Close

PART I: Concepts – This will provide an understanding of the conceptual bases, essential features and typologies of social science research. The focus will be on generating a discerning appreciation of the range of contemporary research approaches, including the positivist (quantitative) approaches as well as the interpretive (qualitative), mixed and participatory methodologies.

PART II: Operationalization – This part focuses on developing familiarity with and skills for the research process, including development of a research proposal, doing a literature review, working out a valid research design by selecting from the range of research methods, designing the instruments, learning the techniques for data collection and analyses, and methods for interpreting and reporting the results.

PART III: Application to implement the proposal developed (above) through application of the learnt methods of data collection and analysis. Students will work in small groups, present their research in the class for discussion and prepare a final research report.

2. Student Learning Outcomes

· Be able to appreciate the variety of methodological approaches used in social science research
· Be able to identify research topics, formulate research questions/hypotheses, select appropriate strategies and prepare research designs
· Be able to use suitable methods, tools and techniques to conduct research.

3. Text Book and Reading Materials

Course textbook – Social Research Methods by Alan Bryman

Other materials including lecture notes and handouts will be provided during the term on specific aspects (such as for proposal development) and to illustrate the use of specific methods.

4. Session Plan

Session	Topics/Activities
1	What is research? What is social-scientific research? Research in Rural Mgmt
2	Research purposes, types, strategies and vocabulary
3	Research Design – Quality criteria, kinds of research design, research ethics and dilemmas; quality & ethics link
4 & 5	Developing a research proposal – Topics, lit rev, questions/hypothesis, strategy, research design, research plan, fieldwork
6.	Basics of qualitative research – concerns, types, designs, questions, ethics
7	The Case study approach – questions, design, selection
8	Data collection methods I – Participant observation,
9	Data collection methods II – Depth Interviews, Group Interviews
10	Participatory methods & tools – PRA, RRA
11& 12	Qualitative data analysis & display – coding, thematizing & inferring
13	Basics of quantitative research – concepts, hypotheses, variables, indicators, scales of measurement etc
14	Data collection methods III – structured Interviews, structured observation
15	Survey research – Sampling designs & techniques, sampling error and tests
16	Data collection methods IV – self-completion questionnaires (construction and operationalisation of variables, questionnaire design)
17	Quantitative data analysis – Univariate & Bivariate analysis
18	Bivariate analysis tools (incl. two variable regression), SPSS
19	Explanation and uses of Multiple Regression, brief intro to tools
20	Writing the Research Report

5. Evaluation
Quizzes & exercises 25 %
Proposal 20 %
Research Report 25 %
End-term test 30 %
Attendance in the class and discussions with participants will be correction features.

6. Academic Integrity

A high level of academic integrity is expected in the course, and any violations will be subject to disciplinary action as per the rules of XIMB.

Created By: Debasis Mohanty on 09/05/2012 at 04:18 PM
Category: PGPRM-I Doctype: Document