Research Methodology (Compulsory paper) LSC 141

·         Research: Meaning, Methodology, research processes (basic steps), criteria of good research.

·         Types of research:  Fundamental or basic, applied, Historical, descriptive, analytical, qualitative, quantitative, experimental, conceptual, case study.

·         Research design: Meaning, concepts, needs, and designs for different types of research.

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

Literature search: reviewing related literature, referencing, abstracting, computer search, bibliography

•  Variables: independent and dependent variables, qualitative and quantitative variables, discrete and continuous variables, and 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 and observation; Secondary data

Statistical Analysis

·         Measure of Central Tendency- Mean, Median, Mode & their properties, merits and demerits.

·         Measure of Dispersion- Range, Quartile Deviation, Mean Deviation and Standard Deviation

·         Small sample test- Student’s t-test and Chi-square test

Analysis of Variance- Concept of ANOVA, its assumptions, Basic idea of one-way and two-way classification 

·         Correlation Analysis- Definition and concept, Significance and types of correlation, properties of correlation coefficient

·         Measures of studying correlation

o Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation, its       assumptions, properties, merits and demerits

o   Spearman’s Rank correlation coefficient •

·         Regression Analysis-Concept, uses, Regression Coefficients, Regression Equations, Fitting of Regression lines

Linear and multiple regression

Instrumentation

Principle and working of the following equipment:

Spectrophotometry:

o   UV-Visible Spectrophotometer

o   InfraRed (IR) Spectrophotometer

o   Fluorescence Spectrophotometer

o   Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS)

o   Mass Spectrometry

o   Flame Photometer

Microscopy:

o   Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM)

o   Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

o    Chromatography:

o    Ion exchange chromatography

o    High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Gas Chromatography