Research Methods in Social Sciences

Paper Code: 
RMT 131
Credits: 
03
Contact Hours: 
90.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course aims to provide an understanding of the nature of social research. It aims to familiarize the students with the tools and techniques of research.

Unit I: 
  • Scientific Research :    Characteristics, Steps, Types(Pure, Applied, Quantitative, Qualitative, Longitudinal, Comparative)
  • Meaning, Nature and Aims of Social Research
  • Research Approaches: Positivistic, Interpretative and Critical
     
Unit II: 
  • Methods of   Social  Research: Field Study method, Experimental method, Survey method, Case study method, Statistical method, Historical method, Evolutionary method.
  • Value free Scientific Research.
     
Unit III: 
  • Research Design: Meaning, Functions, Characteristics of a good research design
  • Types of Research Design: Exploratory, Descriptive, Experimental , Cross sectional, Longitudinal.
     
Unit IV: 
  • Types of Data: Primary and Secondary
  • Techniques of Data Collection: Questionnaire, Schedule, Case study, Interview and Observation.
     
Unit V: 
  • Hypothesis: Meaning, Merits and Demerits
  • Sampling: Basic Concepts, Merits and Demerits; Probability sampling; Non Probability sampling; Sample size, Sampling errors.
     
References: 
  1. Ahuja. Ram. 2006, Research Methods, Rawat Publication
  2. Blaikie, Norman, Approaches to Social Enquiry, Cambridge, Policy Press, 1993.
  3. Cohen, Louis & Holliday, Michael. 1982 Statistics for Social Scientists. New York: Harper & Row Publishers
  4. Elifson et al. 1990  Fundamentals of Social Statistics. McGraw Hill Publishing Co.
  5. Kurtz, Norman R. 1983  Introduction to Social Statistics. Paris: McGraw-Hill Book Co.
  6. Levin, Jack .1983  Elementary Statistics in Social Research. New York: Harper & Row Publishers
  7. Loether, H.J. & McTavish, Donald. 1974  Inferential Statistics for Sociologists.Boston, Allyn & Bacon Inc.
  8. Malec, Michael, A. 1977 Essential Statistics for Social Research. New York: J.B.Lippincott Co.
  9. May, Tim, Social Research: Issues, Methods and Processes. Buckingham, Open University Press, 1997.
  10. Patton, Michael Quinn, Qualitative Evaluation Methods. New Delhi, Sage Publications, 1988.
  11. Ramachandran, P. Issues in Social Work Research in India, Bombay, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, 1990
  12. Reissman, Catherine K. Qualitative Studies in Social Work Research, New Delhi. Sage Publications, 1994.
  13. Swartz, Omar, Conducting Socially Responsible Research, New Delhi, Sage Publications, 1997.
  14. Society for Participatory Research in Asia, Participatory Research: An Introduction (Participatory Research Network series No. 3), New Delhi PRIA, 1995.
  15. Wright, Susan E. 1986  Social Science Statistics. Boston: Allyn & Bacon Inc.
     
Academic Session: 
2018-19
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