Research Methodology and Special Skills

• 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.

• 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

• 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,

• 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.

• 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.