Research Methodology and Special Skills

Paper Code: 
LSC 141
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
12.00
Unit I: 
Research-Meaning and Definition
  • Research: Meaning, Definition, Methodology, research processes, criteria of good research.
  • Types of research:  Fundamental or basic, applied, Historical, descriptive, analytical, qualitative, quantitative, experimental, conceptual, case study.
  • Research design: Meaning, concepts, need, designs for different types of 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.

 

12.00
Unit II: 
Variables
  • Variables: independent and dependent variables, qualitative and quantitative variables, discrete and continuous variables, methods of controlling variables. Measurement of variables.
  • Sampling: Meaning, characteristics of good sample design, steps in sample design ,types and advantages.
  • Techniques of data collection:

        primary data; Questionnaire, schedules, interview, observation and other methods

       Secondary data: Reliability ,suitability and adequacy of data

  •  Processing and analysis of data : Processing operations :editing, coding, classification and tabulation of data, role of statistics in data analysis, statistical tables.
  • Report writing: types, format

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Theory of Probability
  • Theory of probability: Probability sampling. Simple, random, systematic random sampling. Two stage and multistage sampling. Cluster sampling, Non probability sampling: purposive, quota an volunteer sampling, snow ball sampling.
  • Common distribution function: binomial probability distribution ,Poisson distribution and normal distribution curve.
  •  Standard deviation, Standard error
  • Test of significance:t-test, chi-test, ANOVA,F-test,

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Microscopy
  • Microscopy: Light, dark field, phase contrast, interference, polarization, florescence, transmission and scanning electron microscope, Confocal, Deconvolution.
  • Separation Techniques:
    • Chromatography - Thin layer chromatography, absorption column chromatography, Ion exchange chromatography, High performance liquid chromatography, Size exclusion Chromatography.
    • Electrophoresis SDS-PAGE, Agarose Gels, Electrofocusing, Capillary.
    • Centrifugation: Differential and density gradient centrifugation, zonal and isopycnic separation (Brief account).
  • Modern tools for inventory, monitoring and conservation of biodiversity : GIS and GPS.

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Spectrophotometry
  • Spectrophotometry: Colorimetry, spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, Flame emission spectroscopy.
  • P.C.R. and  Types  
    • Inverse PCR
    • Anchored PCR.
    • PCR for site directed mutagenesis.
    • Cloning and expression of the PCR product.
    • Asymmetric PCR for DNA sequencing.

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Plant Biotechnology, Hammond, P. McGarvey and V. Yusibov (Editors.) Springer Verlag, 2000.
  • Plant Cell and Tissue Culture for the Production of Food ingredients. J. Fu, G. Singh, and W.R. Curtis (Editors), Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press.1999.
  • Advanced Methods in Plant Biotechnology, David. R. Murray: Panima Publishing Corporation. 1996
  • Plant Tissue Culture – Techniques & Experiments, (2nd edition) Roberta. H. Smith.  Elsevier. 2000
  • Plant Molecular Biology – A Practical Approach. C. H. Shaw, IRL Press Ltd.
  • Molecular plant Biology- volume 1 & 2. Philip M. Gilmartin and Chris Bowler,  Oxford University Press. 2005
  • Plant Tissue Culture. S.S. Bhojwani and M.K Razdan,  Elsevier. 2004
  • Biotechnology in Crop improvement, H.S. Chawla, International Book Distributing Company, 1998.
  • Practical Application of plant Molecular Biology, R.J. Henry, Chapman

 

 

Academic Year: