WKA22050 Research Method

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course)

Lecture Code WKA22050 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name リサーチメソッド

Subject Name
（Katakana）リサーチメソッド

Subject Name in
English Research Method

Instructor JOSHI NIRAJ PRAKASH

Instructor
(Katakana) ジョシ　ニラズ　プラカシュ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, 4Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (4T) Thur1-4：East Library 3F Seminar Rm A,East Library 3F Seminar Rm B,East Library 3F Seminar Rm C

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Communication and resource sharing done through MS Teams

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 03 : Economics

Eligible Students Master's Students limited to first 45 registrations

Keywords Literature review, research gap, variables, unit of analysis, sampling, data

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of research methods. Students are expected to get deeper insights into the research methods students from different disciplines in social sciences are planning to execute for their master's theses.

Class Schedule Week 1: Orientation
Introduction to key research elements
- Literature review, research gap and 0bjective
- Treatment/ explanatory/ independent variables
- Outcome/ explained/ dependent variables
- Unit of analysis - Sampling, sample size, data
- Identification strategies/ data analysis methods
- Expected results - hypothesis

Week 2: Hands-on on literature review, and summarization of the selected paper into five key research items.
Week 3: Student's presentation on a brief research idea and feedback from peers and instructors
Week 4: Student's presentation on a brief research idea and feedback from peers and instructors
Week 5: Student's presentation on an elaborated research idea and feedback from peers and instructors
Week 6: Student's presentation on an elaborated research idea and feedback from peers and instructors
Week 7: Student's presentation on an elaborated research idea and feedback from peers and instructors
Week 8: Student's presentation on an elaborated research idea, feedback from peers and instructors, and course wrap-up (a comprehensive discussion, and feedback from students)

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Sheppard V. (2020) Research Methods for the Social Sciences: An Introduction. Available online at https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/jibcresearchmethods/

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Microsoft Teams

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, PBL (Problem-based Learning)/ TBL (Team-based Learning)

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review This class has no prerequisites.
Attendance at all lectures is expected. If, for whatever reason, you cannot attend the lecture, please let the instructor know in advance

Requirements

Grading Method Participation 20%
Presentation 1 - Presentations of brief research plan 20%
Presentation 2 - Presentation of elaborated research plan 60%

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message Considering the diversity of the disciplines within humanities and social sciences, this class only covers the basics of research methods, not the research methods specific to each discipline. Rather you can expect to get comments and suggestions specific to your planned research from your peers, TF and course instructor.

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course)
Lecture Code	WKA22050	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	リサーチメソッド
Subject Name （Katakana）	リサーチメソッド
Subject Name in English	Research Method
Instructor	JOSHI NIRAJ PRAKASH
Instructor (Katakana)	ジョシ　ニラズ　プラカシュ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, 4Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(4T) Thur1-4：East Library 3F Seminar Rm A,East Library 3F Seminar Rm B,East Library 3F Seminar Rm C
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Communication and resource sharing done through MS Teams
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	03 : Economics
Eligible Students	Master's Students limited to first 45 registrations
Keywords	Literature review, research gap, variables, unit of analysis, sampling, data
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of research methods. Students are expected to get deeper insights into the research methods students from different disciplines in social sciences are planning to execute for their master's theses.
Class Schedule	Week 1: Orientation Introduction to key research elements - Literature review, research gap and 0bjective - Treatment/ explanatory/ independent variables - Outcome/ explained/ dependent variables - Unit of analysis - Sampling, sample size, data - Identification strategies/ data analysis methods - Expected results - hypothesis Week 2: Hands-on on literature review, and summarization of the selected paper into five key research items. Week 3: Student's presentation on a brief research idea and feedback from peers and instructors Week 4: Student's presentation on a brief research idea and feedback from peers and instructors Week 5: Student's presentation on an elaborated research idea and feedback from peers and instructors Week 6: Student's presentation on an elaborated research idea and feedback from peers and instructors Week 7: Student's presentation on an elaborated research idea and feedback from peers and instructors Week 8: Student's presentation on an elaborated research idea, feedback from peers and instructors, and course wrap-up (a comprehensive discussion, and feedback from students)
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Sheppard V. (2020) Research Methods for the Social Sciences: An Introduction. Available online at https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/jibcresearchmethods/
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Microsoft Teams
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, PBL (Problem-based Learning)/ TBL (Team-based Learning)
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	This class has no prerequisites. Attendance at all lectures is expected. If, for whatever reason, you cannot attend the lecture, please let the instructor know in advance
Requirements
Grading Method	Participation 20% Presentation 1 - Presentations of brief research plan 20% Presentation 2 - Presentation of elaborated research plan 60%
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	Considering the diversity of the disciplines within humanities and social sciences, this class only covers the basics of research methods, not the research methods specific to each discipline. Rather you can expect to get comments and suggestions specific to your planned research from your peers, TF and course instructor.
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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