A rigorous graduate-level introduction to the philosophical foundations and practical tools of academic research — covering quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.
This programme at SMART is designed to provide learners with a thorough grounding in both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of Research Methods. All content is developed and delivered by Masum Murtaza (FHEA, PGCHE, MCMI, CMBE) — an active researcher and practitioner with over fifteen years of UK higher education experience.
Delivered entirely online through the SMART learning portal at smart.masummurtaza.com/learn. Self-paced, free to enrol, and leads to a SMART Certificate of Completion on passing the 70% threshold assessment.
"Research is formalised curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." — Zora Neale Hurston
Ontology, epistemology, positivism, interpretivism, and pragmatism — the philosophical foundations underpinning research design choices.
Case study, survey, experiment, ethnography, action research, and grounded theory — selecting and justifying the right research strategy.
Descriptive and inferential statistics, regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and data entry and analysis using SPSS software.
Introduction to SEM using validated instruments — path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and model fit assessment for business and social science research.
Thematic analysis, content analysis, interviews, focus groups, and the integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches in mixed-methods design.
Literature review structure, APA citation, academic voice, research ethics, plagiarism, and preparing work for academic submission.
Free to enrol. Complete all modules, pass the final assessment at 70%, and receive your SMART Certificate of Completion.
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