Experts to teach art of qualitative research

HAND-PICKED EXPERTS of the country are all set to divulge their secrets of success and teach the art of qualitative research to scholars engaged in understanding society and social sciences through their studies.

In order to help the researchers improve communication, research skills and to teach them to frame their synopsis as per the latest techniques, Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute (GBPSSI) is organising an Annual Conference-cum-Workshop on 'Qualitative Research Methodology' from February 27.

"The annual conference-cum-workshop, being organised in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), will get under way at the Institute's Seminar Hall and will be attended by research scholars from all over the country including  UP, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi," informed Dr Ajay Kumar, the co-ordinator of the event.

He said that the conference/workshop is the seventh in the annual series and will focus on art of qualitative research: critiques, literature reviews, research designs, methodologies, etc.

"Although by no means an exhaustive series of lectures, the conference offers a glimpse into the range of qualitative research models and methodologies used in social science research. Based on the great response, we have made it a week-long affair this time in place of the three-day event that was held in the past," he added.

About the aims and objectives, Dr Kumar said that the conference-cum-workshop will offer participants an opportunity to explore and practice different qualitative approaches, increase their understanding of the processes involved in doing qualitative research and understand philosophical and critical perspectives in research.

"The training will also help them understand and assess the applicability of particular qualitative methods for particular research approaches and be able to critically appraise primary qualitative research.

To make the effort more productive, we have decided to limit the number of participants to just 35," he said.

Dr Kumar said that the objectives of the event will be fostered through about a dozen orientation lectures by eminent scholars in the field.

Among the resource persons who have already confirmed their participation include Prof Abhijeet Pathak of Sociology Department of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Dr Asha Sarangi from the Centre of Political Studies, New Delhi, Prof Anand Prakash from Delhi University, Dr Devendra Chaubey from School of Languages, JNU, Dr Satish Kumar from the Indian Institute of Health Management Research, Jaipur, Prof Chandrakala Padiya from Feminist Study Centre of Banaras Hindu University, Dr Sharad Kumar of Lucknow University and Prof Yoganand Sinha of Allahabad University.

Dr Ajay Kumar said that efforts are being made to further extend the duration of the annual Conference-cum-Workshop to three months'  partnership with Allahabad University soon.