Faculty of Science

Syllabus for M. PhiUPh.D Entrance Exam for Science subjects

Research Methodology

I. Scientific Process: Meaning and Definition, a brief history of scientific process.

2. 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.

3. Problem Identification & Formulation - Research Question - Investigation Question -

Measurement Issues - Hypothesis - Qualities of a good Hypothesis -Null Hypothesis & Alternative
Hypothesis. Hypothesis Testing - Logic & Importance.

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

5.Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Qualitative research - Quantitative research - Concept of

measurement, causality, generalization, replication. Merging the two approaches. Concept of
measurement- what is measured? Problems in measurement in research - Validity and Reliability.
Levels of measurement - Nominal, Ordinal, lnterval, Ratio.

6. Sampling Designs: Census and Sample surveys, Different types of sample designs, Characteristics
of good sample design, Techniques of selecting a random sample.

7. Editing, Data Collection and Validation: Primary and secondary data, Methods of collecting
primary and secondary data, Importance and methods of editing and data validation.

8. Hypothesis: Definition, testing of hypothesis, procedures of hypothesis testing, flow diagram for
hypothesis testing, Parametric and non-parametric tests for testing of hypothesis, Limitations of tests
of hypothesis.

9. Paper/Thesis Writing and Report Ceneration: Basic concepts of paper their writing and report
generation, review of literature, Concepts of Bibliography and References, significance of report
writing, steps of report writing, Types of Research reports, Methods of presentation of report.

10. Computer Applications: Fundamentals of computers - definition, types of computers. RAM,

ROM, CPU, I/O devices. Nunrber system - binary, octal and hexadecimal, base conversion. Logic
gates - AND, OR, NOT. 2 Date Structure - atray, stack (push, pop), queue (insert, delete), linked list -
singly, doubly, Operating system - definition, types of OS. Use of software - MS Office - Power
Point, WORD and EXCEL and ACCESS, Computer viruses, Use of Internet- OERs, Open accesses
journals, Journals Data Base, misuse of internet, hacking, Field hazards.

ll.lnstrumentation: Description and principles of (i) Electrophoresis (ii)PCR Machine (iii) Laminar
Flow (iv) Ultracentrifuge (v) Autoclave (vi) Light and electron microscopy, Chromatography and
HPLC (vii) Fluroscence CPI (viii) AAS (ix) Lasers (x) UV- Visible (xi) IR-Raman, Handling of
instruments and precautions.

12. Safety Measures:(i) Lab Safety Measures: Introduction, Code of conduct-while entering in the
lab, while working with the chemicals, while disposal of chemicals, Storage and disposal of chemical
wastes -aqueous wastes, organic wastes and radioactive wastes, Human contribution to reduce
hazardous wastes. (ii) Field Safety Measures: Food security during field trip/expedition, safety
measures during field trip/expedition - self- care, avoid in fields, care from wild animals, hazard
warnings, Safety measures during visit to library and villages, first aid in the fields. sclEN,1
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Model Ouestion Paper-Research Methodolpw i4 Qcience Subiects

r. Answer a.ny two of the following questions in about 15 lines each. (2X5=l0M)

1. Describe aboutresearch design.

2. Explain the important components of a research project.
3. What is the significance of Bibliography?
4. Explain the concepts of research paper writing.

rI. Answer any one of the following questions in about 30 lines. (lxr0=r0M)

5. Explain the differences between qualitative and quantitative research.

6. Write about the philosophy of scientific research.

III Multiple Choice Questions (10X1=10M)

l. Which of the following is not an essential element of report writing?

a. Research Methodology b. Reference c. Conclusion d. None of these

2. What is the purpose of doing research?

a. To identiff problem b. To find the solution c. Both a and b d. None of these

3. One of the following is not a quality of researcher..................

a. Keenness in enquiry b. He must be of alert mind c. His assertion to outstrip the evidence
d. Unison with that of which he is in search

4. The first step of research is.................

a. Finding a problem b. Selecting a problem c. Searching a problem d. Identifring a problem

5. Bibliography given in a research report.........

a. has no relevance to research b. shows vast knowledge of the researcher
c. helps those interested in further research d. all the above

6. Field-work based research is classifi ed as.......................

a. Historical b. Empirical c. Biographical d. Experimental

‐ 7. When a research problem is related to heterogeneous population, the most suitable sampling
method is
a. Lottery Method b. Cluster Sampling c. Stratified Sampling d. Convenient Sampling

8. The process not needed in experimental research is:

a. Conholling b. Observation c. Reference collection d. Manipulation and replication

9. Normal Probability Curve should be

a. Zero skewed b. Positively skewed c. Negatively skewed d. Leptokurtic skewed

10. Research paper is a briefreport ofresearch work based on

a. Primary Data only b. Secondary Data only c. Both Primary and Secondary Data
d. None of the above
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IV Match the Following (5X1=5M)

l. Open Source Software )a)Bar chart

2. Graphic representation )b)HPLC
3. Bibliography )c)LINUX
4. Instrument )d)First Aid
5. Safety Measures )e)Excel
D References

V Fill in the Blanks (5X1=5M)

L An appropriate source to find out descriptive information is

2. Testing hypothesis is a

3. refers to inferring about the whole population based on the observations

made on a smallpart.
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4. is a preferred sampling method for the population with finite size.

5. Evaluation research is concerned with

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