To understand the types, tools and methods of research and develop the ability to construct data gathering instruments appropriate to the research design
Research: Definition and concept of research, Objectives of research, Importance of research. Types of Research- Descriptive vs Analytical, Applied vs Fundamental, Quantitative vs Qualitative, Conceptual vs Empirical, Historical, Longitudinal Research. Research Approaches, Research Process.
Research Design: Meaning, Need and Characteristics of a good research design. Types of Research Design, Identification of a Research problem. Selection of a Research problem.
Hypothesis: Purpose, Characteristics, Types and criteria of hypothesis, Process of Hypothesis Testing.
Variables: Meaning and Concept, Types of variables.
Data gathering instruments: Collection of Data, Primary and Secondary Data, Methods of collecting data, Sources of Secondary Data.
Scaling Techniques: Meaning and Purpose of scaling techniques, Types of scales- Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio scales.
Sampling: Meaning of Census and Sample. Characteristics of a good Sample, Need for Sample, Methods of Sampling-
Random Sampling Methods: Simple Random Sampling, Stratified Sampling, Systematic Sampling and Multi-stage Sampling
Non-Random Sampling: Judgment or Purposive Sampling, Convenience Sampling, Cluster Sampling and Sequential Sampling.
Statistics: Meaning, Importance, Limitations Classifications and Tabulation of data, Discrete and Continuous variables. Frequency Distributions and Cumulative frequency distribution.
Measure of Central Tendency: Arithmetic Mean, Median and Mode, their properties, merits and demerits.
Measure of Dispersion: Range, Quartile Deviation, Mean Deviation and Standard deviation, coefficient of variation.
Case Studies
Essential Reading:
1. Badarkar, P.L. and Wilkinson T.S., Methodology and Techniques of Social Research, Himalaya Publishing House, Mumbai
2. Bhatnagar, G.L., Research Methods and Measurements in Behavioural and Social Sciences, Agri. Cole Publishing Academy, New Delhi
3. Kothari, C.R., Research Methodology- Methods and Techniques, Wishwa Publication, New Delhi.
4. Dwivedi, R.S., Research Methods in Behavioural Sciences, Macmillan India, Delhi
5. Agarwal, J.C., Educational Research- An Introduction, Arya Book Depot, New Delhi.
6. Best, J.W., Research in Education, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi.
7. Chandra, S.S. and Sharma, R.K., Research in Education, Atlantis Publishers, New Delhi.