RESERCH METHODS COURSES RESERCH METHODS COURSES

AT MAKERERE UNIVERSITYAT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

M. NabasiryeM. NabasiryeFACULTY OF AGRICULTUREFACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

DepartmentsDepartmentsAgricultural Economics & AgribusinessAgricultural Economics & Agribusiness

Agricultural EngineeringAgricultural Engineering

Agricultural Extension EducationAgricultural Extension Education

Animal ScienceAnimal Science

Crop ScienceCrop Science

Soil ScienceSoil Science

Food Science & TechnologyFood Science & Technology

Makerere University Agricultural Research Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK)Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK)

Undergraduate Undergraduate programmesprogrammes

B.Sc. Agric. (B.Sc. Agric. (4 options in Year IV4 options in Year IV))B.Sc. Agric. EngineeringB.Sc. Agric. EngineeringB.Sc. Food Science & TechnologyB.Sc. Food Science & Technology

4 years4 years

B. Agribusiness ManagementB. Agribusiness ManagementB. Sc. Agric. Extension/EducationB. Sc. Agric. Extension/EducationB. Sc. Land Use & Management B. Sc. Land Use & Management B. Sc. HorticultureB. Sc. Horticulture

3 years3 years

Graduate programmesGraduate programmes

M.Sc.M.Sc.Agric. Econ., Agric. Econ., Agric. Eng., Agric. Agric. Eng., Agric. Ext. & Educ., Animal Sc., Crop Ext. & Educ., Animal Sc., Crop Sc., Soil Sc., Food Sc. & Tech., Sc., Soil Sc., Food Sc. & Tech., Applied Human NutritionApplied Human Nutrition

M.M. Agribusiness Management Agribusiness Management

Ph.D.Ph.D.

Undergraduate CoursesUndergraduate Courses

Introduction to statisticsYear I, allYear I, all

Applied Statistics/Biometry Year II, allYear II, all

Social Research Methods I Year III, B.Sc Agric, FST, AEE, LUMYear III, B.Sc Agric, FST, AEE, LUM

Social Research Methods IIYear IV, ANS, AEC, SOS, FST, AEEYear IV, ANS, AEC, SOS, FST, AEE

Graduate CoursesGraduate Courses

Applied Statistics/Biometry

Year I, Semester IYear I, Semester I

All, except MABMAll, except MABM

Research Methodology

Year I, Semester IIYear I, Semester II

All, common courseAll, common course

Introduction to statisticsIntroduction to statistics(year 1)(year 1)

Basic definitions, Descriptive summaries, Distributions, Hypothesis testing, Correlation & Simple linear regression

Practical teaching Practical teaching (year 1, recess term)(year 1, recess term)

Approaches to data collection, Field data collection, Data analysis, Introduction to experimental design concepts

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)

Applied Statistics/BiometryApplied Statistics/Biometry (year 2) (year 2)

Social Research Methods I Social Research Methods I (year 3)(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 Social Research Methods II (year 4)(year 4)

Data collection, Data processing,

Qualitative and quantitative data

analysis & interpretation, scientific

presentation and reporting

Applied Statistics/Biometry Applied Statistics/Biometry (M.Sc. year 1, semester I)(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 Research Methodology (Year I, Semester II)(Year I, Semester II)

The scientific process, Search for knowledge, Attributes of science, Research ethics, Process

Planning scientific researchElements of research

proposal, Reviewing literature, Selecting & defining problem, Research proposal

Research Methodology Research Methodology (Year I, Semester II)(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 & Teaching methods & assessmant assessmant

Undergraduates

Lectures

Practical/tutorials

Field attachment

Course work and tests

University examination

Special project

Teaching methods & Teaching methods & assessmant assessmant

Graduates

Lectures, Group assignments

Faculty seminars, Proposal preparation & presentation

Course work and term papers

University examination

Annual graduate workshops

Thesis

ChallengesChallenges

Common courses, diverse fields

Large number of students, limited facilities and time

- Low instructor to student ratioLow instructor to student ratio

- 3 credit units3 credit units

- 2-4 contact hours2-4 contact hours

- 13-15 effective weeks13-15 effective weeks

- Ltd. flexibility on teaching methodsLtd. flexibility on teaching methods

ChallengesChallenges

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?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

Thank youThank you