Research

BPHES’ CSRD-ISWR Ph. D. Research Centre

CSRD-ISWR had been a Ph. D centre since 1991. Admission for Ph. D Research centre for the academic year 2022 shall start soon.

 Savitribai-Phule-Pune-University-Ph-D-admission-rules-and-procedureDownload

MSW RESEARCH GUIDELINE 2021-22

Research dissertation is an essential component of MSW curriculum of Savitribai Phule Pune University.  Research project (Paper No. G-14) carries 200 marks (6 credits).

1. General Guidelines for Research Dissertation (200 marks, Total 06 credits)

1.1 MSW students are required to select an appropriate topic for their research dissertation during the second / third semester and complete the dissertation and submit it to the Institute before 31st March, 2022 or the date decided by the Institute.

1.2. Completion and submission of the Research Dissertation is a pre-condition for appearing at Semester IV Examination. In any case no extension will be permissible for submission.

1.3. The candidate must bring spiral or hard bound copy of dissertation in internal as well as external viva voice examination of IV^th semester.

1.4. There shall be only one Dissertation of 200 marks at MSW –II year and it shall be submitted to the University through the Head of the Institution, recommended for submission after Certification and approval of the concerned Research Guide/ faculty supervisor.

1.5. The research dissertation will be assessed and recommended for submission by the Faculty Guide/ internal and external examiner. Combined passing internal, external and viva examination in research shall be (50%) out of total marks.

Assessment of Dissertation	Dissertation Marks
Internal Guide or Examiners or Specialization wise presentation / open defence	25
External Examiner – Assessment of Dissertation	150
Viva voce by External Examiner on Research	25
Total	200
Aggregate / combined Passing Marks (50%)	100

A candidate failing in research dissertation will have to re-write and submit the revised dissertation in the same / or subsequent academic session within a period of three months after the declaration of results.

2. Prescribed standard for Research Dissertation:

2.1. The topic of Research dissertation must be related to the area of Social Work. Ethical norms and concerns in research, plagiarism policy of the institute and University, must be adopted.

2.2. In case of dissertation/research, quantitative analysis is essential. Qualitative data may be incorporated. The candidate must justify the design and follow the scientific process and methods of Social Work Research.

2.3. Minimum 50 respondents are required for collecting field data.

3. Important Dates (research project)

Orientation on research dissertation	08 Nov 2021
Topic presentation & finalization by students	10 Nov 2021
RD preparation of students	12 Nov 2021
Research tools designing & finalization by students	30 Nov 2021
Data collection	Dec. 2021
Data entry / master chart preparation	28 Feb 2022
SPSS workshop / tabulation	07 Mar 2022
Chapter writing / submission of draft chapters	14 Mar 2022
Final submission of the bound research reports (3 copies)	31 Mar 2022

4. Prescribed standard for Research Dissertation
   • The analysis of the data has to be presented in the form of a report. It is suggested that you prepare the plan for draft dissertation in which you may have about five to eight chapters. Your First chapter includes Introduction, Review of literature, Research design and the Profile of the area of study. ‘Introduction’ spells out the what, why and how of the topic you would like to investigate. ‘Research Design’ provides the methodology as well as the ‘review of literature’ pertaining to studies conducted in similar and / or same area, specifically showing the fresh knowledge and information you wish to add to the study area through your own research. References are to be given in literature review in line with the text in APA format (author, year: page number). Finally the introductory chapter includes the profile of the geographical area of the study.
   • Chapter two could perhaps provide information regarding the socio economic profile of the beneficiaries or respondents. Chapter three to five could be based on data-interpretation focusing on one or two objectives in each chapter. Case studies and data collected through focused group discussion may be incorporated in each data based chapter.
   • The sixth or the last chapter will give the summary of the findings, observations and provide suggestions or recommendation.
   • Bibliography in the APA format [Author (YEAR) Book, Place: Publisher] must be given at the end. Minimum 10 references must be there in the bibliography section. Interview schedule, Focus group discussion guide, observation guide and any psychological test used with the manual are to be given in the annexure. Any additional and useful information including photographs collected from primary and secondary sources may also be given in the annexure.
   • The dissertation must have a Cover page (Title page), Certificate from Director, Certificate from Research Guide, Declaration of Student, Acknowledgement, and List of contents, tables, graphs/ charts.
   • The dissertation may be submitted as hard bound / spiral bound copies. Students need to prepare at least three original copies of the dissertation– two for submission to the Institute and one for personal use.
   • There will be internal as well as external evaluation of the dissertation by means of students’ presentation / dissertation viva / poster presentation
   • The last Date for Submission of the final report is 31st March 2022. The dissertation you have prepared is a document of importance. You have spent time, money and expertise in developing this valuable document. This document could be later kept in a library for use by others. You may also think of publishing the same in the form of a book or as a research paper. Perhaps you may like to make a presentation of your findings in a seminar or a conference. All these potentials and possibilities speak volumes for the nature and importance of the thesis you have compiled.

5. Checklist
   1. The dissertation should be properly typed (preferably computer typed) in 1.5 lines space, Times New Roman 12 point font size (APS 14 point font size for Marathi / 12 point google input Marathi font) in A-4 size (29 x20 cm) paper. Margins: 1.5 inch in the left hand side and 1 inch on all other sides
   2. The final draft should be shown to your supervisor before binding.
   3. You must read the typed version and correct the typing errors;
   4. Page numbers are to be given and the same need to be mentioned in the list of content, list of table and charts.
   5. For fulfillment of the requirements of the course, a declaration from you that the work is original and has not been, copied from any other source must be included in your dissertation. Level of plagiarism above 10 % will be considered unauthentic work.
   6. A certificate from your supervisor stating that the dissertation project work was done under his/her supervision and that it is a genuine and original work.
   7. Proper hard binding / spiral binding is to be done.
   8. Three copies of the Project Report are to be prepared: one for the University, one for the Institute and the other to be retained by you as your personal copy.
   9. The project report submitted to University / Institute will not be returned to you.
   10. The Project report is a document submitted to university as a part of MSW Degree Programme there should not be a dedication or any other extra information.
6. Sequence of the preliminary pages shall be in the following:
   1. Cover page (Title page)
   2. Certificate from Director
   3. Certificate from Research Guide
   4. Declaration of Student
   5. Acknowledgement
   6. List of contents along with page number
   7. List of tables along with page number
   8. List of graphs/ charts along with page number
7. Research Design Format

1. Title of the study
2. Introduction (statement / formulation of the problem)
3. Introduction of the area / Profile of the place of study
4. Literature review
5. Review of past research studies
6. Rationale of study
7. Significance to social work
8. Objectives
9. Research questions
10. Hypothesis (optional)
11. Operational Definitions
12. Methodology (design)
13. Pilot study conducted
14. Source of data
15. Universe and Sampling plan
16. Tools for data collection
17. Pre-test plan
18. Methods and plan of data collection
19. Methods and plan of data analysis
20. Chapter plan
21. Time plan
22. Assumptions & limitations of the study
23. References / bibliography
24. Research skills expected from the students
    • Skill to select topic, formulate research problem or statement of the problem
    • Skill to frame objectives, research questions, and hypothesis
    • Skill to make the profile of the research setting (geographical location / agency / community)
    • Skill to prepare research design for quantitative, qualitative and intervention research
    • Skill to conceive and implement social work intervention research
    • Skill to design adequate research tools such as an interview schedule, observation guide and group discussion guide
    • Skill for data collection, such as competence to conduct interview; skill of observation; skill of conducting focused group discussion
    • Skill to collect secondary data (skill to choose appropriate literature, reports, and records; skill to review articles; skill of content analysis; skill of critical evaluation of others’ research findings; and skill of appropriate use of secondary data in combination with primary data)
    • Skill of data analysis (skill to use computer for data entry, data analysis and statistical application; skill to process data manually – coding, master chart, tabulation, preparation of diagram, statistical calculation)
    • Skill of referencing and preparing bibliography in standard format
    • Skill of interpretation of both quantitative and qualitative data (use of case studies, observation and findings of group discussion)
    • Skill to use appropriate tests of significance (T-test and Chi-Square) to test hypotheses.
    • Skill of chapterisation and logical sequencing of the final report
    • Skill to formulate suitable conclusions and evolving suggestions
    • Skill of writing abstract

(Academic Research Coordinator)                                                                 (Director)

9. Guidelines for the supervisors

• Meet the students once in a week preferably in group on Saturdays and monitor their progress in research.
• Give the students adequate orientation about research dissertation the research deadlines
• Help the students to choose from a few suitable topics to finalize the best suitable topic for their research, which could be carried out preferably in the geographical location of their concurrent field work.
• Assist the students to formulate a sound research design preferably in the format given (ref. 7, page. 3-4). Encourage the students to take up a social work research instead of a social research (with pre intervention and post intervention data collection).
• Assist the students to design adequate research tools such as an interview schedule, observation guide and group discussion guide. Encourage the students to use a combination of research tools both quantitative and qualitative. Check carefully the tools designed by the students and see they are error free.
• See that the students have collected appropriate and sufficient secondary data to supplement and support the primary data. Help the students to prepare appropriate references and bibliography in proper format (APA 6 format).
• Assist the students to use appropriate tools and technology to analyze the data collected. Check the data analyzed and presented whether they are in proper form and style. Help the students to use suitable software for data analysis and data presentation.
• Assist the students to analyze and interpret the findings of the study. Help the students to use appropriate tests of significance (T-test and Chi-Square) to test hypotheses.
• Check all the chapters written by the students and correct the logical and grammatical errors.
• Help the students to submit the final draft report in time for correction and see that all the students submit the final reports before the deadline of submission.
• Encourage students to achieve all the research deadlines / important dates (section 3, page.2) without fail. If the students without sufficient reason fail to meet the deadlines, issue them memo, so that they might meet the director to give satisfactory explanation for failure to meet the research deadlines.

(Academic Research Coordinator)                                                                       (Director)

MSW Research 2022

Research plan (revised)

Title of the study:

Issues, challenges and coping methods adopted by families during the COVID-19 pandemic – A study with reference to ——————- (geographical area of the study)

Rationale of the study

The Covid-19 pandemic has not only affected the health system but the entire human kind in all its dimensions. As a disease it has created havoc in health sector as the world was not prepared to this new life threatening virus. The world was forced to shut down all their normal activities to prevent the further damage to human kind. The lockdown had serious implications on psycho-social aspects resulting in psychological problems including mental health, frustration, stress, anxiety, fear and depression, stigmatization, livelihood insecurity, education, restrictions on social interactions, etc.  This has resulted into disorganization of day to day life of people.

The joint statement released by ILO, FAO, IFAD and WHO in the October 2020 described the impact on covid-19 in the world. It says “The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year. Millions of enterprises face an existential threat. Nearly half of the world’s population i.e. 3.3 billion global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihood” (WHO, 13^th October 2020)

The above statement shows that, the post pandemic situation will be more devastating. This post pandemic situation has deteriorated social-economic-cultural life of people. The vulnerability of especially ‘haves not’ has been increased and they are further pushed at the margin of development.

Livelihood is one of the sectors severely which has affected. The fear about getting affected with Covid-19 and its aftermath many people would not want to go out of their towns for employment and it has resulted into huge employment crisis especially in rural areas. The industrial sector though started their routine work and productions are also not able to provide employment to its full strengths. The unorganized sector workers engaged in daily wage labour such as construction workers, domestic workers, brick line workers and small vendors, etc. are at the forefront of these severe effects.

The inability of earning livelihood could change the functioning of family and unable to maintain order in the family. The issues of orphan children who have lost their parents due to covid-19, the death of bread earner of the family due to covid-19, children losing their educational track, increase in family conflict and domestic violence cases, breakdown of family business or occupation, etc. are some of the issues families are facing in post pandemic situation.

Despite all these issues and challenges, people are now preparing themselves to get into the normal life and becoming more resilient to face such challenges. Many families are taking efforts to reconstruct and rejuvenate their earlier family life. People are making themselves adjustable with the new rules, regulations and policies in post pandemic situation. The educational institutions are resuming their offline classes; teacher and students are gradually moving from virtual classroom to actual physical classrooms. Due to relaxation on social distancing norms, people have started interacting and meeting each other though with little fear.

In this, context, it is necessary to bring scientific analysis of the issues and challenges faced by the people in post pandemic situation. Moreover it is also important to explore and study the strategies and mechanism people are adopting in coping the aftermath pandemic situation.  The research study on coping methods adopted by families during the COVID-19 pandemic is an attempt to understand and document the issues faced by people in post pandemic situation in social, economic, cultural, sphere of life; the challenges they are coming across to get equipped in post pandemic situation and strategies they are applying to overcome from these issues and challenges to be more resilient in their present and future life.

• Objectives

The study has the following specific objectives:

• To understand the intersectional impact of COVID-19 pandemic upon families
• To assess the vulnerabilities of families during COVID 19 pandemic
• To explore the coping strategies of families during COVID 19 pandemic
• To provide recommendations for social work interventions

• Methodology (design)

A descriptive study is being conducted to identify and document the issues, challenges and coping of the people with the pandemic in various sectors of life, such as, domestic (family), livelihood, health, social, cultural and educational life.

• Source of data

The primary sources of data are the people residing in the rural, tribal and urban communities. The secondary sources are the published reports, research papers, periodicals, journals, websites, public records, blogs, and other digital as well as print media.

• Universe and Sampling plan

The study covers selected regions of the entire country. However, the majority of the respondents will be from Maharashtra. Data collection will be carried out in December 2021. Sampling method to be used is stratified and proportionate random sampling method. The sample will represent a cross section of the population from various natural groups like communities, castes, educational and occupational groups and there will not have any purposeful attempt to exclude any family from the sample. The sample elements shall be recruited in proportion to the population.

• Methods and plan of data collection

Data will primarily be collected by means of a structured interview schedule. Observation guide will be part of the structured interview schedule. Psychological scales may be used appropriately to identify mental health issues. Focus group discussions and unstructured interviews with key resource persons will be conducted to augment the primary data collection. Case studies will be conducted to supplement qualitative data to substantiate the quantitative analysis.

• Pre-test plan

Pre-test of the tools for research will be conducted during the second week of December and the interview schedule will be revised in the light of the pre-test findings.

• Methods and plan of data analysis

Standardized statistical procedures will be used to process the data. Frequency tables, pie charts and bar diagrams will be prepared. Cross tabulation based on gender, occupation, education or any several other relevant variables will be prepared. Chi-square analysis will be undertaken to draw significant relationships in the data.

• Chapter plan

The tentative chapter plan for the study is the following:

• Introduction
  1. Pandemic situation at international, national, state, district, block and village / city level and facilities available (which include the literature / research reviews)
  2. Social, economic, political and cultural situation of the village / city (area of study)
  3. Research methodology used for conducting the study
• Personal Information (demographic data)
• The intersectional impact of COVID-19 pandemic upon families
• The vulnerabilities of families during COVID 19 pandemic
• The coping strategies of families during COVID 19 pandemic (case studies)
• Conclusion
  • Summary of findings
  • Observations
  • Difficulties and challenges
  • Learning
  • Social work intervention
  • Suggestions
• Time plan
• Common and unique elements of research

The study has a single topic for all the students with a unique geographical reference for each student. There will be a common research design, common interview schedule for data collection. However, the students will have case studies to fulfil the third objective of the study in tune with their specialisation. Each student will have a unique first chapter describing the profile of the area of the study (unique geographical location of the study). Every student will have a unique data set, data analysis, interpretation, case studies, conclusions and suggestions.

• Case studies

The research will be partially qualitative by the inclusion of case studies. Each student is expected to collect 5 case studies that will fulfil the objectives of the research from their area of study and incorporate them in their report. The case studies shall be relevant to their area of specialisation.

• Bibliography (useful literature)

Sr no	Title	Link
1	COVID-19, India, lockdown and psychosocial challenges: What next?	https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0020764020935922
2	Editorial: Unprecedented Times? Social Work and Society post-COVID-19	https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/50/5/1297/5881414?login=true
3	How Has COVID-19 Changed Family Life and Well-Being in Korea	https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.3138/jcfs.51.3-4.006
4	Impact of COVID-19 on people’s livelihoods, their health and our food systems	https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-covid-19-on-people’s-livelihoods-their-health-and-our-food-systems
5	COVID-19 as a Global Challenge: Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Future	https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/15551
6	COVID-19 in India: Issues, Challenges and Lessons	https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/d8-4139-zc64
7	Why “We Can’t Breathe” During COVID-19	https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.3138/jcfs.51.3-4.015
8	Stress, Resilience, and Well-Being in Italian Children and Their Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic	https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/22/8297/htm
9	Teaching, learning, and caring in the post-COVID era	https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0031721720956840
10	Pandemic and Future of Work: Rehabilitating Informal Workers Livelihoods Post Pandemic	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41027-020-00271-0
11	Post-lockdown misery of India’s migrant workers	https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/coornavirus-national-lockdown-impact-migrant-workers-exodus-women-7241944/
12	Impact of Migration of Labour Force due to Global COVID-19 Pandemic with Reference to India	https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0972063420935542?icid=int.sj-full-text.similar-articles.1
13	Rethinking Higher Education and Skilling in India Post-COVID 19 Pandemic	https://www.aiilsg.org/pdf/The-Urban-World-april-june2020.pdf#page=8
14	Covid-19 impact: 4 major challenges faced by students of rural India	https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/covid-19-impact-4-major-challenges-faced-by-students-of-rural-india-1709294-2020-08-10
15	How to Help Families and Staff Build Resilience During the COVID-19 Outbreak	https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/how-to-help-families-and-staff-build-resilience-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/
16	Re-Envisioning, Not Just Rebuilding: Looking Ahead to a Post-COVID-19 World	https://developingchild.harvard.edu/re-envisioning-not-just-rebuilding-looking-ahead-to-a-post-covid-19-world/
17	Psychological resilience during the COVID-19 lockdown	https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016517812031742X
18	Stress and Coping in the Time of COVID-19: Pathways to Resilience and Recovery	https://delphicentre.com.au/uploads/01.%20App%20-%20Attachment%202020/4.%202020-02-02-Polizzietal..pdf
19	कोरोना विषाणू:माणसाच्या अस्तित्वाची नवी लढाई	https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/coronavirus-127112712.html/
20	कोरोनाची साथ आटोक्यात आली की अजूनही धोका टळलेला नाही?	https://www.bbc.com/marathi/international-59283336
21	या घंटेचे काय?	https://www.loksatta.com/sampadkiya/agralekh/impact-of-covid-19-on-education-long-term-impact-of-school-closures-on-students-in-rural-areas-zws-70-2589817/
22	शाळासोबत…	https://www.loksatta.com/sampadkiya/agralekh/editorial-page-schools-in-cities-teachers-reduce-the-burden-on-children-annual-examination-results-akp-94-2562952/
23	टाळेबंदीचे लाभार्थी! (पूर्वार्ध)	https://www.loksatta.com/sampadkiya/agralekh/lockdown-hit-lower-middle-class-central-government-urged-states-to-impose-lockdown-in-46-districts-zws-70-2548723/
24	आरोग्यम्.. धनसंपदा	https://www.loksatta.com/sampadkiya/agralekh/indian-economy-contracts-rising-unemployment-in-india-second-wave-of-covid-19-in-india-zws-70-2486974/
25	“कोरोना’पासून हे शिका..	https://www.esakal.com/muktapeeth/marathi-article-jalgaon-learn-corona-313561

List of Topics of Research Projects of MSW final year students (2012-18)

List of MSW Research Project Reports 2017-2018

List of MSW Research Project Reports 2016-2017

List of MSW Research Project Reports 2015-2016

List of MSW Research Project Reports 2014-2015

List of MSW Research Project Reports 2013-2014

List of MSW Research Project Reports 2012-2013