Trend Report on Research Methodology by T.N. Madan

Research Methodology Research Methodology- -A Trend Report A Trend Report By : T.N Madan Presented By : Prof. Alok Kumar Head Department of Sociology Chaudhary Charan Singh University

1.Introduction 1.Introduction Trend, according to the oxford dictionary, refers to a general direction in which something is developing or changing. Report means to give a spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated. Thus, by, Trend Report of Research Methodology, we mean the direction in which research methodology is going i.e types of research methods, techniques for data collection, and its analysis.

2.Purpose and Scope 2.Purpose and Scope Triloki Nath Madan, commonly, T. N. Madan, an anthropologist in his trend report, covering the period from 1950 to 1970 on Research Methodology, covers three major aspects of methodology : The Problems of scientific methods such as objectivity, experiment, and prediction. The Techniques of Data Collection Concepts and Procedures employed in analyzing data.

3.Three Definitions of Research 3.Three Definitions of Research methodology methodology TN Madan points to three different meanings attached to Research Methodology.These are:- The methodology may refer to theoretical discussions of nature and conduct of social research, for instance, the meaning of scope, nature, and scope of objectivity, experiment, prediction, laws in social science. In a narrow sense, it refers to methods, techniques or tools employed for the collection and processing of data The methodology is also used to designate the concepts and procedures employed in the analysis of data to arrive at conclusions.

Trend Report As we have discussed earlier, this trend report can be divided into three parts as follows:- Part : I Methodology-Basic Consideration Part-II : Techniques of Data Collection and analysis Part : III- Research Techniques in Use

Part : I Methodology-Basic Consideration TN Madan tries to survey the various researches dealingwith the problems of methodology such as : Radhakamal Mukerjee (1960) in The Philosophy of Social Science advancing triangular interaction with multidimensional analysis for sociology. DP Mukerji(1955) emphasized Holism and contextualization as the cardinal principles of sociologist method. AK Saran neither attempts for synthesis nor positivistic sociology, instead he argues for study of tradition. Louis Dumont along with other scholars such as GS Ghurye, Irawati Karwe and KM Kapadia have proposed for Indological approach and literature for Indian Sociology.

Part 1 continues Contrary to earlier views, scholars like FG Bailey(1959), YB Damle(1965) negates any need for distinctive methodology, instead, they suggest that study of Indian societies can be observed with well known empirical techniques such as theories of Talcott Parsons. Similarly, various scholars question the widespread acceptance of Indian Sociologists to research techniques of western social sciences such as JPS Uberoi(1968), Satish Saberwal(1968),S.Shukla(1970). To conclude this part, we can take views of Krishna Daya who argues that social system is neither like a natural object created by nature or man-made works of art, instead they are a third order of creation which has some of the characteristics of both, yet differs from them in essential respects.

Part Part- -II : Techniques of Data Collection II : Techniques of Data Collection and analysis and analysis In this part, TN Madan tries to show how during the period from 1950- 1970, various books, monographs, reports on a seminar, and several papers were published dealing with the techniques of data collection and with the analysis of research materials. (a)Two Books (i) MN Anthropology sciences (1961) shows how fieldwork can be done in tribal communities with the use of particular techniques such as photography (ii) MH Gopal(1964) in his book An Introduction to Research procedure in social sciences tries to discuss social survey as a technique developed in India Basu s field and methods other in social

Part-II continues (b)Two Monographs NA Thooti s(1966) Methods of Social Research is a monograph(i.e a detailed written study of a single specialized subject or an aspect of it) where he discusses fieldwork and application of psycho-analysis to study of tribal cultures GD Berreman s (1962) in his Behind many Masks points out the element of subjectivity which enters while doing ethnographical fieldwork. He also gives the concept of Impression Management

Part-II continues (c) Seminar In a seminar titled Regional Seminar on Techniques of Social Research: Proceedings and papers(1959) scholars like Saksena pleads for interdisciplinary approach whereas K.Chowdhary employs a case study method in the area of Industrial sociology. Adding to this MN Srinivas illustrates how disputes in rural India may be studied.

Part-II continues (d)Various Research Papers Scholars like Lloyd and Susanne Rudolph(1958) in their research paper titled Surveys in India: Field experience in Madras State shows how conducting social research through social surveys is a problem in India. Max Ralis, EA Schuman and RK Golden(1958) in their research paper titled Applicability of Survey Techniques in Northern India show how results of the survey are markedly influenced by interviewers affiliation MN Srinivas(1952) in his essay Social Anthropology and Sociology dwells on the importance of intensive fieldwork, preferably among two or more culturally distinct communities. TK Oommen(1969) draws attention towards the incompatibility of social anthropology research methods in sociology but at the same time, FG Bailey(1962) proposes that techniques of social anthropology can be suitably modified to apply in sociology. C. Radhakrishna Rao(1970) argues for increased use of quantitative data in testing hypothesis and arriving generalization.

Part : III Part : III- - Research Techniques in Use Research Techniques in Use In this part, Madan tries to find out from various published material where scholars discuss what techniques are frequently used, by whom, for what kind of study, and with what measures of success. Two of such discussion are: KA Hasan(1966) states the factors on which selection of specific field research met KC Panchanadikar and J. Panchanadikar(1970) reports various problems faced during the study of the rural community hods depend upon.

Part-III continues Moving forward, TN Madan tries to form some idea of the frequency with which a particular method is applied and the kinds of research situations in which it is employed. An examination of 50 monographs, reports on surveys and books chosen at random reveals that : Study based on Fieldwork i.e interview,observation : 31(or 62%) Study based on secondary source Study employing schedule, sampling and questionnaires: 10(or 20%) Similarly, a scrutiny of 532 sociological research papers from various journals such as sociological bulletin, economic and political weekly, etc show that how an overwhelmingly large population/proportion cases data have been drawn from secondary sources or collected through observation and interview. : 9(or 18%)

(d)Conclusion: Issues and Solution (d)Conclusion: Issues and Solution (a)Issue : He mentions that research materials related to The Techniques of Data Collection are abundant but the same related to the Problems of scientific method and Concepts and Procedures employed in analyzing data are missing. Further, he says that not only is the range of problems discussed limited but the available discussions are also inadequate.

Conclusion continues Conclusion continues (b)Solution/Suggestion : Stressing the need for quantification and the use of statistical concepts, and tools, Madan suggests that social anthropologists and sociologists engaged in research on India might write about their experiences in the use of various techniques. He further recommends that research methodology should find a place in the university curricula, and the problems of advanced research techniques, including the use of computers, should be discussed in summer schools and workshops organized by the UGC and the ICSSR.

Reference : Reference : Madan, TN 1974: Research Methodology: A Trend Report , A survey of Research in sociology and social anthropology,Vol-3,Popular Prakashan,Bombay, pp : 282-305