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:      

1. Independent and dependent variables
2. Qualitative and quantitative variables
3. Discrete and continuous variables
4. Confounding variables
5. Methods of controlling variables
6. Measurement of variables.

• Sampling:

1. Meaning
2. Characteristics of a good sample design
3. Steps in sampling design
4. Types
5. Advantages

• Techniques of Data Collection:         

1. Primary data; Questionnaire
2. Schedules
3. Interview observation & other methods
4. Secondary data
5. Reliability
6. Suitability & Adequacy of data.

• Processing and Analysis of Data:

1. Processing Operations
2. Editing
3. Coding,
4. Classification and tabulation of data
5. Elements of Data Analysis Role of statistics in Data Analysis
6. Statistical Tables

• Report writing:

1.  Types
2. Format of writing the report

• Probability:

1. Probability
2. Basic Aspects
3. Probability of combination of events
4. Probability of random variables
5. Distribution of random variable
6.  

• Statistical Methods:

1. Measures of Central tendency- Mean,
2. Median, Mode
3. Arithmetic
4. Geometric and Harmonic mean. 

• Common Distribution functions:

1.  Binomial probability distribution
2. Poisson distribution and normal distribution curve.

• Measures of Dispersion: 

1. Range
2. Mean Deviation
3. Variance
4. Standard Deviation
5. Coefficient of variation

• Regression and Correlation:

1. Least square method of fitting a regression line
2. Curvilinear regression
3. Correlation methods
4. 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:

1. Completer random design
2. Random Block Design
3. Latin square design

• Analysis of Variance:

1. Concept
2. Assumptions
3. Basic idea of one way and two way classification with simple questions.