Chapter -3

Methodology
This chapter gives an outline of research methods that were followed in the study. It provides
information on the participant, that is, the criteria for inclusion in the study, who the
participant was and how they was sampled. The chapter provides the reasons for the
selection of the methodology. This chapter also presents the research designs used in the
study with explanation of selection of research design and development of the tools as well
as the methods of data collection and its analysis. The chapter ends with ethical consideration
of the present study and a brief summary of the chapter.

DESIGN

A research design is simply the framework or plan for a study that is used as a guide in collecting and
analyzing the data. It is a blueprint that is followed in completing a study. Research design is the blue
print for collection measurement and analysis of data. Actually it is a map that is usually developed to
guide the research.

Yin (1994) identified five components of research design that are important for case studies:

1) A study's questions

2) Its propositions, if any

3) Its unit(s) of analysis

4) The logic linking the data to the propositions

5) The criteria for interpreting the findings (Yin, 1994, p. 20).

For the present study, the single case study approach has been chosen, which is appropriate
to the phenomenon being studied. Looking to the theoretical background of the designs of
the case study, the present study is the descriptive case study .

POPULATION AND SAMPLING:

.Population or universe means, the entire mass of observations, which is the parent group from which a
sample is to be formed. The term population or universe conveys a different meaning than a traditional
one. In census survey, the count of individuals (men, women and children) is known as population, But
in Research Methodology population means characteristics of a specific group. For example secondary
school teachers of, who have some specific features like teaching experience, teaching attitudes etc.
Sampling means selecting a given number of subjects from a defined population as representative of
that population. It includes all objects of interest whereas the sample is only a portion of the
population.

In the present study ,the students of victory girls higher secondary school is the population
and the sample is the student in 8 th standard showing social withdrawal behavior

SAMPLE

Garrett (1981) describes that, “A sample may be expressly chosen because, in the light of
available evidence, it mirrors some larger group with reference to a given characteristic
Sampling may be defined as the procedure in which a sample is selected from an individual
or a group of people of certain kind for research purpose. In sampling, the population is
divided into a number of parts called sampling units.The sampling method in the present
study was purposive because investigator selected the specific student who lack social skills
.The purpose of a case study is to understand the case in totality. Numbers do not matterin
the case study,. It is also believed that qualitative data gives large volumes of quality data
from a limited number of people. In qualitative research, the researcher is in continuous
interaction with the participant in an attempt to discover the participants meaning of his/her
life world .

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES OF DATA COLLECTION:

There are a number of different sources and methods that researchers can use to gather
information about an individual or group. The six major sources that have been identified by
Yin (1994); Stake (1995) are:

1. Direct observation: This strategy involves observing the subject, often in a natural setting.
While an individual observer is sometimes used, it is more common to utilize a group of
observers.

2. Interviews: One of the most important methods for gathering information in case studies.
An interview can involve structured survey-type questions, or more open-ended questions.

3. Documents: Letters, newspaper articles, administrative records, etc.

4. Archival records: Census records, survey records, name lists, etc.

5. Physical artifacts: Tools, objects, instruments and other artifacts often observed during a
direct observation of the subject.

6. Participant observation: Involves the researcher actually serving as a participant in events

and observing the actions and outcomes
Under the present study the following tools were used to collect the data

1. Group activity checklist

A check list is a selected list of words ,phrases or sentences following which an observer
records a check to denote the presence or absence of whatever being observed. It consist of a
number of statements on various traits of personality .Checklists usually offer a yes/no
format in relation to student demonstration of specific criteria.

Investigator provide a group activity to engage the students and check the case student
behavior like seeking assistance ,participate in group,aqnd how the case follow the group
activites

2. Rating scale

A rating scale is a tool used for assessing the performance of tasks, skill levels, procedures,
processes, qualities, quantities, or end products, such as reports, drawings, and computer
programs .Rating scales are similar to checklists except that they indicate the degree of
accomplishment rather than just yes or no.
. Rating is term applied to express opinion or judgment regarding some situation, object or
character. Opinions are usually expressed on a scale of values; rating techniques are devices
by which such judgments may be quantified.
Rating techniques are more commonly used in scaling traits and attributes. A rating method
is a method by which one systematizes, the expression of opinion concerning a trait. The
rating is done by parents, teachers, a board of interviewers and judges and even by the self as
well. The special feature of rating scale is that the attitudes are evaluated not on the basis of
the opinions of the subjects but on the basis of the opinions and judgments of the
experimenter himself. In rating scale data are collected by; Verbal behavior, facial
expression, personal documents, clinical type interview, projective techniques and immediate
experiences as emotions, thoughts and perceptions
Investigator used rating scale to check communication skill of the case. The aim of the rating
scale was judge the conversational skills, non verbal conversational skills, the way case ask
question and how give compliments. In addition to this, Teacher’s rating scale was too
developed with the aim to collect response from the teacher about the case regarding
performance in school work ,communication with friends , performance in sports, behavior
in school, memory power, social skills, regularity in school, academic achievement ,attention
and concentration in class

3. Personality inventories

A personality inventories is essentially a standard set of questions for self –appraisal or self –
reporting .it consist of statement or questions about personal characteristics, feelings,
worries, fears, preferences, lack of interest ;
in this study investigator make the case to responsd about some ascepts of life ,mainly
concerning the behavior towards the society

4. OBSERVATION

Observations of student interactions and engagements with materials and other students
within the classroom is a valuable means to measure the social skills. It is the conventional
manner of collecting observational data takes the form of using five senses, taking field
notes, and ultimately creating a narrative based on what might have seen, heard, or
otherwise sensed .This is most commonly used technique of evaluation research. It is used
for evaluating cognitive and non-cognitive aspects of a person. It is used in evaluation
performance, interests, attitudes, values towards their life problems and situations. It is most
useful technique for evaluating the behaviors of children. It is technique of evaluation in
which behavior are observed in a natural situations. The cause- effect relationship and study
of events in original form, is known as observation. Observation seeks to ascertain what
people think and do by watching them in action as they express themselves in various
situations and activities. Observation is recognized as the most direct means of studying
people when one is interested in their overt behavior. In questionnaires and interview people
may write answer as they think, they do but this is often different from what they actually do.
These restrictions are missing in observation so observation is a more natural way of
gathering data. Artificiality and formality of questionnaires and interview is replaced by
reality and informality in observation. Data obtained through observation are more real and
true than the data collected by any other method. It also plays a particular part in survey
procedure.

Investigator made direct observation during school days

5. INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

Interviews are one of the most important sources of case study information as interviews aim
to understand people and their activities. The interview is described as a verbal exchange,
often face to face, in which interviewer tries to elicit information, belief or opinion from
other person. There are several forms of interviews that are possible: Open-ended, Focused,
and Structured or survey. In an open-ended interview, key respondents are asked to comment
about certain events. They may propose solutions or provide insight into events. They may
also corroborate evidence obtained from other sources. The focused interview is used in a
situation where the respondent is interviewed for a short period of time, usually answering
set questions. This technique is often used to confirm data collected from another source. In
an interview a rapport is established between the interviewer and the interviewee. Not only is
physical distance between them annihilated, the social and cultural barrier is also removed;
and a free mutual flow of ideas to and fro takes place. Both create their respective impression
upon each other. The interview brings them both on the same level and an emotional
attachment supervenes between them. In an interview all formalities are laid down and the
gate is opened for delivering into the intellectuals, emotional and subconscious stirrings of
the interviewee. Thus here the ‘depth’ of subject (man) is gone to the very bottom of his
emotional pool and may check his truthfulness of responses.

Schedule: When a researcher is using a set of questionnaires for interview purpose it is

known as schedule. Thus schedule is a list of questions formulated and presented with the
specific purpose of testing an assumption or hypothesis. In schedule method interview
occupies a central and plays a vital role. As a matter of fact success in the use of schedule is
largely determined by the ability and tact of the interviewer rather than by the quality of the
questions posed. Because the interviewer himself poses the questions and notes down the
answers all by himself, the quality of questions has not any great significance.

This study is used semi structured interview with open ended questions.

6.FOCUS GROUPS

A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about
their attitude towards a product, concept, advertisement, idea, or person. Questions are asked
in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group
members.Focus groups are an important tool for acquiring feedback regarding various topics.

Investigator made a good interaction with the 8th standard students and collected data about
the personality, behaviour, play behaviour, peer adjustment,interacting skill of the case
towards the pper students

7.Documents: Document analysis is one of the methods of gathering information for the case
study. Document analysis has the potential to inform and structure the decisions which are
made by people on a daily basis

Investigator gathered information from the attendance register to check regularity in the
school

8. Situational test

In situational test ,the subject is placed in some specific situations and traits of the
personality are ascertained .the situations are artificially created in which the individual is
expected to perform acts related to personality traits under testing
 Investigator provide playing time and activity to students in group of 8thstandard,with the
aim to understand the involvement of the case student in playing and participation in group
activity

9.sociomertic technique

It is a technique of assessing the social relationships among members in group through the
measurement of frequency of acceptance or non acceptance between the individuals who
constitute the group. Each child makes his choice ,and from this data ,teacher can construct a
social map called sociogram

A sociogram is a charting of the inter-relationships within a group. Its purpose is to

discover group structure: i.e., the basic "network" of friendship patterns and sub-group
organization. The relations of any one child to the group as a whole are another type
of information which can be derived from a sociogram. A sociogram's value to a
teacher is in its potential for developing greater understanding of group behavior so
that he/she may operate more wisely in group management and curriculum
development.

Sociograms may be constructed in a variety of ways. The methods described here re

ones which teachers have used and found not too difficult or time consuming.

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION: One of the strengths of case study research is that it
encourages the use of a wide range of methods of data collection. Data collection is the
process by which the investigator collects the information needed to answer the research
problem. The information gathered are based on the research design , the identified
hypothesis or research problem and the selection of data collection method should be based
on the following: investigator develop and adopted tools and technique to fulfill a specific
need investigator take imitativeness in talking with other researchers who may know of
certain tools they have developed for themselves, or may have used tools developed by
others. Reading books and professional journals to learn what kind of tools and technique
being used for similar studies, their format, style, and how they are used also helped in data
collection.with the help of tools and techniques data were gathered about the case from
teachers, students, peer and from case student

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION:

Ethics, according to the Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (1988, p.426 citied in Morris 2008.
p. 2), indicates “what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.” Three meanings
are usually associated with the term “ethics”. According to Newman and Brown (cited in
Monies, 2008, p.2): the first focuses on fundamental principles of moral behaviour that
should apply, at least in theory to everyone. The second refers to principles of conduct
developed by, and for, members of a particular profession. The third involves the systematic
study of the beliefs people hold, and the behaviors they exhibit relevant to morality. For this
study, all three meanings are relevant and relate to ethical challenges found in the process of
this research. . This research was subjected to the permission from the authority of school and
permission class teacher and parent