Research Training Seminar (RTS) 2010-11

Date:

6 August 2010

Speaker:

Kunal Sen, Professor of Development Economics and Policy, Institute for Development Policy and Management, The University of Manchester, UK

Abstract:

This seminar went into the basic building blocks of economic research. Using the recent global financial crisis (GFC) of 2008-2009 as a common theme, the seminar leader introduced a number of key ideas in economic research methodology.

The basic distinction between microeconomics and macroeconomics was introduced by citing the American singer Bob Dylan’s 1962 song, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall. What Dylan meant by “hard rain” has been a topic of popular discourse. Dylan has denied that it referred to nuclear fallout. Sen chose this song to refer to the GFC because the crisis has been like a hard rainfall, affecting almost the entire globe. Though its effects have been felt most noticeably in the developed countries, it has also affected many developing and underdeveloped countries. Because of this global effect, it may be understood and explained through macroeconomic concepts and theories. It has affected economies of the entire world at an aggregate level, in various ways. Its exact effect on the world economy still remains unclear.

Dynamics of demographic change and economic development: New methods and new results

Date:

20 August 2010

Speaker:

Tapas Mishra, Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.

Abstract:

For more than three centuries, demographic volatility has been hailed as a prime mover of long term economic fluctuations and business cycles. It is also regarded as the foremost reason for perpetual environmental disaster in recent times. However, modeling demographic, environmental and economic growth within a single framework has not been straightforward mainly due to the inherent stochasticities in the evolutionary processes of these systems. Moreover, incomplete information about the nature of interaction renders additional problems for a near perfect modeling exercise. Under this backdrop it is necessary to provide a new mechanism to assess the consequences of stochasticities in demographic-environmental-economic growth systems.

Issues in research proposal

Date:

27 August 2010

Speaker:

R. Nageswar Rao, Chairman Board of Studies, Dept.of Business Management, Osmania University, Hyderabad

Abstract:

The discussion on various aspects that are related to have a high quality research proposal and to identify various gaps in the research design and its methodology. This is because most students and beginning researchers do not fully understand what a research proposal means, nor do they understand its importance. Every study, no matter how well it is conducted, has certain limitations. That is why it does not seem reasonable to use the words "proving" and "disproving" with respect to research findings. Therefore, we can have discussion on the extent of which, the researcher put the limitations of the study. It is always possible that future research may cast doubt on the validity of any hypothesis or the conclusions from a study.

Research in Marketing: My journey so far…

Date:

24 September 2010

Speaker:

Saji K.B.Nair, Associate Professor (Marketing & Technology & Strategy) IIM Lucknow

Abstract:

It was towards the end of 1994, when I was working with Motorola Inc., I did first think of seriously exploring the possibility of teaching and research in the area of marketing. While looking back, I do realize that it was indeed a tough, but bold decision to commence a career in teaching and research after a short 5-year long career in industry. It is indeed my pleasure and privilege to share my limited exposure to research and practice in marketing to the management research community of XIM Bhubaneswar. Through this 90-minute long interactive session, I would like to share some of the most significant interfaces that I did experience so far in my life when I encountered with the research frontiers of marketing -- as a doctoral research scholar in my graduating school, as a researcher and teacher during the past one-and-a-half decade, as a dissertation advisor to my PhD students, as a thesis evaluator to some of the major business schools in India and abroad, and as a research administrator.

Social Networks and Entrepreneurship

Date:

22 October 2010

Speaker:

Suresh Bhagavatula, Visiting Faculty, IIM B and Co-coordinator, MPEFB, IIM B

Abstract:

The purpose of this discussion is to understand entrepreneurs operating in a low-technology industry using the network perspective in entrepreneurship. The network perspective investigates how the connection between entrepreneurs and their environment facilitate or constrain entrepreneurship, has adopted a dominant role in explaining the phenomenon of entrepreneurship. The data we used in this study were collected in Andhra Pradesh. We have used both qualitative and quantitative methods to generate data. The qualitative part of our data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews with twenty master weavers in five locations (Mangalagiri, Chirala, Pochampalli, Gadwal and Uppada). Quantitative data were collected using a survey containing questions focusing on the various aspects of a master weaver’s operation and details of his social network. The network data was generated using the name generator and name interpreter questions.

Study on gender budget analysis

Date:

29 October 2010

Speaker:

Sanjib Kumar Basu, Reader, Department of Commerce, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata

Abstract:

Gender Budgeting refers to a method of looking at the budget formulation process, budgetary policies and budget outlays from the gender lens. Gender Budget, with regard to the Government at any level, does not refer to a separate budget for women; rather it is an analytical tool which scrutinizes the government budget to reveal its gender-differentiated impact and advocate for greater priorities for programmes and schemes to address the gender-based disadvantages faced by women.

Multidimensional poverty and the state of child health in India

Date:

17 December 2010

Speaker:

Sanjay K.Mohanty, CR Parekh Fellow, ARC, LSE, Associate Professor, International Institute for Population Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai.

Abstract:

With the evolution of human development paradigm, the multidimensional nature of poverty has been acknowledged cutting across the disciplines; among economist, development professionals and other social scientist and put in the development agenda. However, the measurement and application of multidimensional poverty is still limited. While researchers commonly agree in specifying the poverty line of each dimension, they differ in aggregating the multiple dimensions into a single index, the use of methods and the unit of analyses. In the context of developing countries, the application is further limited due to lack of empirical evidences. India, with sustained economic growth in the last two decade had been successful in reducing money metric poverty but not hunger and deprivation. Although the official estimates of poverty acknowledge the multidimensionality of poverty, it continue to derive poverty based on consumption expenditure. Drawing from the National Family Heath Survey (NFHS), the aim of Dr Sanjay K. Mohanty's research is to measure multidimensionality of poverty and to understand the characteristics of abject poor, poor and non-poor in India. This research also links the state of child health and health care utilization by poverty level of households.

Publishing doctoral work

Date:

7 January 2011

Speaker:

Rakesh Gupta, CQ University, Rockhampton, Australia

Abstract:

This presentation will cover publishing doctoral work. This will be in the context of current discussion about doctoral publication practices to inform postgraduate students and supervising academics about publication during and after thesis. Within this discussion I will also look at the current practice of thesis.

Quality issues in rualitative Research: Approaches and challenges

Date:

21 January 2011

Speaker:

Jacob D Vakkayil , IIM Calcutta

Abstract:

Various approaches have been employed by researchers for claiming acceptable degrees of quality in their studies. This process of selection and meaningful application of indicators of quality in alignment with a chosen research paradigm can often be challenging for researchers who follow non-traditional approaches. The seminar would review various positions advanced by qualitative researchers in their efforts to ensure high quality studies. The implications of choosing these approaches would be examined in the light of practical examples of how these have been attempted by the seminar leader in his recent research.

Neoliberal Policies, patterns of social dominance and social exclusion in the Indian state of Orissa

Date:

4 February 2011

Speaker:

Matilde Adduci, Associate Researcher, Faculty of Political Science, University of Turin and Turin World Affairs Institute

Abstract:

In 1991 the Indian Union started a process of integration within the new international economic order, characterised by the rise of neoliberalism.

Orissa, historically one of the Indian states mostly affected by severe poverty though richly endowed with natural resources, has enthusiastically endorsed the neo-liberal project, implementing all the relevant national policies related to it. In the last two decades, while the economic policy of the State of Orissa has been thus increasingly shaped according to the neoliberal guidelines recommended by the Centre, the disturbing socio-economic scenario of the State has not changed significantly.

By adopting a political economy perspective, this analysis aims at investigating the dynamics of social dominance and social exclusion in Orissa in the course of the transition of the Indian Union towards the neoliberal order.

Investigating the research problems: A philosophical query

Date:

18 March 2011

Speaker:

Satya Sundar Sethy, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Abstract

In the earthly life, we, the human beings can’t refrain from problems although some of them can be avoided and/or resolved. However, all these problems cannot be considered as research problems. The reason to claim so will be explained on epistemological and ontological grounds which presuppose the philosophical foundations, those help to investigate and formulate statements of problems for research. Researching means working scientifically and systematically on well formulated problems for different reasons those will be discussed in an elaborate manner in our presentation. It has been observed that designing a meaningful and well-formulated question plays a vital role in all of the research efforts that follow. It is so because though all well-formulated research questions will not assure the useful research results always, but certainly a poorly formulated research question will guarantee the research results of its limited value for its use, application, and helping in decision making. Hence, investigating a research problem in a particular subject discipline and in an intra or inter-disciplinary knowledge domains will be a challenging affair, and at the same time an important issue for the novice researchers. While discussing this issue we will distinguish’ research-worthy problem’ from ‘non research-worthy problem’. Further, a practical guide will be offered to locate problems of scholarly research. Finally, the factors responsible for affecting the choice of research topic will be emphasised and explained in detail.