Lesson Structure:  Horticultural Research I BHT118

There are 7 lessons:

 1.  Determining Research Needs

• Overview
• Identifying research needs
• The research goal
• The research question
• Other questions to clarify the research goal
• Sources of information
• What information is required
• Depth and bredth of data
• Setting realistic research parameters
• Constraining factors

2.   Searching for Information

• Kinds of exploratory research
• Primary data research
• Secondary data research
• Literature reviews

3.  Research Methods

• Key research terms
• Experimentation
• A controlled environment
• Field trials
• Steps in collection and analysis of data
• Conducting a crop trial
• Setting up a Comparison trial
• Running a trial: records and recording
• Evaluating the trial
• Interviewing skills: procedure, asking questions, types of questions
• Ways of handling difficult questions

4.  Using Statistics

• Overview: Descriptive statistics, Inferential statistics
• Official statistics
• Reasons for using statistics
• Advantages of statistics
• Statistics: as guides and motivators
• Disadvantages of statistics
• Issues to consider
• Descriptive statistics
• Observed and expected rates
• Confidence intervals
• Standardizing
• Reliability of statistics
• Presenting statistics: pie charts, bar charts, histograms
• Descriptive statistics: mean, median, mode, variation, variance, standard deviation, correlation, probability, etc

5.  Conducting Statistical Research

• Collecting quantitative data
• Conducting a survey
• Form of data
• Planning a formal survey
• Designing a questionnaire
• Common problems

6.  Research Reports

• Report writing tips
• Structure of a report
• The report online
• Research papers
• Referencing

7.  Reporting on a Research Project

• This lesson brings together what you have learned in previous lessons, in terms of critical assessment of other authors’ research papers or reports, and demonstrating your report-writing skills.Please Note:   Each lesson concludes in an assignment, submitted to your Tutor for marking and returned with relevant suggestions, comments, and, extra reading where appropriate.

Learning Goals:

• Conduct preliminary investigations to determine areas where there is a valid need for research in social, technological, and environmental issues that impact horticulture today
• Conduct an information search into a defined issue related to social, technological, and environmental issues that impact horticulture today.
• Explain research methods, including experimental techniques, commonly used.
• Demonstrate and explain the basic statistical methods used for research.
• Conduct a minor statistical research project into a well-defined area, relevant to your area of study.
• Prepare a research report in a format that conforms to normal industry procedures.
• Demonstrate critical analytical thinking, reviewing skills, and report writing skills

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General

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Assessment

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