Basic Methods of Scientific Research

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2024-2025

Topic

The course aims at introducing students to the basic steps of scientific research, guiding them through stages of becoming an independent researcher. The course covers each step of the research process, from preparing a research plan to evaluating and reporting data. Students will become familiar with various methods of literature search, data collection, data analysis, as well as the ethical questions of scientific research. Students will be introduced to various types of scientific works, including rules and requirements of scientific communication. A session will be dedicated to the special requirements of writing a thesis. Emphasis will be laid on practice: in the seminars students should put into practice what they have learned in the lectures, based on their own research work.

Lectures

• 1. Concept, process and strategies of scientific research. Organising research projects. - Farkas Ágnes
• 2. Literature search - Farkas Ágnes
• 3. Writing a research plan. Designing experiments. - Farkas Ágnes
• 4. Methods of data collection. Questionnaires. - Farkas Ágnes
• 5. Data processing, data analysis. - Farkas Ágnes
• 6. Evaluation of data. - Farkas Ágnes
• 7. The role of informatics in scientific research. - Farkas Ágnes
• 8. The role of informatics in scientific research. - Farkas Ágnes
• 9. Ethical questions of scientific research. - Farkas Ágnes
• 10. Animal studies. Clinical studies. - Farkas Ágnes
• 11. Scientific communication. Types of scientific works. Metrics of scientific achievement. - Farkas Ágnes
• 12. Rules and requirements in scientific communication. - Farkas Ágnes
• 13. Writing applications for scholarships and research grants. - Farkas Ágnes
• 14. Scientific co-operations. Scene and institutions of science in Hungary and worldwide. - Farkas Ágnes

Practices

Seminars

• 1. Literature search in the field of the student's own research I. - Farkas Ágnes
• 2. Literature search in the field of the student's own research II. - Farkas Ágnes
• 3. Preparing a research plan based on the student's own research objectives. - Farkas Ágnes
• 4. Preparing a questionnaire - Farkas Ágnes
• 5. Evaluation of data from the student’s research project I. - Farkas Ágnes
• 6. Evaluation of data from the student’s research project II. - Farkas Ágnes
• 7. Practice of scientific communication I. - Farkas Ágnes
• 8. Practice of scientific communication II. - Farkas Ágnes
• 9. Practice of scientific communication III. - Farkas Ágnes
• 10. Practice of scientific communication IV. - Farkas Ágnes
• 11. Practice of scientific communication V. - Farkas Ágnes
• 12. Practice of scientific communication VI. - Farkas Ágnes
• 13. Practice of writing an application for a scholarship. - Farkas Ágnes
• 14. Practice of writing an application for a research project. - Farkas Ágnes

Reading material

Obligatory literature

Literature developed by the Department

Lecture materials are available in MS Teams.

Notes

Recommended literature

Turabian K. L. (2010): A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Chicago Style for Students & Researchers. 8th edition. The University of Chicago Press. Chicago and London, pp. 448.

Conditions for acceptance of the semester

Participation in the lectures and seminars is obligatory. Maximum three absences can be accepted. Students are required to actively participate in the seminars, which will include group work and student presentations. Students will be required to hand in various assignments (summary of literature search with references, research plan, questionnaire, data analysis, scientific report) and prepare an oral presentation.

Mid-term exams

Students will be required to perform some tasks related to their own research topic. The midsemester grade will be based on the successful completion of the following tasks:

- literature search

- write a research plan

- prepare a questionnaire

- analyze data

- critically evaluate data, draw conclusions

- present results (oral and written format)

Making up for missed classes

Students can make up for absences by completing the tasks and home assignments of each class.

Exam topics/questions

1. Research plan.

2. Methods of data collection.

3. Questionnaires.

4. Methods of literature search.

5. Methods of data analysis.

6. Critical evaluation of data.

7. Ethical questions of scientific research.

8. Animal studies. Clinical studies.

9. Scientific writing: types, rules and requirements.

10. References, bibliography.

11. Scene and institutions of science in Hungary.

Examiners

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars

• Farkas Ágnes