UNIVERSITY OF KERALA
DEPARTMENT OF LAW
Ph.D programme: Course Work structure
(2016 admissions onwards)
Ph.D programme: Course Work structure
Course code Title of the Course
LAW-C1 Research Methodology
LAW-C2 To be framed for each Candidate
LAW-C3 To be framed for each Candidate
SYLLABUS FOR RESEARCH METHODOLOGY COURSE IN LAW COURSE CODE
: LAW-C1
AIM
The aim of the course is to help M.Phil students on how to embark on their research.
The paper will guide them through the process of thinking about the links between
theory legal research, cases and data and help the doctoral researchers To turn their
initial plausible ideas into convincing arguments. It aims to help the doctoral researchers
to have a pragmatic approach to research.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
• To understand the meaning and objectives and types of research.
• To understand the research process and to study in detail the research process and
various steps involved.
• To understand the essentials of good legal writing and report writing.
COURSE CONTENT MODULE I
Purpose and objectives of research- purpose of legal research-identification of research
problem- setting up of hypothesis-role of hypothesis in scientific investigations-
types ,sources and characteristics of hypothesis- relevance of hypothesis in legal
research- interdisciplinary research- pure and applied research
MODULE II
Research I law-legal research methodology- doctrinal and non-doctrinal research-
deductive reasoning- role of analogy in legal research- analysis of cases- interpretation
of statutory provisions- identification of materials for doctrinal research-techniques for
organization of materials in legal research on line primary sources for legal research-
MODULE III
Methods of Data Collection-primary and secondary sources –uses of libraries ,indexes
and bibliographies-formal and informal settings for data collections- main forms of data
collection-social surveys and their objectives-case study-questionnaire-interview
methods-analysis and interpretation of data-classification of data
MODULE IV
Concepts related to research –causality-chaos theory- codes and coding
constructionism/ constructivism-content analysis-critical theory-delphi method-
description-determinism-observation- variables- extraneous variable, dependent
variables and independent variable- constructs-socio-legal survey-
MODULE V
Plagiarism-techniques to avoid plagiarism- techniques to avoid plagiarism- initiatives
taken by UGC to prevent plagiarism- balancing descriptive and prescriptive writing-
report writing- facts that have to be taken into account in legal research- causality
Techniques of presentation-style of presentation- footnote writing styles - relevance of
Bibliography, appendix and index-preparation of drafts and final version of the thesis-
typing printing and submission of thesis- factors to be taken into
consideration in report writing-focus on necessary facts and rules-
synthesising the precedent- doctrinally sound and good policy based
prescription-confronting other side arguments and focusing on argument-
connecting border parallel and subsidiary issues-
REFERENCES
• BRUCE L. BERG, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL
SCIENCES (2001).
• KOTHARIC.R., RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: METHODS AND TECHNIQUES
(NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL PVT. LTD, 2013)
• DAVID L MORGAN, INTEGRATING QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE
METHODS SAGE (2014).
• PAT BAZELEY, QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES SAGE
(2ND
ED. 2014).
• RANJITH KUMAR, RESEARCH METHODOLOGY SAGE TEXTS (2014).
• ANWARUL YAQIN LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING METHODS LEXIS NEXIS
(2008).
• ROBERT WATT, FRANCIS JOHNS, CONCISE LEGAL RESEARCH, 6TH ED
UNIVERSAL LAW PUBLISHING COMPANY (2012)
• PROF THUSHAR KANTHI SAHA, TEXT BOOK ON LEGAL METHODS, LEGAL
SYSTEMS AN RESEARCH 2ND ED UNIVERSAL LAW PUBLISHERS (2015).
• VIJAY K. GUPTA, DECISION MAKING IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA (A
JURIMETRIC STUDY) – ALTERNATIVES IN JUDICIAL RESEARCH (1995).
SYLLABUS
Research and Publication Ethics (RPE)
Compulsory Course proposed by UGC for all PhD students
for pre-registration Coursework
Paper II: Research and Publication Ethics; Course Code:
CPE-RPE; Course credits: 2
