Objectives
2. Writing Problem Statements and Research Questions
3. Developing Hypotheses and Conceptual Frameworks
4. Structuring Research Proposals and Manuscripts
5. Practical Manuscript Writing and Editing
6. Journal Selection and Avoiding Predatory Publishers
7. Responding to Peer Reviewers and Revising Manuscripts

Module 11: Referencing and Research Tools

1. Citation and Referencing Styles: APA, MLA, Chicago
2. Reference Management Software: Mendeley Application
3. Plagiarism Checkers: Ensuring Originality