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
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/Biometry (year 2)
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 contact hours 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
Thank you