MPSS 1300-Research Methodology (M.Phil Psychology)

Research Methodology (PSS- 1300)

 Unit-1: Introduction

  • Research – meaning, objective, scope and functions; method Vs methodology
  • Approaches – Qualitative and quantitative, cross-sectional and longitudinal, nomothetic and idiographic; ethics in research.
  • Scientific method- Models of thinking in science, the logic of scientific method, requisites of good scientific method.
  • Research and theory- Role of theories in research; concept and theory; theory and hypothesis.           

Unit-II: Identification of the Problem and Formulation of Hypothesis

  • Problem - idea formation; idea analysis, selection of appropriate problems; conceptual interpretation, justification; formulation and statement of the problem.
  • Hypotheses - meaning, characteristics, types, sources, functions; steps in testing hypotheses, rules of construction, testing of hypotheses.

Unit- III: Research Design

  • Meaning, need and features of good design- objectivity, reliability, validity and generality.
  • Typology- Exploratory, descriptive, diagnostic, historical and experimental.

Unit- IV: Descriptive Study Designs

  • Surveys- sampling large
  • Field studies- constructing plausible explanations
  • Case studies- the intensive analysis of one
  • Ex-post facto studies- looking back
  • Correlational studies- finding the relationship
  • Clinical studies- pre- post intervention designs
  • Cause and effects

Unit-V: Experimental Designs

  • Definition, purpose and characteristics of experimental designs
  • Types - single subject designs, pre-post designs, two-group designs, multi group designs, factorial designs, mixed designs, quasi-experimental designs.

 Unit- VI: Epidemiological Studies

  • Prospective and retrospective studies: prevalence rate, incidence rate; specific and adjusted rates; life table techniques; case control study.

Unit-VII: Data collection

  • Tools- Inquiry form, questionnaire, schedule, checklist, rating scale scorecard, opinionnaire, attitude scales.
  • Methods- Observation, interview, surveys, tests, case studies, library method.

Unit- VIII: Tests and Test Standardization

  • Tests- Objectives, uses, principles, steps of construction
  • Types- Achievement tests, aptitude tests, intelligence tests, interest inventories, personality tests, sociometry, psychometrics
  • Test standardization procedure- Objectivity, utility, reliability and validity of tests.

Unit- IX: Sampling

  • Sample- Meaning, characteristics, types, advantages, disadvantages and limitations.
  • Sampling methods- Complete enumeration, snow ball technique, random and non- random sample, simple random and systematic random, stratified random and cluster random, quota sampling.

Unit-X: Data interpretation and Reporting.

  • Interpretation- Ways of interpretation, principles, research reports, steps in writing reports, evaluation of research reports, summary
  • Meta analysis- Analyzing the analysis
  • Program evaluation- Assessing the system.

 References:

Badia, P., Haiber, A., & Runyon, R.P. (1970). Research problems in Psychology. Addison Wesley Publishing Co. California.

Bhatnagar, R. & Bhatnagar, R. K. (1986). Experimental design of research in behavioral science. Raja Hans Agencies, Meerut.

Brodic, D.A., Williams, J.G., & Owen, R.J. (1993). Research methods for the health sciences. Gordon and Breach publishers.

Boota, K.D. (1989). Experimental designs in behavioral research. Wiley Eastern Ltd. New Delhi.

Christensen, (1990). Experimental methodology (4th edn.) Allyn and Broon Inc; Boston.

Coolican, H. (1990). Research method and statistics in psychology. Hooder and Stoughton.

Ginsbery, G.P. (1979). Emerging strategies sin social psychological research. John Wiley and Sons.

Butcher, J.N. (1982). Hand book of research methods in psychology.

Kerlinger, P.N. (1987). Foundations of behavioral research. Prism, Bangalore.

Kothari, C.R. (1990). Research methodology (2nd edn.). Wiley Eastern Ltd. New Delhi.

Mason, E.J. & Brambel, P.J. (1990). Understanding and conducting research. Mc Graw Hill Book Co. New York.

Million, T. & Dicsenhans, H.I. (1972). Research method in psychopathology. Jon Wiley and sons.

Paul, W. Robinson. (1981). Fundamentals of experimental psychology. Prentice Hall Inc. New Jersey.

Reddy, C.R. (1987). Research methodology in social sciences. Daya publishing Co.

Rosnow, R.L. & Rosenthul, R. (1998). Beginning Behavioral Research, Wiley, New Delhi.

Shaughnessy, J.J. (1996). Research methods in Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Steven, T. Levy. (1998). Principles of interpretation. Friends Publishers, New Delhi.

Winer, B. J. (1962). Statistical Principles in experimental design. McGraw- Hill, New York

Youngman, M.D. (1979). Analysing social and educational research. Tata- McGraw- Hill; NewYork