More than twenty students graduated with a certificate in Social Science Research Methods after a week of intensive study at the Papua New Guinea National Research Institute (PNG NRI) on Friday 21 May 2021.
The students gained skills in designing and planning a social research project; developing questionnaire for conducting survey; designing questions for conducting interviews; conducting qualitative and quantitative data analysis; and, conducting literature review.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Course Coordinator and PNG NRI Deputy Director for Research Associate Prof. Eugene Ezebilo congratulated the students and told them that what they have learnt would help them in research work in order to make informed decisions.
Prof. Ezebilo also thanked the PNG NRI Council and Management for the approval to conduct the course and also the staff for their assistance in successfully delivering the course.
He urged the students to read the literature given to them as it is the ‘state-of-the-art’ on research methods.
PNG NRI Acting Director Dr Osborne Sanida also congratulated the students and said: “we as researchers believe that research is important in order to make informed decisions and to make a difference in this country”.
Students’ female representative Ms Margaret Talingapua from the Office of Censorship, on behalf of the students, thanked PNG NRI for the “very important course”.
“I believe this course has enriched us and has given us confidence to push through for further studies.”
She also thanked their employers for allowing them to take up the course.
Students’ male representative Mr Stefan Sowei from Oil Search thanked Prof. Ezebilo and the PNG NRI Council, Management and Staff for the course and for making their stay a “pleasant and memorable one”.
He said it was an important course and he wished he took the course earlier.
“I will definitely recommend it to others,” he said.
Mr Sowei said they hope to come back to PNG NRI for another course, referring to the Economic Policy Analysis Course (EPAC) which is the Institute’s flagship course that will be offered in September.