RESEARCH METHODS

RESEARCH METHODS
AREA OF STUDY: CORE
BAG 123

Year: 2
Semester: 4

________________________________________
* Continuous
** Duration: 3 hours

Objective
This course helps students
1. to understand the fundamental concept of Research Methodology
2. to learn how to accomplish the project work and
3. to learn how to prepare the term paper and report
Course Contents
Unit 1: Introduction to Research and Project Work L. H. 10
Meaning of Research, Applied and Fundamental Research, Scientific Research Process, Management Research Methods: Action Research, Evaluation Research, Managerial Research. Meaning of Project Work, Objectives of Project Work, Methods of Field and Project Work: Exploratory/Descriptive, Case Study, Feasible Study, Small- Scale Survey.
Unit 2: Proposal Preparation and Submission L. H. 3
Topic Selection, Research Problem, Review of Literature, Statement of Objectives, Format of Stating Hypothesis, Research Questions, Submitting a Research Proposal.
Unit 3: Research Design L. H. 5
Concept of Research Design, Elements of Research Design, Types of Research Design: Historical, Descriptive, Developmental, Case Study, Co-relational, Causal- Comparative and Action Research Design.
Unit 4: Measurement and Sealing L. H. 6
Types of Variables: Dependent, Independent and Intervening Variables, Scales of Measurement: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio Scale, the construction of Attitude and Social Scales (Likert-Type, Thurstone and Guttman Scaling), Reliability and Validity of Measurements.
Unit 5: Sampling Process and Data Collection L. H. 12
Sampling and its significance in Research, Types of Sampling, Probability and Non- Probability Sampling: Stratified, Systematic, Cluster, Multistage, Judgment, Quota, Convenience, and Sequential sampling, Sampling Error and Non- Sampling Error, Determination of Sample Size in Estimating Population Mean and Proportion. Primary and Secondary Data, Use of Secondary Data, Methods of Collecting Primary Data: Interviewing, Questionnaire and Observation.
Unit 6: Testing of Statistical Hypothesis L. H. 6
Statistical Hypothesis, Level of Significance, Difference between Parametric and Non- Parametric tests. Use of z-Distribution in Hypothesis Testing of Population Mean and Population Proportion in one-Sample Case.
Unit 7: Writing the Research Report L. H. 6
Purpose of Writing a Report, Contents and Style of Report, Types of Report: Descriptive and Analytical Report, Presenting Data, Table and Figures in Report, Use of Quotations, Abbreviations, Rules of Typography (font, size, margin, spacing of paragraph etc)
Suggested Readings:
1. Pant, Prem R, Field Work Assignment and Report Writing
2. Kerlinger, Fred N, Foundations of Behavioral Research
3. Howard K. Wolf, P. R. Pant, Social Science Research and Thesis Writing 2nd Edition, Ghosh B. N. Scientific Method and Social Research.