SYLLABUS OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (RS 8003 3-1-0 4)

Objective

The objective of this course is to prepare research students to undertake their research effectively.
Delving into the historicity of science and the philosophical basis of scientific research, the course
introduces the traditional and the modern concepts of scientific research and scientific documentation.

Learning Outcomes/ Course Outcome

After going through the lectures on this course the students will be able to

1. Understand the nature of research that they are expected to do

2. Feel confident about selecting their own research topics, research problems, research objectives,
and research questions.
3. Get acquainted with a range of qualitative, quantitative, experimental, and theoretical methods
and data analysis techniques to be able to select the most relevant research methods and
techniques in the contexts of their own research.
4. Analyse the research data through different data analysis techniques
5. Systematically document their research work, in the form of Research Proposal, Progress Report,
Research Paper, Synopsis, Thesis etc., and able to communicate their research works in
acceptable ways.
6. Know the Intellectual Property Rights and their consequences.

Course Contents

Module 1: Introduction (7) (Prof MKM )

Characteristics of Good Research; Philosophical Underpinnings of Scientific Research; Types of

Research; and Research Process.

Broad Field of Research, Research Problem—Selection Criteria, Research Objectives—Types, Research

Questions—Features, and Scoping a Problem; Review of Past Works, Web Search, and Situational
Contexts.

Module 2: Literature Review (6) (Prof DS )

Mining Past Works; Sources of Literature; Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Dimensions; Critical
Evaluation; Identifying Research Gap and Developing Research Questions and Hypotheses.

Reference Management Tools; Meta-Analysis; Systematic Literature Review; and Tools Based on
Natural Language Processing.

Writing a Literature Review: Chronological, Thematic and Methodological; Paraphrasing, Quotation, and
Citation and Referencing Styles.

Module 3: Methodology (14)

Methodology, Method, Tool, and Technique; Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed, and Experimental
Methods.
Qualitative Research Methods ( Prof DS)

Ethnography, Grounded Theory, Phenomenology, Case Study, and Narrative Inquiry, and Action
Research; Observation, Interview, Survey, and Focus Group Discussion; Archival Research,
Autobiographical Studies, Content Analysis, Visual Methods, Discourse Analysis, Textual Analysis, and
Digital Humanities.

Modelling and Models (Prof MKM)

Modelling: Model Purpose; Model Boundary, Endogenous and Exogenous Variables, Status and Decision
Variables, Output Variables, and Parameters; Parameter Estimation and Parameter Sensitivity; Model
Verification and Validation.

Models: Models in Situations of Certainty, Risk, Uncertainty, Imprecision, Competition, and Temporal
Change; Examples.

Optimization and Simulation Software packages.

Experiment-based research ( Prof PKJM)

Laboratory, Field, Social, and Computer Simulation Experiments; Treatment, Outcome, and Nuisance
Variables; Randomization, Replication, and Blocking; Experimental Designs—Fixed and Randomized
Factor Designs, Factorial Designs, Randomized Control Trials, Response Surface Methodology; Software
Support for Design and Analysis of Experiments, and Laboratory Notebook.

Logical and Mathematical Considerations

Flow of Logic—Flowchart, Structured English, and Algorithm; Significant Digits and Rounding-Off
Numbers; Accuracy and Precision; Scientific Notation; and Order of Magnitude.

Module 4: Data and Data Analysis (14) ( Prof Susanta Tripathy and Prof. MKM)

Measurement, Measurement Scales; Error Bar and Propagation of Error; Pre-processing of Data; Data
Visualization; and Statistical Graphics.

Probability and Statistics: Histograms; Density and Distribution Functions; Descriptive Statistics;
Sampling and Sampling Distributions; Tests of Hypothesis; Correlation; Multiple Linear Regression and
Regression Diagnostics; Non-parametric Tests; Multivariate Analysis— Factor Analysis and Principal
Component Analysis.

Data Analytics and Machine Learning: Basics of Classification and Clustering Techniques and of Neural
Networks.

Working Knowledge of Statistical Software and Data Analytics Packages

Module 5: Research Documentation (9) ( Prof. Prasanna Kumar Acharya)

Documentation Types: Survey Notebook, Laboratory Notebook, Research Proposal, Progress Report,
Research Paper, Synopsis, Thesis, Research Presentation, and Data Documentation.

Features of Scientific Writing; Structure of Scientific Reports—Prefatory, Body, and End Matters;
Conventional Hour-Glass Configurations of Articles—AIMRD, AIRDM, AIR(RD)MC, and AIBC, and
V-Structure of Scientific Reports.
Text Organization: Vertical and Horizontal Division, Paragraphing, Signposts, Transition, Topic
Sentences, Link Words, Paraphrasing, and Capitalization

Mathematical Materials, SI Units, Figures, Tables, and Photographs.

Making Arguments and Criticisms, Tips for Good Writing, and Common English Errors.

Contents of Research Documents: Research Proposal, Progress Report. Abstract of Seminar Talk. Paper,
Short Communication. Responses to Reviewers’ Comments, Synopsis, Thesis, and Responses to
Examiners’ Comments.

Module 6: Intellectual Property Rights (6) (Prof Arpita Mitra)

Intellectual Property: Copyrights, Patents, and Basics of Designs, Geographic Indications, and
Trademarks.

Textbooks
1. Dunn, P. K. (2021), Scientific Research and Methodology: An Introduction to Quantitative
Research and Statistics in Science, Engineering, and Health, Available free at
https://bookdown.org/pkaldunn/Book/. [Covers most of the topics]
2. Subudhi, R. N. and S. Mishra, Eds. (2019), Methodological Issues in Management Research:
Advances, Challenges, and the Way Ahead, UK: Emerald Publishing Ltd. [Covers most of the
topics]

Books on Specialized Topics

1. Durdella, N. (2019), Qualitative Dissertation Methodology: A Guide for Research Design and
Methods, California: SAGE Publications. [For topics related to qualitative methods]
2. Gabriele, G. (2016), Research Methods for English Studies, 2 nd Edition, Jaipur: Rawat
Publications. [For topics related to research in English]
3. Montegomery, D. C. (2019), Design and Analysis of Experiments, 10 th Edition, John Wiley &
Sons, Inc. [For topics related to design of experiments]
4. Perelman, L. C., J. Paradis, and E. Barrett, Eds. (1998), The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and
Scientific Writing, Mayfield Publishing, Available free at
http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/toc.htm. [For topics related to research documentation]
5. Pradhan, M. and U. D. Kumar (2019), Machine Learning Using Python, Delhi: Wiley India Pvt.
Ltd. [For topics related to machine learning and data analytics]

Reference Books
1. Alred G. J., C. T. Brusaw, and W. E. Oliu, 2008, Handbook of Technical Writing, 9th Edition, ,
New York: St. Martin's Press.
2. Churchman, C. W. (1971), The Design of Inquiring Systems: Basic Concepts of Systems and
Organizations, New York: Basic Books, Inc.
3. Dunn, P. K. (2021), Scientific Research and Methodology: Tutorials, An Introduction to
Quantitative Research and Statistics in Science, Engineering, and Health: Tutorials, Available
free at https://bookdown.org/pkaldunn/SRM-tutorials/.
4. Dunn, P. K. (2021), Scientific Research and Methodology: Software, An Introduction to
Quantitative Research and Statistics in Science, Engineering, and Health: Using Software,
Available free at https://bookdown.org/pkaldunn/SRM-software/. (Uses Jamovi and SPSS
Software, Jamovi is a freely downable software)
5. Hunter, J. E. and F. L. Schmidt (2004), Introduction to Meta-Analysis: Correcting Error and Bias
in Research Findings, 2nd Edition, California: Sage Publications, Inc.
 6. Kothari, C. R. (2004), Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, 2 nd Revised Edition,
Hyderabad: New Age International.
7. Kuhn, T. S. (2012), The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 4 th Edition, Chicago: University of
Chicago Press.
8. Marder, M. C. (2011), Research Methods for Science, Cambridge University Press.
9. OWL, The Purdue Online Writing Laboratory, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
10. Paneerselvam, R. (2014), Research Methodology, 2nd Edition, New Delhi: PHI Learning.
11. Wolf, F. M. (1986), Meta-Analysis: Quantitative Methods for Research Synthesis, California:
Sage Publications.

NB: Evaluation criteria for Internal Component:

 Professors teaching the subject shall evaluate the students on the basis of topic specific assignments
from 10 marks each.
 Students shall also be required to submit Literature Review on their assigned problems leading to
formulation of Research Questions and shall be evaluated from 10 marks by the concerned
supervisor (s). The excersise shall lead to the registration seminar of the student subsequently.
 Further, as a partial requirement for fulfillment of criteria for earning the required credit in
the RS 8003, concerned Schools shall include the stream specific methodologies to be taught
and evaluated at the School level from 10 marks under Module 3.
 All marks received shall be scaled down to 50 marks to serve as the internal component.