Course syllabus

1. Program of Study M.Sc. (Trop. Med.) and Ph.D. (Trop. Med.)

(International Program)
Faculty/Institute Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University
2. Course Code TMID 544
Course Title Research Methodology
3. Number of credits 2(2-0-4)
4. Prerequisite None
5. Type of Course Required course
6. Session First semester of academics year:
7. Course description
Philosophy and basic knowledge on research procedures, steps of planning a
research project, selecting appropriate research design, sample size calculation and data
analysis, ethical issues in biomedical science, epidemiological, and social research,
research project planning, developing a proposal.
8. Course objectives
After completion of this course, students will be able to
1. Plan appropriate research design and method according to research theory
and philosophy.
2. Develop research proposal following the ethical principles.
3. Make effectively and efficiently use of literatures
4. Work in the team and have responsibility for the assignment.
5. Present/communicate result of research or literature review by using
appropriate information technology.
10. Course outline and constructive alignment
Hours
Week Title Lectu Self- Instructor
Lab
re study
1 Rationale, research question, research 2 0 4 Assoc. Prof.
objectives and determination of research title Kamolnetr
2 Sampling techniques and sample size 2 0 4 Assoc Prof Jaranit
calculation
3 Data analysis 2 0 4 Assoc Prof Jaranit

4 Research planning 2 0 4 Assoc Prof.

Yupaporn
5 Ethical issues in biomedical science and social 2 0 4 Assoc Prof.
science research Yupaporn
6 Review I: Epidemiology/Social study 3 0 6 Team

5 Review 2:Laboratory/Clinical study 3 Team

8 Defining the problem and purpose statement, 3 0 6 Team

research title, question/hypothesis I

9 Defining the problem and purpose statement, 3 0 6 Team

research title, question/hypothesis II

10 Planning research design, method and sample 3 0 6 Team

size calculation I
11 Planning research design, method and sample 3 0 6 Team
size calculation II
12 Proposal presentation I 3 0 6 Team
13 Proposal presentation II 3 0 6 Team
Total 34 0 68
11. Teaching and Learning Activities
Lecture, presentation, discussion
12. Teaching media
1. Textbooks
2. Published articles, computer, LCD projector
3. Internet
13. Measurement and evaluation of student achievement
Presentation, discussion and written proposal
14. Course evaluation
Students’ achievement evaluated by instructor’s team from students’ presentation,
discussion and written proposal.
Evaluate student satisfaction towards teaching and learning of the course using
questionnaire.
Rubrics for grading
Score Letter grading GPA points
81-100 A 4.00
71-80 B+ 3.50
61-70 B 3.00
51-60 C+ 2.50
41-50 C 2.00
<40 F F
15. References
Baumgartner TA, Hensley LD. Conducting & Reading Research in Health & Human
Performance. 4th edition,Boston: McGraw hill, 2006.
Bowling A, Ebrahim S., eds., Handbook of Health Research Methods Investigation,
Measurement and Analysis. England: Open University Press, 2005.
Bramstedt KA. A guide to informed consent for clinician-investigators. Cleveland
Clinic J Med. 2004; 71(11):907-10.
COHRED Working Group on Priority Setting. A manual for research priority setting
using ENHR strategy. COHRED Document 2003.3. Geneva: WHO Publishing; 2000.
 Cummings SR, Browner WS, Hulley SB. Conceiving the research question. In: Hulley
SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, Grady DG, Newman TB. eds. Designing clinical research.
3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007:17-26.
Forum of Ethical Review Committees in Thailand (FERCIT). The ethical guidelines for
research on human subject in Thailand. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Press; 2007.
Global Forum for Health Research. The 10/90 report on health research 2003-2004.
Geneva: WHO Publishing; 2004.
Groves RM, Fowler FJ, Coupers MP, Lepkowski JM, Singer E, Tourangeau R. Survey
Methodology. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004.
Gordis L. Epidemiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2008.
Hulley SB, Newman TB, Cummings SR. Get started: the anatomy and physiology of
clinical research. In: Hulley SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, Grady DG, Newman TB. eds.
Designing clinical research. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007:3-15.
Kumar R. Research Methodology. 2nd ed. New Delhi: Sage Publication; 2005.
O’Leary Z. The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: SAGE Publications, 2004.
Leedy PD, Ormrod JE. Practical Research Planning and Design. 8th edition, New Jersey:
Peason Education, Inc., 2005.
Portney LG, Watkins MP. Foundations of Clinical Research. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Health; 2000.
Reason P, Bradbury H. eds., Handbook of Action Research. London: SAGE Publications, 2006.
Wheelan SA. The handbook of Group Research and Practice. London: SAGE
Publications, 2005.
16. Instructors:
1. Assoc. Prof. Kamolnetr Okanurak
2. Assoc Prof Jaranit Kaewkungwal
3. Assoc Prof. Yupaporn Wattanagoon
4. Assoc Prof. Waranya Wongwit
5. Assist Prof Saranath Lawpoolsri Niyom
6. Dr. Jintana Patarapotikul
17. Course coordinator
Assoc. Prof. Kamolnetr Okanurak, Department of Social and Environmental Medicine,
Faculty of Tropical Medicine. Tel: 662 354-9100 ext 1689
e-mail: kamolnetr.oka@mahidol.ac.th