INTERNAL EXAM: What is review of literature ? Discuss its utility in research ?

1. Introduction

साहित्य समीक्षा (Review of Literature) किसी शोध प्रबंध या शोध पत्र का वह हिस्सा है जिसमें पूर्व में किए गए संबंधित शोधों, सिद्धांतों और निष्कर्षों का अध्ययन और विश्लेषण प्रस्तुत किया जाता है।
यह शोध प्रक्रिया का एक महत्वपूर्ण चरण है क्योंकि यह शोधकर्ता को विषय का विस्तृत और व्यवस्थित ज्ञान प्रदान करता है और शोध की दिशा तय करने में मदद करता है।

2. Meaning of Review of Literature

साहित्य समीक्षा का अर्थ है – “पूर्व में प्रकाशित पुस्तकों, पत्रिकाओं, शोध पत्रों और अन्य स्रोतों का अध्ययन करना, उनका विश्लेषण करना और अपने शोध से जोड़कर सार प्रस्तुत करना।”

विशेषताएँ:

यह केवल संकलन नहीं, बल्कि विश्लेषण और आलोचनात्मक मूल्यांकन होता है।
यह शोधकर्ता को अंतराल और ज्ञान की सीमाओं (gaps in knowledge) की पहचान करने में मदद करता है।
यह शोध को वैज्ञानिक आधार प्रदान करता है।

3. Objectives of Review of Literature

विषय से संबंधित पूर्व शोधों का अवलोकन।
शोध की मौलिकता (originality) को पहचानना।
सिद्धांत और मॉडल का अध्ययन करना।
शोध की दिशा और उद्देश्य को स्पष्ट करना।
शोध में स्रोतों और डेटा का चयन आसान बनाना।

4. Utility of Review of Literature in Research

(a) Identifying Research Gaps

यह बताता है कि किस क्षेत्र में अभी तक पर्याप्त अध्ययन नहीं हुआ।
शोधकर्ता इसी अंतराल को भरने के लिए नए प्रश्न और उद्देश्य निर्धारित कर सकता है।

(b) Avoiding Duplication

साहित्य समीक्षा शोधकर्ता को यह जानने में मदद करती है कि कौन सा काम पहले से किया जा चुका है।
इससे समय और संसाधनों की बचत होती है।

(c) Building Theoretical Framework

यह पूर्व सिद्धांतों और मॉडलों का अध्ययन कर शोध का सैद्धांतिक आधार तैयार करता है।

(d) Methodological Guidance

यह बताती है कि पूर्व के शोधों में कौन-सी विधि, तकनीक और डेटा इस्तेमाल हुई।
शोधकर्ता इससे अपनी अनुसंधान पद्धति (research methodology) को बेहतर बना सकता है।

(e) Enhancing Research Credibility

साहित्य समीक्षा यह दिखाती है कि शोधकर्ता ने अंतरराष्ट्रीय और राष्ट्रीय स्तर के शोधों को समझा है।
इससे शोध की विश्वसनीयता (credibility) बढ़ती है।

(f) Formulating Hypothesis

पूर्व शोधों के निष्कर्षों का विश्लेषण शोधकर्ता को सटीक परिकल्पना (hypothesis) बनाने में मदद करता है।

5. Steps in Conducting a Literature Review

विषय का निर्धारण और सीमा तय करना।
प्रासंगिक स्रोतों की पहचान (books, journals, articles, reports)।
स्रोतों का वर्गीकरण और सारांश तैयार करना।
आलोचनात्मक विश्लेषण और तुलना करना।
शोध में उपयोगी निष्कर्ष और अंतराल को चिन्हित करना।

6. Conclusion

साहित्य समीक्षा किसी भी शोध का मूल आधार है। यह शोधकर्ता को विषय की व्यापक समझ, पूर्व कार्यों का अवलोकन, और शोध की दिशा निर्धारित करने में मदद करती है।
इसके बिना शोध अधूरा और असंगठित होता है।

सारांशतः, Review of Literature –

शोध में मौलिकता सुनिश्चित करता है,
शोध प्रश्न और हाइपोथीसिस बनाने में सहायता करता है,
शोध की विश्वसनीयता बढ़ाता है, और
समय व संसाधनों की बचत करता है।

PROJECT WORK: Research: Concept, Objective and Scope for M.A Economics

Research is the careful consideration of a study regarding a particular concern or research problem using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.”

1. Introduction

Research is the cornerstone of knowledge creation and policy formulation in Economics. In a rapidly globalizing world, economic research plays a vital role in understanding issues such as inflation, unemployment, poverty, fiscal imbalance, inequality, trade, and development. For students and practitioners of Economics, research is not only an academic exercise but also a practical tool for evidence-based decision-making and policy design.

Research is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to controlling sources of bias and error.

2. Concept of Research

The word Research originates from the French word recherche, meaning “to search again” or “to investigate thoroughly.” In academic terms, research is a systematic process of inquiry that involves identifying a problem, formulating hypotheses, collecting data, analyzing results, and drawing conclusions.

2.1 Definitions of Research

According to Clifford Woody: “Research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypotheses, collecting, organizing and evaluating data, making deductions and reaching conclusions, and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulated hypothesis.”
In Economics, research is a scientific tool to explore economic behavior, test economic theories, evaluate policies, and forecast future trends.

2.2 Characteristics of Research

Systematic and organized process
Based on empirical evidence
Seeks to generate new knowledge
Objective and unbiased
Can be theoretical or applied
Leads to policy implications

3. Objectives of Research in Economics

The objectives of research vary according to the type of problem under investigation. Broadly, the following objectives guide economic research:

3.1 Theoretical Objectives

To develop and refine economic theories.
To explain the relationship between economic variables (e.g., income and consumption, demand and supply).
To critically examine assumptions in existing models.

3.2 Practical Objectives

To identify and analyze real-world economic problems (e.g., inflation, unemployment, inequality).
To provide reliable information for policy-making.
To suggest alternative solutions to economic challenges.
To evaluate the effectiveness of government programs such as MGNREGA, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), GST, etc.

3.3 Academic Objectives

To train students in logical reasoning, data handling, and analytical thinking.
To foster innovation and critical thinking in economic research.
To encourage evidence-based discussions in classrooms and academic debates.

3.4 Forecasting and Planning Objectives

To predict economic trends like GDP growth, inflation, stock market movement, and global trade flows.
To provide insights for long-term economic planning at national and international levels.

4. Scope of Research in Economics

The scope of research in Economics is vast because the discipline itself deals with unlimited wants and scarce resources. Research extends across micro, macro, applied, and policy-related domains.

4.1 Scope in Microeconomics

Consumer behavior (utility, demand, decision-making)
Production and cost analysis
Market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly)
Game theory applications
Behavioral economics

4.2 Scope in Macroeconomics

Growth and development models
Monetary policy and inflation control
Fiscal policy, taxation, and public debt
Employment and labor market research
International trade and exchange rates

4.3 Applied and Policy-Oriented Research

Agricultural economics: crop pricing, farmer welfare schemes
Industrial economics: productivity, competition, MSME performance
Development economics: poverty, inequality, sustainable development
Financial economics: banking, stock markets, fintech innovations
Environmental economics: climate change, carbon tax, renewable energy policies
Health and education economics: public investment efficiency

4.4 Contemporary Areas of Research

Digital economy (e-commerce, UPI, cryptocurrency, digital financial inclusion)
Globalization and its impact on Indian economy
Inequality and gender economics
Artificial Intelligence and its impact on labor markets
Circular economy and sustainable development goals (SDGs)

5. Importance of Research in Economics

Policy Formulation: RBI’s monetary policies rely on economic research.
Business Decisions: Firms use market research to decide pricing and production.
Public Welfare: Government evaluates poverty alleviation programs through surveys (e.g., NSSO, NFHS).
Forecasting: NITI Aayog uses research for long-term economic planning.
Global Competitiveness: India’s position in global trade is studied through research in international economics.

6. Methodological Framework (Brief)

Economic research generally follows these steps:

Identification of research problem.
Review of existing literature.
Formulation of hypothesis.
Collection of data (primary or secondary).
Data analysis using statistical/econometric methods.
Interpretation of results.
Conclusion and recommendations.

7. Limitations of Economic Research

Difficulty in obtaining reliable data (especially in rural and informal sectors).
Human behavior is unpredictable, making economic forecasting less precise.
External shocks (pandemic, wars, climate disasters) limit accuracy.
Dependence on assumptions may reduce practical applicability.

8. Conclusion

Research is the foundation of economics as an academic discipline and as a practical field of policy-making. The concept of research emphasizes systematic inquiry, the objectives highlight theory, practice, and policy, and the scope covers everything from microeconomic behavior to global macroeconomic issues.

For M.A. Economics students, research is not just an academic requirement but a crucial skill for contributing to knowledge creation, evidence-based policymaking, and socio-economic development.