This course aims to provide an understand of the nature of social phenomena, the issues involved in social research and the ways and means of understanding and studying social reality. Thus, the emphasis is threefold. Firstly, on the study of research methods as a means of understanding social reality. Second, the tools and techniques are only instruments and not the end or goal of research. Thirdly, there are different perspectives and methods (as in quantitative and qualitative research) of understanding social phenomena. There are no universally accepted methods.
The Scientific Method: Meaning and Features.
Meaning and Nature of Social Research: Positivistic and Interpretative.
Research Design: Exploratory, Descriptive, Experimental, Cross Sectional, Longitudinal.
Data: Forms and Sources; Techniques of Data Collection: Questionnaire, Schedule, Case Study, Interview, and Observation.
Hypothesis: Concept and Types; Sources of Hypothesis; Utility of Hypothesis in Social Research.
Sampling: Basic Concept, Merits and Demerits; Probability Sampling; Non Probability Sampling; Sample Size.