The Research-based Training Programme (RbTP) is a short training programme run by the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and designed for middle or senior level official statisticians of the region to improve their calibre in undertaking research studies that involve statistical methods of analysis. The Regional Research based Training Course was conducted during 30 June – 08 August 2008 in Daejeon, Korea in collaboration with the KNSO through its Statistical Training Institute (STI). The KNSO in collaboration with its Statistical Training Institute (STI) has provided all necessary computer and lecture room facilities and administrative and logistic support as an in-kind contribution to the course. A total of 14 participants from 14 countries benefited from this training course.

The main objectives of the course were: 1) understand about the stages of undertaking research studies in social science; 2) perform literature search, consequently literature review; 3) develop research proposal and conceptual framework of the study; 4) understand the theory behind the methods of statistical analysis; 5) carry out small-scale research study applying statistical methods of data analysis and 6) complete his/her research study within specified time-framework.

 During the first week (30 June – 4 July 2008) of the course duration, participants attended in-class training course entitled as “Basics of research principles and methods” through lectures and practical exercises. The course covered topics such as concepts of research, contents of research paper, writing an abstract and executive summary, introduction with basic skills to carry out literature review and introduction with “Reference Manager”, statistical methods of data analysis such as descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlation and simple linear regression, logistic regression model, time series analysis and how to improve oral presentation skills.
In the next 5 weeks (7 July – 8 August 2008) participants worked on improving and finalizing the research proposals they submitted during the application process, carried out the research study and prepares a draft of the research paper. These activities performed under the supervision of a prominent research advisers assigned by KNSO to each participant.
Within one month upon return to their home countries (by 8 September 2008), participants are expected to finalize and submit the research papers to their research advisers for approval. Upon approval, the research advisers will forward the research papers to KNSO for transmission to SIAP.

All participants expressed that the course was relevant to their work at home.