Research Methodology

Research methodology is crucial for ensuring the reliability and validity of food safety studies, guiding how data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted. A strong foundation in research methods empowers professionals to develop evidence-based strategies to prevent foodborne illnesses and ensure public health.

Research Methodology

1 Selection of Research Problem

  1. Science and Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
  2. Need for Scientific Methodology
  3. Identification of Research Problem
  4. Statement of the Problem and Objectives

2 Review of Literature

  1. Review of Literature: Sources and Classification
  2. Uses of Review of Literature
  3. Steps in Review of Literature
  4. Writing Review of Literature and Theoretical Orientation
  5. Citation
  6. Writing Bibliographical Details of a Reference

3 Concept and Variables, Formulation and Testing of Hypothesis

  1. Concept, Construct and Variables
  2. Types of Variables
  3. Hypothesis
  4. Types and Forms of Hypothesis
  5. Characteristics, Function and Testing of Hypothesis

4 Research Design

  1. Characteristics of Research Design
  2. Criteria of a Research Design
  3. Max-Min-Con Principle
  4. Classification of Research Design
  5. Experimental Research Design
  6. Descriptive Research Design

5 Descriptive and Survey Research Design

  1. Characteristics of Descriptive Research Design
  2. Steps in Descriptive Research
  3. Aims of Descriptive Research Design
  4. Types of Descriptive Research Design
  5. Case Studies
  6. Observational Studies
  7. Historical Studies
  8. Field Studies
  9. Diagnostic Studies
  10. Explorative Studies
  11. Longitudinal Studies
  12. Correlational Studies
  13. Cross-Sectional Studies
  14. Action Research
  15. Evaluation Research
  16. Survey Research

6 Experimental Research

  1. Testing of hypothesis
  2. t-test
  3. ฯ‡2-test
  4. F-test
  5. Principles of Experimental Designs
  6. Completely Randomised Designs
  7. Randomized Complete Block Design
  8. Latin Square Design
  9. Factorial Experiments
  10. 2n factorial experiment
  11. 3n factorial experiment

7 Levels of Measurement

  1. Concept of Measurement
  2. Postulates of Measurement
  3. Nominal Scale
  4. Ordinal Scale
  5. Interval Scale
  6. Ratio Scale

8 Knowledge Test Constructions

  1. Knowledge Test
  2. Characteristics of a Good Test
  3. Steps in Standardised Test Construction
  4. Item Analysis
  5. Writing Test Items
  6. Preliminary Administration
  7. Reliability of the Final Test
  8. Validity of the Final Test
  9. Norms of the Final Test
  10. Item Difficulty and Discrimination

9 Data Collection

  1. Secondary Data Sources
  2. Instruments Used for Collecting Primary Data
  3. Validity, Data Editing, and Coding
  4. Data Tabulation and Presentation

10 Sampling Technique

  1. Importance of Sampling
  2. Types of Sampling Techniques
  3. Probability based Sampling Techniques
  4. Non-Probability based Sampling Techniques
  5. Sample Size Determination
  6. Sampling and Non-Sampling Errors

11 Quantitative Techniques

  1. Frequency Distribution
  2. Measures of Central Tendency
  3. Measures of Dispersion
  4. Correlation
  5. Regression
  6. Multiple Regressions
  7. Dummy Variable Analysis
  8. Discriminant Function Analysis
  9. Factor Analysis
  10. Principal Component Analysis

12 Qualitative Techniques

  1. Observation Method
  2. Interview Method
  3. Questionnaire Method
  4. Case Study Method
  5. Projective Techniques

13 Statistical Analysis and Packages

  1. ฯ‡2- test
  2. t-test
  3. F-test
  4. Basic Experimental Designs
  5. Factorial Experiments
  6. Non-Parametric Tests
  7. Run Test
  8. Sign Test
  9. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test
  10. Mann-Whitney U-Test
  11. Kruskal-Wallis One-way Analysis of Variance
  12. Friedman Two-way Analysis of Variance

14 Report Writing

  1. Research Report
  2. Steps in Preparing the Report: Preliminary Considerations
  3. Main Components of a Research Report
  4. Diagrammatic Presentation
  5. Common Weaknesses in Research Report Writing