RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, AS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, AS OFFERED BY THE FACULTY OF OFFERED BY THE FACULTY OF

AGRICULTURE,AGRICULTURE,Jomo Kenyatta University Jomo Kenyatta University

of of Agriculture and TechnologyAgriculture and Technology

Professor F.K. Lenga (PhD), Professor F.K. Lenga (PhD), Dean, Faculty of Agriculture,Dean, Faculty of Agriculture,

P. O. Box 62000, NairobiP. O. Box 62000, Nairobi KENYAKENYA

JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITYJOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

of of

AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGYAGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY

A modern, technologically-oriented A modern, technologically-oriented university of Agriculture and Science, university of Agriculture and Science, located approx. 40 km from Nairobilocated approx. 40 km from Nairobi

Consists of 3 Faculties and 1 SchoolConsists of 3 Faculties and 1 School Student population of approximately Student population of approximately

6000, residing both on and off 6000, residing both on and off campuscampus

Agriculture faculty has approximately Agriculture faculty has approximately 1000 students1000 students

Faculty of Agriculture consists of Faculty of Agriculture consists of three departments; three departments; • Biomechanical and Environmental Biomechanical and Environmental

Engineering (BEED)Engineering (BEED)• Food Science and Technology (FST)Food Science and Technology (FST)• HorticultureHorticulture

Students of the faculty undergo Students of the faculty undergo training in research methodology at training in research methodology at both under-graduate, and post-both under-graduate, and post-graduate levelsgraduate levels

Research Methodology;Research Methodology;Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

To impart skills for problem To impart skills for problem identificationidentification

To teach proposal writing, in To teach proposal writing, in preparation for problem solvingpreparation for problem solving

To introduce tools for project To introduce tools for project implementationimplementation

To impart skills in data analysis and To impart skills in data analysis and interpretationinterpretation

Training Objectives…contd.Training Objectives…contd.

To impart skills for technical, To impart skills for technical, financial and activities report writingfinancial and activities report writing

For project evaluation and impact For project evaluation and impact assessment methodologiesassessment methodologies

To teach oral presentation skills for To teach oral presentation skills for seminars, conferences and colloquiaseminars, conferences and colloquia

To cultivate professional research To cultivate professional research ethicsethics

The Undergraduate Program The Undergraduate Program Research methodology (tools) is Research methodology (tools) is

taught in the 2taught in the 2ndnd year of study, and year of study, and comprises two distinct courses;comprises two distinct courses;

1.1. StatisticsStatistics2.2. Experimental DesignExperimental Design

These units are taken as a prerequisite These units are taken as a prerequisite for Student Research Projects (2-3 units) for Student Research Projects (2-3 units) which are courses covered during the 3which are courses covered during the 3rdrd, , 44thth and 5 and 5thth years of study, where years of study, where applicable (This is where proposal applicable (This is where proposal writing, project implementation, data writing, project implementation, data analysis and interpretation, oral analysis and interpretation, oral presentation and report writing skills are presentation and report writing skills are imparted and evaluated)imparted and evaluated)

Post graduate (M.Sc) ProgramPost graduate (M.Sc) Program

Past Situation (from inception to Past Situation (from inception to 2004/2005 academic year)2004/2005 academic year)

FSPT and Horticulture studied FSPT and Horticulture studied Research Methodology as a 1Research Methodology as a 1stst year year coursecourse

FSPT, Horticulture and BEED FSPT, Horticulture and BEED underwent a course in Advanced underwent a course in Advanced Experimental Design during the Experimental Design during the same yearsame year

M.Sc Program…contd.M.Sc Program…contd.Faculty programs undergo continuous Faculty programs undergo continuous

evaluation (after every cycle)evaluation (after every cycle)Beginning ac 2005/2006, research Beginning ac 2005/2006, research

methodology coursework will consist methodology coursework will consist of:of:• Statistics & Expt. Design in Semester 1Statistics & Expt. Design in Semester 1• Research Methodology in Semester 2Research Methodology in Semester 2

The two units will be compulsory for The two units will be compulsory for allall postgraduate students in the faculty postgraduate students in the faculty

ConclusionConclusion The faculty is continually upgrading its The faculty is continually upgrading its

course content to incorporate modern course content to incorporate modern research methods, including the use of research methods, including the use of computer based programs and data computer based programs and data analysis software (e.g. Genstat, SPSS and analysis software (e.g. Genstat, SPSS and SAS) SAS)

This is in line with our vision to produce This is in line with our vision to produce leaders in research and innovation, in leaders in research and innovation, in various scientific and technological fields various scientific and technological fields such as agriculture.such as agriculture.

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!