Research Methodology: A Guide to Research Practitioners (Volume 1)

The integral vision of reality envisioned in the Bharatiya Wisdom Tradition is reflected in terms of the interconnection, interrelation, and interdependence of events, phenomena, and processes at all levels. This perspective has also been attested by the findings of modern science-particularly in physics, psychology, and neuroscience-creating clear and compelling motivation to adopt interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches in research studies in general, and in the social sciences in particular.

To accomplish such a research orientation, a comprehensive understanding of research methodology-including the vision of reality, knowledge frameworks, and research methods-is essential. This book aims to address this need.

The book will serve as a useful guide for researcher-practitioners, especially students aspiring to undertake research projects, dissertations, and thesis work at the undergraduate (Honours degree programme), master's, and doctoral levels across various disciplines. The book covers all stages of the research process-from the specification of a research problem to the choice of tools for analysis, estimation, and interpretation of findings-in a simple and lucid manner. It discusses a wide range of research techniques, including the scope and application of Artificial Intelligence, with real-life examples, demonstrations of deriving results through software, exercises for practice, and additional references for readers interested in advanced knowledge.

Across both volumes, the book offers a holistic and future- ready approach to research methodology-one that integrates conceptual foundations, analytical sophistication, philosophical insight, technological tools, and ethical responsibility. By blending the Bharatiya Wisdom Tradition with contemporary research techniques, the two-volume set equips social scientists with the intellectual and practical skills needed to conduct rigorous, reflective, and impactful research in diverse disciplinary contexts.

Dr. Narayan Prasad, Professor of Economics retired from School of Social Sciences of Indira Gandhi National Open University has contributed more than 30 research papers in reputed National and International journals and authored eight books. He taught researh methodology course to MPhil and PhD students from 2008 to 2024. Twenty two students have been awarded PhD degree and eleven M.Phil under his supervision. Human well being, Human Development, Research Methodology have been his areas of interest. Prof. Prasad was awarded fellowhip by UGC for visiting France to conduct a research study and invited to deliver lectures on Vedanta at various places including New York, Washington and Los Angeles in the USA.

Email id: nps20@rediffmail.com

Dr. Nausheen Nizami, an IGNOU alumnus, is currently Associate Professor and Head, Department of Economics, School of Liberal Studies, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhi Nagar. Her active areas of research interest are: Impact of Climate change and Industry, labour markets and Decent Work, employment and nature of work in industries, Human Wellbeing, consumption behaviour and behavioural analysis. Her areas of specialization are Labour, Human Development, Econometrics and Applied Research Methodology. She is passionate about Research and Teaching and is currently member of Research Advisory Group of IOSH, UK and Chairperson-Board of Studies in Economics at PDEU. She has also served as Visiting Professor in University of La Sabana, Colombia."

Email id: nausheen.economics@gmail.com

Dr. Sonica Singhi, an IGNOU alumnus, is Associate Professor of Economics in Lakshmibai College (University of Delhi). She was awarded Gold Medal in M.A. Economics from Panjab University, Chandigarh, M.Sc. in Econometrics from the University of Nottingham, U.K. and Ph. D from IGNOU. Her research interests lie in macroeconomics, monetary economics, and applied econometrics, with a particular focus on macroeconomics, financial econometrics, and time-series econometrics. Her research papers have been published in reputed journals including those indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, ABDC, and International Peer Reviewed Journals. She has been invited to deliver several talks on contemporary Indian and international economic issues at multiple academic and professional platforms. She has received the Best Paper Award twice at international conferences on Indian Economy and Contemporary Challenges.

Email id: sonica@lb.du.ac.in