Research Methodology and Publication Ethics for Law and Humanities

( RES 804)

Course Credit Structure : 4-0-0

Contact Hours : 60
Course Instructor In charge : Professor Jagdish H Godihal
Course Instructor : Dr. GM Mamatha and Dr. Gongadi Hampamma

Course Content (Syllabus):

Module – 1: Introduction to Research and Review of Literature

Review of Literature: Meaning: Need, Objectives, Sources Functions How to Conduct the Review
of Literature, Hints for the Review of Literature, Reporting the Review of Literature. (Analysis
Level, 4 Hours)

Module – 2: Statistics and Computer Applications in Research

Introduction to Statistics – Probability Theories ‐ Conditional Probability, Poisson distribution,

Binomial Distribution and Properties of Normal Distributions, Estimates of Means and
Proportions; Chi-Square Test, t-test, ANOVA, Principal Component, and Factor Analysis.
Standard deviation Coefficient of variations. Correlation and Regression Analysis.
(Analysis Level, 8 Hours)

Module – 3: Data Analytics and Visualization

Sources and nature of data, classification of data (structured, semi-structured, unstructured),

characteristics of data, introduction to Big Data platform, need for data analytics, the evolution of
analytic scalability, analytic process and tools, analysis vs. reporting, modern data analytic tools,
applications of data analytics. data preparation, model planning, model building, communicating
results, and operationalization. Hierarchical Indexing, Combining and Merging Data Sets,
Reshaping and Pivoting.
Time Series Data Analysis: Date and Time Data Types and Tools, Time series Basics, date Ranges,
Frequencies and Shifting, Time Zone Handling, Periods and Periods Arithmetic, Resampling and
Frequency Conversion, Moving Window Functions.
Visualization: visual data analysis techniques, interaction techniques, systems, and applications.
Creating and Editing Charts in Excel and SPSS (Bar chart, Bar plot, Box plot, Histogram,
Scatter Plot, Line Graph, etc.), Python visualization tools.
(Evaluation Level, 18 Hours)
Module – 4: Ethics and Scientific Conduct

Ethics: Definition, Moral Philosophy, Nature of Moral Judgments and Reactions. Scientific
Conduct: Ethics concerning Science and Research, Intellectual Honesty, and Research Integrity.
Scientific Misconduct: Falsification, Fabrication, and Plagiarism (FFP). Redundant Publications:
Duplicate and Overlapping Publications, Salami Slicing. Selective Reporting and
Misinterpretation of Data. Publication Ethics: Definition, Introduction, and Importance. Open
Access Publication, Databases: Indexing Databases, Citation databases: Web of Science, Scopus;
Research Metrics: Impact Factor, Metrics: h-Index, g-Index, i10 Index, Altmetrics; Software
Tools: Turnitin, Urkund and other open source software tools.
(Comprehension Level, 10 Hours)

Module 5: Introduction to IBM SPSS Statistics as a Research Tool

Objectives of Legal Research and its essential characteristics, Importance of Legal Research and
its utility, Process of Legal Research, Inter-disciplinary approach to Legal Research, Types of
Legal Research, Tools, and techniques of data collection in Legal Research, Analysis and
presentation of data in Legal Research.
Language, Study of language, Chomsky's notions, Acquisition and teaching of language- ELT -
fundamental principles, ELT in India, characteristic features, existing trends, paradigm shift, use
of technology and its limitations. (Evaluation Level, 10 Hours)

Module 6: Introduction to Statistical Analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics with Relevant Case
Study
Significance Legal Research Design, Style, and format of report writing in Legal Research,
Referencing and citation in Legal Research, Ethical aspect of Legal Research, Role of statistical
packages in Legal Research.
Literary Criticism- function & principles- Modern and Post-Modern Criticism- Certain
Movements and Terms in Literature Classicism, Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, Realism,
Naturalism, Social/psychological Realism, Cultural Studies- Feminist Criticism (Evaluation
Level, 10 Hours)
Self-learning pedagogy
Self-learning Topics : Preparation of manuscript for Publication of Research paper,
Presenting a paper in the scientific seminar,
Participative Learning : Statement of the Problem, Writing Review of Literature,
Hypothesis testing, Generalization, and Interpretation Modeling.
Problem Based Learning : Case studies, Correlation, Regression, ANOVA, Principal
Component and Factor Analysis.
REFERENCE MATERIALS:
(i) Textbook(s)

T1: Kothari C.R. and Gavrav Garg (2019). Research Methodology: Methods and
Techniques. New Age International Publishers, New Delhi.
T2: Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner's Guide to Doing a Research
Project by Uwe Flick Second Edition, e-book.
T3: P. Chaddah, (2018) Ethics in Competitive Research: Do not get scooped; do not
get plagiarized, ISBN:978-9387480865
T4: Beall, J. (2012). Predatory publishers are corrupting open access. Nature, 489
(7415), 179-179. https://doi.org/10.1038/489179a

(ii) Reference Book(s)

R1 National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute

of Medicine. (2009). On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in
Research: Third Edition. National Academies Press.

R2: Resnik, D. B. (2011). What is ethics in research & why is it important. National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 1-10. Retrived from
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/reserach/bioethics/whatis/index.cfm

R3: Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Ethics in Science Education, Research
and Governance (2019), ISBN:978-81-939482-1-7.
http://www.insaindia.red.in/pdf/Ethics_Book.pdf

(iii) Additional web-based resources

W1: swayam course - https://www.classcentral.com/course/swayam-introduction-to-
research-5221/course/swayam-introduction-to-research-5221
(Web) https://swayam.gov.in/nd1_noc20_ge22/preview
(iv) Suggested Readings:
1. Schaum's Quick Guide to Writing Great Research Papers
2. A Guide to APA Referencing Style
3. Publication Manual of the APA 6th Ed
4. Scopus Content Coverage Guide
5. UGC Plagiarism Regulations 2017