Research Methodology & Special Skills

·      Research: Meaning, Definition, Methodology, Research process, Criterion of good research 

·      Types of Research: Fundamental or Basic, Applied, Historical, Descriptive, Analytical quantitative, qualitative, Conceptual   Experimental, Case study

·      Research Design: Meaning, Concepts, need,  designs for different types of research; library, laboratory and field research; Advantages of Designing Research

·      Research Problem and Developing Research proposal: Selection of research area and topic, statement of the research problem, its scope, steps involved in defining the problem.

·      Literature Search: Reviewing related literature, referencing, abstracting, Computer search, bibliography, evaluation of the problem.

·      Defining concepts, objectives, basic assumptions, delimitations and limitations of the problem, Statement of Hypothesis.   

·      Variables: Independent and dependent variables, qualitative and quantitative variables, discrete and continuous variables, confounding variables, methods of controlling variables. Measurement of variables.

·      Sampling:  Meaning, Characteristics of a good sample design, steps in sampling design, types, advantages

·      Techniques of Data Collection:

·      Primary data; Questionnaire, Schedules, Interview observation & other methods

·      Secondary data: Reliability, suitability & Adequacy of data.

·      Processing and Analysis of Data: Processing Operations: Editing, coding, classification and tabulation of data, Elements of Data Analysis, Role of statistics in Data Analysis. Statistical Tables

·      Report writing: Types, Format

·      Probability:  Basic Aspects, probability of combination of events, probability of random variables, distribution of random variable

·      Statistical Methods: Measures of Central tendency- Mean, Median, Mode, Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic mean. 

·      Measures of Dispersion: Range, Mean Deviation, Variance, Standard Deviation, Coefficient of variation

·      Regression and Correlation: Least square method of fitting a regression line, curvilinear regression, correlation methods, correlation coefficient.

·      Test of Significance: t-test, chi-test, ANOVA, f-test

·      Hypothesis 

·      Common distribution functions: Binomial probability distribution, Poisson distribution and normal distribution etc.

·      Errors  in Experiments: Errors in observations; random errors, systematic errors; Normal law of errors; Average error, Standard error and probable error; significant figures; percentage error.

·      Errors in Calculations: Approximate numbers and significant figures; Rounding of numbers; Absolute and relative errors, Relation between relative Error and significant figures; General formula for Errors; Application of Error formulas to fundamental operations of Arithmetics