Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Library and Archives organized an online workshop titled Mastering The Method: Blueprint for Stronger Research on Tuesday (June 30). The workshop featured Mutiara Choiriyah, Senior Library Sales Executive at Sage Publishing, who discussed the importance of research methodology as the foundation for producing high-quality research and scholarly publications.
Moderated by Roh Wahyu Widayati, S.I.Pust., UGM Librarian, the workshop was attended by students, lecturers, and researchers seeking to strengthen their understanding of research proposal development and scholarly publishing.
In her presentation, Mutiara explained that research methodology plays a crucial role in determining the quality of a research project. According to her, research built on a sound methodology is more likely to produce high-quality outcomes.
“High-quality research outputs enhance an institution’s reputation. A stronger reputation creates greater opportunities to secure research grants and additional resources, which in turn lead to even better research outcomes,” Mutiara said while explaining the positive cycle of a strong research ecosystem.
To support this process, participants were introduced to Sage Research Methods, a platform offering more than 1,000 books, articles, reference works, instructional videos, case studies, and datasets designed to support every stage of the research process. Through the platform, researchers can formulate research questions, identify appropriate methods using Methods Map, design research projects with Project Planner, select suitable statistical tests, and learn from best practices presented in real-world case studies.
Mutiara added that Sage Research Methods is not only a reference database but also a learning platform that helps researchers develop the knowledge and skills needed to conduct effective research. As such, it can be utilized by students beginning their research journey, lecturers supervising research projects, and researchers exploring new methodological approaches.
In addition to research methodology, participants were introduced to Sage’s learning resources through the How to Get Published series. The program covers topics such as writing scholarly articles, selecting the right journal, conducting literature reviews, navigating the peer-review process, and promoting published articles.
Through the workshop, participants not only gained access to a wide range of research learning resources but also acquired practical insights into conducting systematic research. These competencies are expected to help members of the academic community produce scholarly work that is credible, high-quality, and globally competitive.
The workshop reflects the commitment of UGM Library and Archives to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing academic capacity and expanding access to quality learning resources, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through the use of digital platforms and innovative learning resources to support the research process, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration with Sage Publishing to strengthen the research and scholarly publishing ecosystem in higher education.
Contributor: Fadia Iftinan Naifarra