Methodology of Social Research

Paper Code: 
SOC 222
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
  1. To provide exposure to the fundamentals of various research techniques and methods.
  2. To builds upon the basic assumptions in adopting different methodologies for different kinds of research themes.
  3. To introduce certain philosophical ideas underlying the emergence of different methodologies in social sciences.
  4. To sensitize the students to develop a critical outlook at the existing perspectives and methods and to evolve conceptual clarity, which can help them in their future research

 

12.00

§  Meaning, Scope and Ethics of Social research

Approaches to Social Research: Positivist, Interpretive and Critical

12.00
  • Logic in Social Inquiry: Elements of Logic, Types of Logical Explanations-Deductive, Inductive and Retroductive
  • Meaning, Components – Concept, Variable, Hypothesis and Process of Building Theory; Models and Paradigms: Meaning, Functions and Types

 

12.00
  • Research Design: Elements, Types –Descriptive, Explanatory and Experimental; Measurement: Meaning and Levels of Measurement
  • Sampling in Social Research: Probability and NonProbability Types of Sampling, Sample Size, Sources of Sampling and Non Sampling Errors

 

12.00
  • Data Collection Techniques: Questionnaire, Observation, Interview Guide, Case Study and Content Analysis
  •  Methodological Dialectics of Social Research

 

12.00
  • Triangulation (Mixing Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies): Meaning, Characteristics of Mixed Methods Research, Comparison Between Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Research
  • Writing Social Research Report: Organization of Research Report; Use of Books, Journals, Research Reports and Internet

 

Essential Readings: 

Books Recommended

Core Readings

  • Neuman, W,Lawrence, 2014,Social Research Methods:Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches,Pearson Education Limited:Edinburgh
  • Bryman, Alan, 1988: Quality and Quantity in Social Research, London: Unwin Hyman

 

Supplementary Readings

  • Imam, Ekwal. 2015. Basics of Research Methodology.New Delhi: New India Publishing Agency.
  • Popper, K., 1999: The Logic of Scientific Discovery, London: Routledge
  • Shipman, Martin, 1988: The Limitations of Social Research, London: Longman
  • Sjober, Gideon and Roger Nett, 1997: Methodology for Social Research,  Jaipur: Rawat Publications
  • Barnes, John A, 1979: Who Should Know What? Social Science, Privacy and Ethics, Harmondsworth: Penguin
  • Bose, Pradip Kumar, 1995: Research Methodology, New Delhi: ICSSR
  • Bryman, Alan, 1988: Quality and Quantity in Social Research, London: Unwin Hyman
  • Hughes, John, 1987: The Philosophy of Social Research, London: George Relen and Unwin
  • Madge, John, 1970: The Origins of Scientific Sociology, London: Tavistock

 

Journals

  • Sociological Research, British Sociologial Association
  • Sankhaya: The Indian Journal of Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute
  • Journal of Statistics Education, American Statistical Association

 

 

Academic Session: 
2021-22
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