VA525 Research Methodology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2025
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Nejira Mulahmetović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces postgraduate students to the methods and processes of academic research. It provides theoretical foundations, methodological tools, and practical strategies. Students will critically engage with interdisciplinary approaches, explore qualitative and quantitative methods, and learn how to synthesize theory and practice in design research.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2016). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge.
Additional Literature
Lalit K. Sharma (2017). Research Methodology, Vikas. Hanington, B., & Martin, B. (2019). Universal Methods of Design. Rockport. Stephen Bailey (2011). Academic Writing, Handbook for International Students. Routledge. John W. Creswell and David Creswell (2018). Research Design, Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. SAGE. Uma Sekaran, (2003) RESEARCH METHODS FOR BUSINESS, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage.Teaching Methods
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | None |
| 2 | Research Paradigms and Philosophical Foundations | Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2016). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge. Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. |
| 3 | Defining Research Problems and Questions - AO1 (From broad themes to specific researchable questions). | Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2016). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge. Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. |
| 4 | Literature Review and Theoretical Frameworks | Lalit K. Sharma, (2017)."Research Methodology" |
| 5 | Research Design and Method Selection - AO2 (Literature Review Exercise) | Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. |
| 6 | Qualitative Methods | Lalit K. Sharma, (2017)."Research Methodology" |
| 7 | Quantitative Methods | Lalit K. Sharma, (2017)."Research Methodology" |
| 8 | Mid Term | |
| 9 | Practice-Based and Artistic Research - AO3 (Methodological Case Study Analysis) | Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2016). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge. Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. |
| 10 | Data Collection and Analysis | John W. Creswell and David Creswell (2018). Research Design, Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches |
| 11 | Research Ethics and Integrity - AO4 (Peer review workshop: presenting research questions, methods, and frameworks.). | Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. |
| 12 | Writing for Research in Design | |
| 13 | Student Proposal Development | |
| 14 | Student Proposal Development - Reflection | |
| 15 | Final Presentations - Conclusion |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA525.1 | Course | Monday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F1.24 (MAC Studio) | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Mid Term
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecturer hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Lab
6 hours ⏳ (6 week × 1 h)
Assigments
32 hours ⏳ (4 week × 8 h)
Midtermproject
16 hours ⏳ (2 week × 8 h)
Final Project presentatio
54 hours ⏳ (3 week × 18 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA525] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA525 | Research Methodology | 3 | 0 | 6 | Monday, 5.00 - 8.00 pm | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nejira Mulahmetović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| nmulahmetovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces postgraduate students to the methods and processes of academic research. It provides theoretical foundations, methodological tools, and practical strategies. Students will critically engage with interdisciplinary approaches, explore qualitative and quantitative methods, and learn how to synthesize theory and practice in design research. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2016). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
| Teaching Methods | ||||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | None | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Research Paradigms and Philosophical Foundations | Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2016). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge. Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Defining Research Problems and Questions - AO1 (From broad themes to specific researchable questions). | Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2016). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge. Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Literature Review and Theoretical Frameworks | Lalit K. Sharma, (2017)."Research Methodology" | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Research Design and Method Selection - AO2 (Literature Review Exercise) | Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Qualitative Methods | Lalit K. Sharma, (2017)."Research Methodology" | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Quantitative Methods | Lalit K. Sharma, (2017)."Research Methodology" | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid Term | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Practice-Based and Artistic Research - AO3 (Methodological Case Study Analysis) | Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2016). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge. Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Data Collection and Analysis | John W. Creswell and David Creswell (2018). Research Design, Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Research Ethics and Integrity - AO4 (Peer review workshop: presenting research questions, methods, and frameworks.). | Babbie, E. R. (2021). The practice of social research (15th edition). Cengage. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Writing for Research in Design | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Student Proposal Development | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Student Proposal Development - Reflection | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Final Presentations - Conclusion | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1, 2,, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments | 4 | 35 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Mid Term | 1 | 25 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecturer hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Lab | 1 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Assigments | 8 | 4 | 32 | Midtermproject | 8 | 2 | 16 | |||
| Final Project presentatio | 18 | 3 | 54 | 0 | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 19/09/2025 | |||||||||