DR.P.MISHRA

XAVIER INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE POST GRADUATE PROGRAMME (2003 – 2006)

TERM – V

SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS

COURSE OUTLINE

Course Objective:

The course provides an opportunity for the participants to expose themselves to the various characteristics of Social Sciences. It helps the participants in understanding social research methods by exposing them to various concepts, tools and techniques of social research. It helps them developing skills to identify research topics, formulating research design, using suitable tools and techniques in social research. The course tries to develop skill to conduct independent research and tries to enable them to appreciate articles published in research journals.

Course Content:

The course is visualized in two parts. The first part emphasizes some theoretical concepts like science and scientific research, unique features of social science, types of research, etc. The second part deals with use of various tools and techniques that are used in social research.

The following topics will be covered in this course:

Topics / Sessions
F Conceptualization / 03
Ø  Scientific Research and Social Scientific Enquiry
Ø  Types of Research
Ø  Concept, Construct and Variables, Scales of Measurement, Reliability and validity
F Operationalisation
Ø  Instrument Designing & Administration, Uses of Sampling Techniques, Questionnaire & Research Plan / 03
Ø  Presentation of data and use of analytical tools.
Tabulation, Diagrammatic Representation, Descriptive Statistics,
Bivariates and Multivariate Analysis (including presentation of the class exercises) / 06
Ø  The Research Report / 01
Ø  Presentation of Final Report / 02

Pedagogy:

There will be lecture sessions on the theoretical aspects of SRM (conceptualization), which will be covered in about 3 sessions. After the lecture session on instrument designing, the participants will be divided into groups. Lecture sessions on data analysis will be followed by group exercises. The participants (in groups) will have to use the tools and work on a small project for which data (collected earlier using a questionnaire) will be supplied to them. Guidelines will be given to the groups in the class with respect to presentation and analysis of data. They will have to use different statistical tools and interpret the results using the data. The participants are advised to browse the contents of QM – I. Application of the statistical tools in data analysis will be the main thrust in the exercises. Each group will submit a report of the class exercise before leaving the XIM campus.

Take Home Assignment:

Every participant has to work on a specific topic in his or her own work place and submit a report within one month from the date of assignment. The topic will be approved by the Instructor before they leave the campus at the end of the present term. The participants may use secondary data or collect primary data for the take home assignment.

References:

There are a number of books on Social Research Methods in the XIM Library. However, a book viz. Foundations of Behavioral Research by F.N. Kerlinger is quite handy for the first part of the course. For the second part any good book on Statistics/Social Research Methods will be helpful. A book on Social Research Methods by D.R. Cooper & P.S. Schindler is being given to the participants. Moreover, excerpts from different books will be given as a set of handouts.

Evaluation:

(a) Assignments during the sessions & presentations 25%

(b) Home Assignment 25%

(c) End Term Test 50%

Submission of Home Assignment: Within one month from the date of assignment

Discussion with the participants will be correction features.

GOOD LUCK