JNTUK Pre Ph.D Research Methodology Syllabus Paper I

The objective of this course is to brush-up the concepts related to research plans and methodologies
generally employed to accomplish research goals. The idea is to provide paramilitaries with various
quantitative and qualitative techniques that can be used while solving research questions.

UNIT-I

Foundations of Research: Meaning, Objectives, Motivation, Utility. Concept of theory, empiricism, deductive and inductive theory. Characteristics of scientific method – Understanding the language of research – Concept, Construct, Definition, Variable

Research Process: Problem Identification & Formulation – Research Question – Investigation
Question – Measurement Issues – Hypothesis – Qualities of a good Hypothesis –Null Hypothesis
& Alternative Hypothesis. Hypothesis Testing – Logic & Importance

UNIT-II

Research Design: Concept and Importance in Research – Features of a good research design –
Exploratory Research Design – concept, types and uses, Descriptive Research Designs – concept,
types and uses. Experimental Design: Concept of Independent & Dependent variables

Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Qualitative research – Quantitative research – Concept
of measurement, causality, generalization, replication. Merging the two approaches

UNIT-III

Measurement: Concept of measurement– what is measured? Problems in measurement in
research – Validity and Reliability. Levels of measurement – Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio

Sampling: Concepts of Statistical Population, Sample, Sampling Frame, Sampling Error, Sample
Size, Non Response. Characteristics of a good sample. Probability Sample – Simple Random
Sample, Systematic Sample, Stratified Random Sample & Multi-stage sampling. Determining size
of the sample – Practical considerations in sampling and sample size.

UNIT-IV

Data Analysis: Data Preparation – Univariate analysis (frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts,
percentages), Bivariate analysis – Cross tabulations and Chi-square test including testing
hypothesis of association

Interpretation of Data and Paper Writing – Layout of a Research Paper, Journals in Computer
Science, Impact factor of Journals, When and where to publish? Ethical issues related to
publishing, Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism

UNIT-V

Use of Encyclopedias, Research Guides, Handbook etc., Academic Databases for Computer
Science Discipline

Use of tools / techniques for Research: methods to search required information effectively,
Reference Management Software like Zotero/Mendeley, Software for paper formatting like
LaTeX/MS Office, Software for detection of Plagiarism