Homework 1

1. Visit MOSTI and MOHE websites

2. Findout:
a) what are the main research areas that are funded under this ministries.
b) what are the available research funding schemes under each ministry

Exercise 1

1. Duration: 45 -60 minutes


2. Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the session students
a) will be able to classify the various types of pharmaceutical related research in different research categories

b) will be able to acquire knowledge of contemporary issues in pharmaceutical

c) will acquire life long learning through group discussions and consultations with instructors


3. Work is to be done in groups.

a) Students are to list the topics of researches carried out by researchers based in Research Universities.

b) Students are to classify these researches into the 4 major areas of pharmaceutical/health sciences.

c) Students are to identify and classify these researches into priority areas as defined by MOSTI in the 9th. Malaysian Plan

Characteristic of Qualitative Research

1. Qualitative research commonly undertaken for exploratory studies

2. Main purpose of exploratory studies is to gain insights and understand on issues that are not well conceptualized

3. Involves qualitative responses

4. Use of research questions (not hypotheses).

5. Examples of Qualitative Research

- Establishment of Performance Indicator for Water Supply Services Industry
- Investigation On Animal Post Mortem Radiogrpahic Changes For Application In Human Virtual Autopsy

Characteristic of Quantitative Research

1. Deals with quantitative data

2. Use of statistical analyses are common

3. Data collection using instruments such as questionnaire and experimental equipments

4. Hypotheses are normally developed and tested statistically

5. Research findings usually conclusive

6. Sample is usually large and representative of the population

7. Probability sampling techniques are often used:

- Simple random sampling
- Stratified sampling
- Systematic sampling
- Cluster sampling

8. Examples of Quantitative Research

- Effects of Different Substrates on Nitrate Utilization Rate

Qualitative & Quantitative

Quantitative Method

1. Survey

2. Experiment

3. Secondary Data

4. Observation that is quantified in terms of frequency, variances, etc


Qualitative Method

1. Total observation

2. Participant observation

3. Face-to-face interviews

4. Focus group interviews

5. Historical data/document analysis

Example of Ex-post Facto

1. Traffic accident black spot study for Kuantan

2. Assessing causes of carbonation of reinforced concrete under marine environment

Example of Experimental Research (PMSA)

1. Prototype: Behavior of PSSD slab in multi-storey building

2. Model testing: model investigation of piles groups in sands

3. Simulation: Experimental evaluation of performance of bridge pier shapes against scour

4. Analog Computer: Finite element analysis of steel-concrete composite beam sections of bridges.