Legal Research Methodology

Unit I — Concept of Research

1.1 Meaning, definition, features of legal research. · 1.2 Objectivity of legal research · 1.3 Ethics of legal research · 1.4 Types of legal research 1.4.1 Doctrinal or traditional or non empirical legal research. 1.4.2 Empirical or non-doctrinal legal research

• Social Research — Nature and Purpose, Types of methodology — comparative, descriptive, diagnostic, exploratory, experimental

Unit 2 — Research Design

2.1 Exploratory legal research design · 2.2 Experimental legal research design · 2.3 Descriptive legal research.

Unit 3 — Methods and Methodology

3.1 Research questions · 3.2 Hypothesis · 3.3 Sampling · 3.4 Inductive & deductive methods · 3.5 Quantitative & qualitative legal research

• Hypothesis — Conditions of good hypothesis — kinds of hypothesis

Unit 4 — Data Collection & analysis

4.1 Source of data. · 4.2 Methods of data collection for quantitative & qualitative legal research 4.2.1 Interview 4.2.2 Schedule 4.2.3 Observation 4.2.4 Case Study 4.2.5 Focus group discussion · 4.3 Content Analysis

• Tools of data collection — observation, interview, questionnaire and schedule, case study, sampling, Stages of data collection — conceptualizing problem, laying down hypothesis, defining the variables, choosing the tools of data collection, phase of data collection, data analysis

Unit 5 — Report Writing

5.1 Characteristics of good legal research report · 5.2 Guidelines on preparation of foot notes & end notes · 5.3 References · 5.4 Bibliography

• Legal writing — Article and Case Comment, Editing of a Law Journal