RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND SPECIAL SKILLS

• Research:                                                                                                   

 a) Meaning,

b) Definition,

c) Methodology,

d) Research process, Criterion of good research 

• Types of Research:

1. Fundamental or Basic
2. Applied
3. Historical, Descriptive
4. Analytical quantitative
5. Qualitative
6. Conceptual   Experimental
7. Case study

• Research Design

1. Meaning
2. Concepts, need
3. Designs for different types of research; library
4. Laboratory and field research; Advantages of Designing Research

• Research Problem and Developing Research proposal:

1. Selection of research area and topic
2. statement of the research problem, its scope
3. Steps involved in defining the problem.

• Literature Search:

1. Reviewing related literature
2. Referencing, abstracting
3. Computer search
4. Bibliography
5. Evaluation of the problem

• Defining concepts:

1. Objectives
2. Basic assumptions
3. Delimitations and limitations of the problem
4. Statement of Hypothesis

• Variables:      

a)         Independent and dependent variables

b)         Qualitative and quantitative variables

c)         Discrete and continuous variables

d)        Confounding variables

e)         Methods of controlling variables

f)          Measurement of variables.

• Sampling:

a)         Meaning

b)         Characteristics of a good sample design

c)         Steps in sampling design

d)        Types

e)         Advantages

• Techniques of Data Collection:         

a)         Primary data; Questionnaire

b)         Schedules

c)         Interview observation & other methods

d)        Secondary data

e)         Reliability

f)          Suitability & Adequacy of data.

• Processing and Analysis of Data:

a)         Processing Operations

b)         Editing

c)         Coding,

d)        Classification and tabulation of data

e)      Elements of Data Analysis Role of statistics in Data Analysis

f)       Statistical Tables

• Report writing:

a)       Types

Format of writing the report

·            Probability:

a)         Probability

b)         Basic Aspects

c)         Probability of combination of events

d)        Probability of random variables

e)         Distribution of random variable

f)           

·            Statistical Methods:

a)         Measures of Central tendency- Mean,

b)         Median, Mode

c)         Arithmetic

d)        Geometric and Harmonic mean. 

·            Common Distribution functions:

a)       Binomial probability distribution

b)         Poisson distribution and normal distribution curve.

·            Measures of Dispersion: 

a)      Range

b)      Mean Deviation

c)      Variance

d)     Standard Deviation

e)      Coefficient of variation

• Regression and Correlation:

a)      Least square method of fitting a regression line

b)      Curvilinear regression

c)      Correlation methods

Correlation coefficient. 

• Sampling Distribution and Standard Error:

a)       Elements of Testing a Statistical Hypothesis

b)       Formulation of the problem, Types of errors

c)      Level of significance

d)     Large sample tests for proportions

e)      Single mean and difference in two means.

• Small sample tests:

a)      Application of t- test for testing the significance of single mean & difference in two means (independent and paired-t).

• Chi-square test for testing normal population variance:

a)      Test for goodness of fit

b)      Independence of attributes using 2x2 and rx c contingency tables.

·         Definitions of F test

Application of F test for testing of equality of two variances.

    Experimental design:

a)      Completer random design

b)      Random Block Design

c)      Latin square design

• Analysis of Variance:

a)      Concept

b)      Assumptions

Basic idea of one way and two way classification with simple questions