Research Methods Adopted by Social Science Ph.D. Scholars: An Empirical Study of Indian Universities

Abstract

This study examines the research methods adopted by research scholars (Ph.D. – Doctor of Philosophy) in the social sciences and allied disciplines. This study was conducted in selected universities in India. As we know, there is a systematic research methodology for social science researchers. The research scholars follow the research methodology that was suggested by research supervisor. This study assesses the methodology used by the research scholars in the universities. A mixed method research approach and descriptive research design were adopted for the present study. the study adopted purposive sampling method. Data were collected from 59 research scholars through a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. The data were analysed using SPSS and MS Excel. The findings show that the majority (61%) of the research scholars adopted mixed-method research approaches in their research work. The descriptive research design was the most (45.8%) commonly adopted design by social science research scholars. A majority (64.4%) of scholars used self-developed data collection tools. Most studies (45.8%) were confined to one district. The majority (85%) of the scholars took 4 years or more to complete their Ph.D. and this is very high in the state universities. Limited use of an advanced data analysis software package by the social science researchers was also observed. The study found that the majority of the respondents expressed good or excellent satisfaction with their research work conducted in their Ph.D. There is a need for regular supervision, training in research methods, and access to research software for the research scholars. The findings provide useful insights for research scholars, guides, and universities. The study contributes to improving the quality of doctoral research in the social sciences and policy improvement.