Meaning of Legal Research Methodology

 Systematic study or
investigation
 Existing facts or
knowledge
 With object
 To find truth or reality
 Legal rules, principles,
concepts, theories,
doctrine, decided
cases, legal institution,
legal problem, issues
or questions
Objective of Legal Research
 Nature, Scope and purpose
 To Examine legal principles and precedents as
established by courts.
 Nature and composition of legal institution
 Relevancy
 Weaknesses of existing law
 Comparative analysis
 Advantages or disadvantages of law –
 Actual fact situation
 Requirement of special enactment
 To discover new facts or verify old facts or
extend knowledge or develop a theory or arrive
at a general conclusion.
 Authoritative work
 Approaches to Legal Research

Doctrin Empiri
al cal
Researc Resear
h ch
Field study,
Libraries, cause and
archives and effect, ideas,
other data- views,
bases. attitudes or
values.
 Types of Legal Studies
• Descriptive and Exploratory
studies
• Explanatory studies
• Analytical or Critical studies
• Historical studies
• Comparative studies
 Deduction ‘Top down’
Theor
y
Hypothe
sis
Observati
on
Confirmat
ion
 Induction ‘Bottom up’

Theory

Tentative
Hypothesis

Pattern

Observation
Selection of the Research Topic
Sources
Basic consideration in the selection of topic
Genuine interest to researcher
 Research design
 Title of the research project
 Introduction  A hypothesis is an
unproven proposition
 Research question
or possible solution
 Hypothesis to a problem.
 Literature Review  Hypothetical
statements assert
 Objective of the study possible answers to
 Research Methodologyresearch questions.
 A hypothesis... in its
 Scope of the study simplest... is a guess.
 Significance of the study
William G. Zikmund,
Business Research
 Contents/ Chapters
Methods (6th edition)
 Tables and BibliographyOhio: South Western,
Writing Dissertations and Theses

• Organization of • Writing style

• Clarity
the Research
• Plain Language
Work • Gender neutral
• Outline language
• Necessary steps before
• Chapters
finalizing the work
• Headings/ • Revising
Sections • Editing
• Reference citation
• Paragraphs
• Conclusion
• Sentences
 Socio Legal Research

• Exploratory studies • Longitudinal

• Descriptive studies studies
• Explanatory studies  Panel studies
• Casual studies  Cohort studies
• Basic Research  Trend studies
• Applied Research • Predictive studies
• Evaluation studies • Quantitative
• Pilot studies Research
• Cross- Sectional • Qualitative
studies Research
 Research Design in Socio- Legal
Research
Title of the research project
Introduction
Research question
Hypothesis
Literature Review
Objective of the study
Research Methodology
Scope of the study
Significance of the study
Contents/ Chapters
Tables and Bibliography
 Methodology
• Type of data needed • Note of formulation of
• Methods of data Hypothesis
collection • Independent and
Dependent variables
• Socio- cultural
• Verified or tested
context of the study
• Concepts and
• Place or geographical
Comparison in
area to be covered by Hypothesis should be
the study clearly stated
• Type of sampling to be • Types of Hypothesis
used  One- directional
• Data Coding and  Two- directional
Analysis  Null Hypothesis
 Social survey research
Socio
method
Socio
• Interview graphic
characteri
• Questionnaire
stics

Attitudes

Behaviour
Observation Method of Data Collection
Selection

•Participant
Observation
•Non-
participant
Observation
Major steps in observation research
Field work preparation
Interview Method of Data Collection
Procedure in conducting the interview
Question
Clarifying
Leading
Recording
Record the
Questions
as
Issues
Responses
Interview
Worded
 Advantages

Greater Flexibility

High
Probing Participation

Possibility of
Length
Obtaining High
of Interview Responses
Disadvantages

Interview Bias
Advantages of Telephonic
Interviewing
 Disadvantages
Limited Duration
 Questionnaire Method
of Data Collection
Relevance of the Study
 Open- ended questions
Advantages Disadvantages

 Freedom to express  Wide variety to

 Beneficial for answers
exploratory research  Problem in analysis
 Too many potential & tabulation
answers  Requires superior
 Complex issues writing skills
 Better understanding  Too general in
to draw inferences & nature to
conclusions understand
 More time & effort.
 Close- ended questions
Advantages Disadvantages
 Precise Fixed answers or
predetermined forced answers
answers Lack of adding
 Coding, comments by
comparison, respondents
tabulation & Difficult to
analysis ascertain the
becomes easy correct
 Less reluctant to understanding
answer of question
 Question wording
Sensitive
Leading
Double
Order of
and
barrelled
questions
questions
Embarrassing
questionsquestion
 Mailed questionnaire

Advantages Disadvantages
• Geographical • Limited
Flexibility Usefulness
• Locating
• Lack of
Respondents
• Cost
Flexibility
• Time Saving • Low response
• Respondent rate
Convenience • Problem of
Cover Letter
• Greater Anonymity Unanswered
Survey Sponsorship
• Interview bias questions
Monetary Incentives • Possibility of
Follow- ups others answering
 Sampling
• Nature of sampling
• Sampling in Quantitative
Research
• Advantages in Sampling
• Technical terms used in
Sampling
• Sampling Element or Unit
• Population
• Sampling Frame
 Drawing a sample from the sampling frame

• Sources of Sampling Frame

• Types of Samples •Sampling error
Probability Sampling•Sampling size
Simple Random Sampling
Systematic Sampling
Stratified Sampling
Cluster Sampling
Non- Probability Samples
Convenience Sampling
Purposive Sampling
Snow ball Sampling
Quota Sampling
 Data Preparation and Analysis
Qualitative Data Analysis
Quantitative Data Analysis
Editing
Handling Blank Responses
Dealing with Don’t Know Responses
Field Editing Appropriatene
ss
In- house Editing
Exhaustivenes
Coding
s
Mutual
Exclusivity
Item no Variable Respons
name e
1. Identification
no.
2. Offender’s
Name
3. DOB
4. Prior Cases of
arrest Domestic
violence
5. Gender
6. Relationship
Writing a Socio-Legal Research Report