RESEARCH METHODOLOGY STATISTICS IT & E-METHOD [2004] BY ABDUL MATIN, ICON PUBLICATION PVT. LTD. NEW DELHI Ppxi+280 Price 550 ISBN: 81-88086-10-X [HB] REVIEWD BY Dr.MD.ZAFAR MAHFOOZ NOMANI, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, FACULTY OF LAW, ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY, ALIGARH-202002 [U.P./INDIA]E-MAIL:zafarnoman@rediffmail.com The book under review Research Methodology Statistics IT & E-Method by Abdul Matin, highlights the differences between methodology and methods. It examines in depth inductive, deductive, reproductive and abductive research as mutually exclusive strategies and its implications in research. It dives deep in to the elucidation and explanations of methods of data collection, sampling, basic statistics, data analysis and report writing. One of the novel features of the book is that it contains information about information technology with specific reference to social informatics and social impact assessment (SIA).The author in his preface believes that methodology generally denotes a combination of technology of data collection, namely tools and methods of research such as questionnaire, schedule, interview guide, case study, life history, survey and participant observation methods and content analysis. The philosophy and theory and epistemology of social sciences guiding the conduct of research in the definition and understanding of the problem and the logic of inquiry.. The term methodology refers to the entire research process from problem identification to data analysis in order to outline plan and execution of a research process by pointing out method and methodology. While delineating on research methodology in Chapter I the author candidly says that methodology and methods have often been used synonymously and compounded a lot of confusion to sociologists and anthropologist. The author has drawn attention to define methodology in terms of ontology, epistemology, logic of inquiry and methods. In his elucidation of Durkhiem and Weber''s methodology the author examined the problems in the study of social phenomena and its subjectivity, value, versthen and interpretative understanding. Chapter II deals with research strategies of social surveys, case studies, ethnography, panel study participatory rapid appraisal (PRA). Chapter III elaborates research procedures and major steps involved in social research selection and formulation of research, research design, hypothesis, census and sampling, probability and sampling Chapter IV deals with techniques and methods of data collection, Schedule, questionnaire, interview, observation, scale, content analysis. Chapter V envisages mines of information about data source, selection, analysis, interpretation and report writing. It also deals with the historical sources of statistics India besides delineating on coding, classification, tabulation and report writing graphic representation of data by histogram, frequency, polygon, ogive and pie chart.
Chapter VI accounts the use of statistics and its definition, characteristics, advantages and limitations. In this chapter we find measures of enunciation of measures of variability, standard deviation, correlation coefficient, regression chi square. Chapter VII to IX are deeply incisive and innovative as it apprises the reader about frontiers of information technology and e-methods, internet, hyper text and CMC, social informatics, theory of social systems, theory of information systems, theory of social information systems and semantics of social information in order to give a practical hand out, the author has cited various case studies to buttress his methodology. Chapter VIII is a novel addition to the book as it introduces about the concept of social impact assessment (SIA) to research methodology on the onset of ecological theories and sustainable development. The background and nature, definition, principles, variables, steps and process of SIA are brilliantly thrashed out. These chapters will enhance research toolsor social ecology and environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies. Chapter IX highlights the facets of grounded theory (GT) by offering its introduction, overview, nature, processes and its broad limitations. The book contains an appendix entitled ‘The Year 2100'' wherein the author mentions that the year 2100 is a scale for he purpose of creative sociological imagination to develop one''s own personal picture of how the world might be a century now. The reviewer equally has a pious wish and legitimate hope that the book Research Methodology Statistics It & E-Method by Abdul Matin should also illumine the ontology of research methodology in honing out the strategy of research and sharpening the tool of social inquiry. The get up, printing, jacket of the book is very attractive. The reviewer recommends this book to a mandatory reading s at post graduate and research levels. The publisher may think of bringing a paper back edition of the book for popular reading. The author and reviewer solicit feed back from readers and may be reached by their e-mail Ids: amatinamu@indiatimes.com and zafarnomani@rediffmail.com respectively.