NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA 
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
                         COURSE CODE: FMS 304 
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
                            COURSE TITLE: 
                         RESEARCH  METHODOLOGY 
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
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             Course Code                          FMS 304 
              
             Course Title                     RESEARCH  METHODOLOGY 
              
              
              
             Course Developers / Writers          OSUJI, U.S.A. (PhD  
                                                  ISHOLA,  Timothy Oladele (PhD) 
                                                  National Open University of Nigeria 
              
             Head  
              
             HOD Administration, FMS                  DR (MRS) YEMISI I. OGUNLELA    
                                                                           National Open University of Nigeria 
              
              
              
              
             Programme Coordinator                      MRS IHUOMA IKEMBA-EFUGHI    
                                                                          National Open University of Nigeria 
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
             NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA 
              
              
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          FMS 304                                  COURSE GUIDE 
           
           
           
           
           
           
          National Open University of Nigeria 
          Headquarters 
           
          14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way 
           
          Victoria Island 
          Lagos 
           
          Abuja Office 
          National Open University of Nigeria 
          No 5, Dar Es Salaam Street 
           
          Off Aminu Kano Crescent 
           
          Wuse II, Abuja 
          Nigeria 
           
           
           
          E-mail:  centralinfo@nou.edu.ng 
           
          URL:     www.nou.edu.ng 
           
           
           
          Published by 
          National Open University of Nigeria 
           
           
          Printed 2012 
           
           
          ISBN: 
           
           
           
          All rights Reserved 
           
           
           
           
           
           
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                    CONTENTS                                                                   PAGE 
                Module 1 ……………………………………………………                                                          1 
                Unit 1:         Conceptual Frame Work of Research                                      1 
                Unit 2.0:       Skills of Scientific Investigation                                     14 
                Unit 3.0         Methods of Data Collection in   Research – 1                          24 
                Unit 4.0        Interviews and Observations                                            35 
                Unit 5.0        Problem Identification in Research                                     47 
                Module 2 ……………………………………………………                                                          47 
                Unit 6.0        Steps in Research Agenda                                               56 
                Unit 7.0        The Typologies of The Research Methods I                               67 
                Unit 8.0        Philosophical and Historical Research                                  79 
                Unit 9.0        Naturalistic Inquiry and Case Study                                    88 
                Unit 10.0       Descriptive Research                                                   101 
                Module 3 ……………………………………………………                                                          110 
                Unit 11.0       Experimental and Action Researches                                     110 
                Unit 12.0       Population and Sampling                                                121 
                Unit 13.0       Statistical Tools of Analysis                                          130 
                Unit 14.0         Writing Research Reports and Proposals.                              143 
                Unit 15.0        Research Referencing, Proposal Contents and Ethnical Issues          157 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
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