RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 
                      
                     Material prepared according to the Textbook and Reference Books given in 
                                                                           the Syllabus 
                      
                               Subject Code                   : 18MPA43C 
                                
                               Prepared by                    : Dr. C. Esther Buvana, 
                                                                Asst. Professor & Head 
                                
                               Department                     : PG & Research Department of  
                                                              Public Administration 
                                
                               Contact No.                    : 9840881638  
                                
                               E-mail ID                      : estherbuvanac@gmail.com 
                      
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
                                               SYLLABUS 
                           
                 Year                      Subject Title                    Sem.      Sub Code 
               2018 - 19          Core 14 : Research Methodology             IV      18MPA43C 
               Onwards 
              
             Objective 
             This paper attempts to introduce to the students the various methods of conducting a social 
             science research, the procedure to formulation of a problem, its design, the various techniques 
             of data collection, data analysis and to prepare the research report 
              
             UNIT – I:    INTRODUCTION  
             Social  Science  Research  –  Objectives,  Scope  and  Need  for  Social  Science  Research  – 
             Research in Public Administration.  
              
             UNIT – II:    TYPES OF RESEARCH 
             Types of Research – Historical, Explorative, Analytical, and Empirical, Research – Value 
             Dichotomy in Research in Public Administration. 
              
             UNIT – III:   RESEARCH PROCESS  
             The Research Process and Concepts – Variables – Review of Literature – Hypothesis – 
             Research Design. 
              
             UNIT – IV:   RESEARCH TECHNIQUES 
             Techniques of Data Collection, Observation, Interview, Schedule, Questionnaire – Reliability 
             and Validity, Sampling Techniques  – Case Study - Survey  
              
             UNIT – V:    RESEARCH REPORT  
             Data Analysis – Interpretation – The Research Report – Role of  SPSS in Research – Ethics 
             in Social Science research 
              
             Textbook 
                    1.  Saravanavel P :Research Methodology, Kitab Mahal, New Delhi 1991. 
                     
             Reference Books  
                    1.  David E McNabb – Research Methods in Public Administration and Non – Profit   
                       Management, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, 2013,. 
                    2.  Gerald  J.Miller  Hand  book  of  Research  Methods  in  Public  Administration 
                       Kaifeng Yang New Yark-2007. 
                    3.  Kothari  C.R  Research  Methodology-Methods  and  Techniques.  New  Age 
                       International Publishers, New Delhi 2004 
                    4.  Sam  Daniel  P  and  Aroma  G.Sam,  Research  Methodology,  Gyan  Publishing 
                       House, 2011.  
              
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                      VARIABLES 
        
       Research is not possible without the use of variables. 
        
       A  VARIABLE is a measurable characteristic  that  varies.  It  may  change  from  group  to 
       group, person to person, or even within one person over time.  Example of variable are age, 
       sex, education, area, occupation etc., There are six common variable types: 
        
       INDEPENDENT VARIABLES 
       An independent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is a variable that stands alone and 
       isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone's age 
       might be an independent variable. Other factors (such as what they eat, how much they go to 
       school, how much television they watch) aren't going to change a person's age. In fact, when 
       you are looking for some kind of relationship between variables you are trying to see if the 
       independent  variable  causes  some  kind  of  change  in  the  other  variables,  or  dependent 
       variables. 
        
       These variables are those that the researcher has control over. This "control" may involve 
       manipulating  existing  variables  (e.g.,  modifying  existing  methods  of  instruction)  or 
       introducing new variables (e.g., adopting a totally new method for some sections of a class) 
       in the research setting. Whatever the case may be, the researcher expects that the independent 
       variable(s) will have some effect on (or relationship with) the dependent variables. 
        
       When considering  weight  as  a  dependent  variable,  scientists  might  explore  independent 
       variables like calorie consumption, carbohydrate consumption, protein consumption, refined 
       sugar consumption, activity level, or other factors that could reasonably impact how much a 
       person weighs. 
        
       When exploring Microsoft Excel mastery as a dependent variable, researchers could explore 
       the impact of independent variables such as time spent practicing, completion of training, 
       years  of  experience  with  the  application,  or  other  factors  that  could  potentially  impact 
       someone's ability to use Excel effectively. 
        
        
        
       DEPENDENT VARIABLES 
       Just like an independent variable, a dependent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is 
       something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent 
       variable because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied, 
       how much sleep you got the night before you took the test, or even how hungry you were 
       when you took it. Usually when you are looking for a relationship between two things you 
       are trying to find out what makes the dependent variable change the way it does. 
        
       It shows the effect of manipulating or introducing the independent variables. For example, if 
       the independent variable is the use or non-use of a new language teaching procedure, then the 
       dependent  variable  might  be  students'  scores  on  a  test  of  the  content  taught  using  that 
       procedure. In other words, the variation in the dependent variable depends on the variation in 
       the independent variable. 
        
       A researcher is interested in studying how the amount of time spent studying influences test 
       scores. In this example, the amount of studying would be the independent variable and the 
       test scores would be the dependent variable. The test scores vary based on the amount of 
       studying prior to the test. The researcher could change the independent variable by instead 
       evaluating how age or gender influence test scores. 
        
       A health  psychologist wants  to  learn  more  about  how  stress  influences  memory.  In  this 
       example, the dependent variable might be test scores on a memory test and the independent 
       variable might exposure to a stressful task. 
        
       Example in the Hawthorne study in the first experiment that is  the Illumination experiment 
       they wanted to find out the relationship between the impact of light on productivity. In this 
       hypothesis the independent variable is Light and the dependent variable is productivity. 
        
       INTERVENING VARIABLES 
       Intervening variables are hypothetical internal states that are used to explain relationships 
       between  observed variables,  such  independent  and  dependent variables. Intervening 
       variables are not real things. They are interpretations of observed facts, not facts themselves. 
        
       It refers to abstract processes that are not directly observable but that link the independent 
       and  dependent  variables.  In  language  learning  and  teaching,  they  are  usually  inside  the 
       subjects' heads, including various language learning processes which the researcher cannot