CHRIST (Deemed to University), Bangalore

School of Law

Syllabus for
Doctor of Philosophy (Law)
Academic Year  (2020)

 
1 Semester - 2020 - Batch
Course Code
Course
Type
Hours Per
Week
Credits
Marks
RLW131 METHODS OF RESEARCH IN LEGAL STUDIES - 4 4 100
    

        

    
Introduction to Program:

Ph.D program in Law is focused towards legally associated social problems with the intention of providing social Justice. It aims to equip research scholars with critical and analytical ability by providing them theoretical and empirical exposure through comprehensive course work. The research in law enables the scholars to pursue research in the front line areas of basic law as well as interdisciplinary areas of legal research . Thus Ph.D. programme produces professional researchers and future leaders in Law.   

Assesment Pattern
Examination And Assesments

Introduction to Program:

Ph.D program in Law is focused towards legally associated social problems with the intention of providing social Justice. It aims to equip research scholars with critical and analytical ability by providing them theoretical and empirical exposure through comprehensive course work. The research in law enables the scholars to pursue research in the front line areas of basic law as well as interdisciplinary areas of legal research . Thus Ph.D. programme produces professional researchers and future leaders in Law.  

Assesment Pattern
Examination And Assesments

RLW131 - METHODS OF RESEARCH IN LEGAL STUDIES (2020 Batch)

Total Teaching Hours for Semester:60
No of Lecture Hours/Week:4
Max Marks:100
Credits:4

Course Objectives/Course Description

  

This course is consisting of four units. Unit 1 deals with introduction to legal research, identification and formulation of Research Problem. Unit 2 deals with Preparation of Research Design. Unit 3 explains about collection and analysis of data and Unit 4 deals with preparation of research report and specific legal writings

The course will provide students with a complete understanding of research methodology adopted in conducting legal research. The course will also focus on developing the legal writing skills of students in order to enable students to write concisely and precisely. This course intends to acquaint the students of law with scientific methods of investigation into law.

Course Outcome

At the end of the course scholars will be able to:

1. explain   in detail about legal research methodology

2. formulate research problem

3. prepare a proper  research design

4. collect data

5. to cite various sources, and

6. draft a research proposal
Unit-1
Teaching Hours:15
INTRODUCTION, IDENTIFICATION AND FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
  

Nature, objectives, aims and significance of Legal research

Types of Legal Research

Current trends in Legal Research

How is legal research different from research in social sciences?

Meaning & Definition of Research Problem

Steps in problem identification

Formulation of Legal Research Problem

Unit-2
Teaching Hours:15
PREPARATION OF RESEARCH DESIGN
  

Component Parts of a Legal Research Design

Framing of Hypothesis and Research Questions

Literature review and its significance

Salient Features of a Research Design

Delimitation, Plan and Proposed Methodology

Unit-3
Teaching Hours:15
COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
  

Steps to Select the Data Base for Research

Assemblage of Appropriate Techniques for Data Collection

Suitability and Selection of Tools for Research Operation

Meaning, Quality and Nature of analysis in Legal Research

 

 

Unit-4
Teaching Hours:15
PREPARATION OF RESEARCH REPORT AND SPECIFIC LEGAL WRITINGS
  

Features of a Legal Research Report

Quality of Theoretical Descriptions and Statistical Presentations

Modes of Citation and Elucidation

Essentials and Kinds of Legal Writing: Research Papers, Project Reports and Thesis Writing

Need of E-Resources in Legal Research

Tools and Techniques of writing and publishing of research paper.

 

Text Books And Reference Books:

1.      Jain. S. N. “Legal Research and Methodology”, Journal of the Indian Law Institute, 14:4 (Oct. – Dec. 1972) 487-500.

2.      Grossman, Legal research: historical foundations of the electronic age ([edited by], New York: Oxford University Press, 1994)

3.      Bajpai S.R., “Methods of Social Survey Research”, Kanpur, Kitabghar (1972).

4.      Mike McConville and Wing Hong Chui (Eds) Research Methods for Law (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press: 2012).

5.      The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Research (Oxford University Press: Oxford:2012).

6.      S.K. Verma and M. Afzal Wani (Eds.) Legal Research and Methodology, ILI Publication 2nd edition 2001 (2015 Reprint)

7.      John W. Creswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Sage Publications, (2002)

8.      Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing), University of Chicago Press (2008)

9.      Grade J Williams and Hatt K Paul, Methods in Social Research, Mc Gaw-Hill Book Company, London- Singapore (1985) reprint

10.  Kothari C.K. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, Wilsey Eastern Limited, New Delhi (2009)
Essential Reading / Recommended Reading

1.      Jain. S. N. “Legal Research and Methodology”, Journal of the Indian Law Institute, 14:4 (Oct. – Dec. 1972) 487-500.

2.      Grossman, Legal research: historical foundations of the electronic age ([edited by], New York: Oxford University Press, 1994)

3.      Bajpai S.R., “Methods of Social Survey Research”, Kanpur, Kitabghar (1972).

4.      Mike McConville and Wing Hong Chui (Eds) Research Methods for Law (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press: 2012).

5.      The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Research (Oxford University Press: Oxford:2012).

6.      S.K. Verma and M. Afzal Wani (Eds.) Legal Research and Methodology, ILI Publication 2nd edition 2001 (2015 Reprint)

7.      John W. Creswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Sage Publications, (2002)

8.      Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing), University of Chicago Press (2008)

9.      Grade J Williams and Hatt K Paul, Methods in Social Research, Mc Gaw-Hill Book Company, London- Singapore (1985) reprint

10.  Kothari C.K. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, Wilsey Eastern Limited, New Delhi (2009)
Evaluation Pattern

SCHEME OF VALUATION:

CIA I – Class Test / Assignment / Presentation            – 10%

CIA II – Mid Semester Examination                                  – 25%

CIA III – Research Topic                                                     – 10%

Attendance                                                                            – 05%

End Semester Examination                                                – 50%

Total                                                                                         100%