Research Methodology

Research: Meaning, Types & Characteristics

  • Research: meaning, definitions, characteristics & types (pure, applied, descriptive, analytical, exploratory, explanatory)

Research Design: Elements & Framework

  • Research design: elements (research question, objective, hypothesis, data, method, analysis)

Defining Research Problems & Problem Statement

  • Defining research problems: sources, criteria for good problem, problem statement formulation

Literature Review: Types, Databases & Process

  • Literature review: purpose, types (narrative, systematic, meta-analysis), databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar)

Identifying Research Gap: Types of Gaps

  • Identifying research gap: research gap vs research problem; types of gaps (knowledge, methodological, population)

Framing Research Objectives: SMART Criteria

  • Framing research objectives: general vs specific objectives; SMART criteria

Hypothesis: Types & Basis

  • Hypothesis: concept, types (null, alternative, directional, non-directional); basis of hypothesis

Theoretical, Conceptual & Analytical Frameworks

  • Research framework: theoretical, conceptual & analytical frameworks; operationalization of variables

Primary Data Collection Methods

  • Primary data: methods of collection — observation, questionnaire, interview, FGD, PRA, measurement

Secondary Data: Sources & Evaluation Criteria

  • Secondary data: published sources, census, government reports, remote sensing data; evaluation criteria

Questionnaire: Types, Design & Pretesting

  • Questionnaire: types (structured, semi-structured, unstructured); question types; pretesting; Likert scale

Schedule vs Questionnaire: Key Differences

  • Schedule vs questionnaire: key differences; use in geographical surveys

Dissertation Structure: Abstract to Conclusion

  • Dissertation/thesis writing: structure (abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion)

Citations & Bibliography: APA, MLA & Chicago Styles

  • Citations & bibliography: APA, MLA, Chicago styles; in-text vs footnote citation

Plagiarism: Types, Detection & Academic Integrity

  • Plagiarism: types (verbatim, mosaic, self-plagiarism); detection tools (Turnitin, iThenticate); academic integrity

Fieldwork in Geography: Significance & Types

  • Fieldwork in geography: significance, types (intensive, extensive, reconnaissance, monitoring)

Study Area Selection: Criteria & Pre-Field Preparation

  • Study area selection: criteria (relevance, accessibility, representativeness, feasibility)
  • Pre-field preparation: literature review, map study, equipment checklist, ethical clearance, local contacts

Field Techniques: Observation, Interview & Transect Survey

  • Field techniques: participant observation; structured & unstructured questionnaire surveys
  • Interview methods: in-depth interview, semi-structured interview, key informant interview
  • Transect survey: concept, purpose, recording observations along a line

Sketch Maps, Field Photography & Video Recording

  • Sketch maps & field photographs/video recording: documentation techniques

Post-Field Processing: Data Entry, Coding & Cleaning

  • Post-field processing: data entry, coding, transcription, cleaning

Quantitative Data Analysis: Statistics, GIS & Regression

  • Quantitative data analysis: descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, regression, GIS analysis

Qualitative Data Analysis: Thematic Coding & Content Analysis

  • Qualitative data analysis: thematic coding, content analysis, grounded theory, discourse analysis

Mixed Methods: Triangulation & Sequential Designs

  • Mixed methods: triangulation, sequential & concurrent designs

Practical: Research Proposal Writing, Literature Review, Gap Mapping

  • Practical: Identify a research problem; develop keywords; Google Scholar search strategy; annotated bibliography; literature review paragraph writing; research gap mapping; research proposal (title, objectives, hypothesis, methodology, expected output) writing

Supplementary Topics: Research Methodology

No specific topics listed.