❖ Criteria for a Good Research Formulating Research Problem

Identification and formulation of a research problem constitutes the starting phase of research. It
is the first and foremost step in any research undertaking. In fact, success of research depends upon
the selection of an apt research problem and its proper formulation. An ill-identified and deficient
formulated research problem invariably makes the researcher subsequently to loose his ‘interest’
in the problem. It also lands him in a number of unanticipated difficulties at latter stages that may
even compel him to abdicate his research half a way. A research is goal-directed. If the goal itself
is unknown or ill-defined, the research will lead the researcher nowhere. Thus, it becomes
necessary to have a well-defined and precise research problem for meaningful research. It is an
old and wise saying that ‘a problem well put is half solved’.However, identification and
formulation of a research problem is not an easy task. In most scientific works, the difficulty lies
in framing problems rather than in finding their solutions.

➢ Before formulating a research problem, it is, however, necessary for the researcher,
in sequence, to identify an area of his general interest, an area or subject-matter of his
special interest from the area of his general interest, and an aspect from the subject
matter of his special interest that he would like inquire into.

➢ He has then to identify an area of his special interest

He has to read a lot on, and about, the aspect before he ventures into formulating a statement of
problem for his further inquiry. After reading about the aspect, he is required to put in a lot of
thinking and intellectual input in phrasing the aspect in an intelligent and precise propositional
form so that he can get something meaningful out of it. It needs to put in such a way that it signifies
the focus of inquiry as well as its direction.

❖ Collection of data

After formulating the research problem (or reformulating it in the light of literature review) and
preparing a blue print of the research, the researcher has now to take a decision about the
technique(s) to be employed to collect the requisite information. He has to, from a wide range of
methods of data collection, ranging from interviews to observations to document analysis, opt for
 the most appropriate method(s) for collecting data. However, it is not always easy to take the right
decision. It is very crucial decision having far-reaching consequences on the outcome of research.
The research method(s), which he chooses, will ultimately determine the quality and propriety of
the data and in turn, of the consequential results. In a way, the selected methods of data collection
determine the fate of his research. While selecting method(s) of data collection, the researcher has
to take into account the objectives of his research and the nature and scope the inquiry. Data can
be primary or secondary. Data collected by the researcher, by using primary sources, is primary.
The data already collected by some other agency and available in some published form is
secondary. In either case, the researcher has to select an appropriate method.

❖ Advantages and disadvantages of doctrinal research

To begin with the advantages, doctrinal research forms the base of legal research in the academic
field of law. Law students at the graduate and post-graduate levels usually venture into the world of legal
research with the help of doctrinal methodology. This is the starting point for them where they can analyze
sources available in the library and logically deduce their findings. The students are not well equipped at
this particular stage to get involved with empirical research and to consider the law in the context of society.
It is easier for them to study law “as it is” from secondary sources and it acts as a good starting point.

In addition, it gives the judges and lawyers the flexibility to approach law from different aspects and make
its interpretation. It may not be wrong to say that the amorphous mass of the present-day statutory
provisions takes concrete shape and form in the great laboratories of the law courts. (Jain 1982) Judges
have over time developed law from their deep knowledge and investigation into the field. Law of torts is
one great example as it is a “judge-made law”. Therefore, doctrinal research being the traditional
methodology has helped in the development of legal research by giving it a base. It has been a close
companion of law academicians, students, judges, advocates and jurists.

However, doctrinal research has its own shortcomings as well. Availability and choice of right and reliable
sources is the bottleneck in doctrinal research. Logical deduction is also an uphill task. Furthermore, it is
highly theoretical and restricted. Without the right direction, it may become highly objective and too
mechanical. Moreover, it can be further highlighted that it studies law individually and does not consider
it in the backdrop of society which is the playground of law. Without studying its normative and practical
aspects, it’s like studying law in darkness and seems incomplete.

❖ Advantages and disadvantages of non- doctrinal

The advantages of non-doctrinal research are many but the prime one remains its utility in practical
purposes. It helps in gauging the practical effectiveness of laws in various non-legal fields. It is an
effective tool to judge the performance of law in society. Legal issues are better analyzed when
studied in a comprehensive manner by taking into consideration all the factors that might affect it.
Moreover, when the data is quantified, it becomes rationally more appealing and authentic. Also,
since it relies on primary sources of information, it is more reliable.

Developing welfare policies for people has become the major function of the state. But it is not
possible without any data that reveals the actual circumstances of society. Non-doctrinal research
tells us what actually the society needs, where the laws are lacking and what are the responses of
people on whom those laws are imposed. All of this information which can be obtained by non-
doctrinal research makes policy making a better and easier task.

Moreover, there is a gap between the law in books and law in action. Law transforms to a certain
extent when it comes to implementation. Many variables exert their influence to cause this
transformation. Knowledge of these factors that can be obtained by non-doctrinal research can
help us in understanding this gap and in working towards eliminating it.

However, it also has its fair share of pitfalls. Non-doctrinal research is very time-consuming. It
requires a lot of time and resources. Availability of funds poses another challenge. The collection
of data can be a daunting task. And more than that, collecting the right pool of information from
society can be full of errors. People have different understanding and amounts of information.
They have their own biases. That means the information collected, like from questionnaires and
surveys can be skewed and misleading. Also, collecting primary data about some sensitive issues
can be a dangerous task for the researcher. The research may also be blurred by the researcher’s
personal prejudices and biases.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD RESEARCHER

1) Accuracy: A researcher must ensure that his research work is accurate. He should ensure
that the facts and figures which he is presenting are true and verifiable. There should be no
room for conjecture or guesses. He should exhibit due diligence in presenting his work so
as not to present a false and misleading research as the accuracy of the research determines
the credibility to be attached to the researcher.
2) Motivation: A researcher must have the ability to motivate himself to work. He should not
be easily discouraged. In the course of his research, he might come across some hostile
respondents. This should not deter him from carrying on his research work. Again, he might
be met with opposition from his colleagues. Such oppositions should not serve as a source
of discouragement to him. A researcher therefore, must have the ability to encourage and
motivate himself to push on until he actualizes his aim.
3) Patience: One of the sterling attributes of a good researcher is patience. This quality is a
follow-up attribute to being motivated. A researcher must exhibit a high degree of patience,
both with his respondents and in the course of his research when the much-needed result is
not forthcoming, in addition to his being consistent with the effort he puts in.
4) Prudence: The quality of being prudent has to do with his ability to manage the resources
at his disposal. Research is a capital-intensive project and there are possibilities that one
might not be well funded to carry out such project. The managerial skill and ability of the
researcher becomes handy for a successful execution of the project. Also, even if the
resources are in abundance, he must be able to manage same so as to avoid waste and
extravagant spending. Therefore, a researcher must be able to effectively manage the
resources at his disposal for optimum output.
5) Expertise: Though the aim of research is to add knowledge to already existing knowledge
(as one ventures into new areas not yet explored), the researcher must have reasonable
amount of knowledge in the field he intends carrying out his research. It will amount to a
ruse if an archaeologist embarks on a research in medicine. A researcher must therefore be
 an expert in the field of his research or must possess at least, reasonable amount of
knowledge in the field he professes to carry out his research.
6) Unbiased in his Research: At the beginning of his research, a researcher must not have a
preconceived notion or idea about the subject of his research. This is because the research
may likely not be accurate as his leanings will mostly be towards his bias. If there exists
such bias, the researcher should be liberal enough to accept findings that are against his
held beliefs. This will aid him to present an accurate and unbiased research work.
7) Interest: A researcher must show sufficient interest in the work he is doing. He should not
be distracted. His interest should be focused on the work. This is quite different from being
motivated. This is because it is the interest one has in a task that keeps him motivated. If
one is not interested in a research work, he cannot be motivated, even if all necessary things
are in place to drive the project. A researcher has to build interest from within, in the field
of his research to see him through the research work.
8) Amiable Personality: A researcher must have a friendly disposition. He should be easily
approachable and should also have the ability to communicate with people in a friendly
and coherent manner. A researcher that is unfriendly, gloomy and unapproachable may
find it difficult extracting information from his respondents. A researcher should also
exhibit friendliness to whoever works with him (if he is in a team with other researchers).
This act of friendliness reduces friction within the team and the team is most likely to finish
up their task in record time.
9) The Ability to Work Under Pressure: A researcher must be able to work under pressure
and unfavourable situations. The ability to carry out a task within little time frame and also
work in conditions that are less favourable (for example, under a hostile boss) is a quality
which the researcher should have to enable him carry out his task. Limited time may be
allocated to accomplish a research project such that if the researcher is unable to manage
his time, the work will not be done. It is therefore a needed quality of the researcher to be
able to persevere and work in unfriendly situations if he must accomplish his task on time.
10) Analytical in his research: A researcher should be analytical and should also be able to
exhibit sound judgment. Proper analysis of issues is key to having a good research work.
His ability to reason rationally and give sound judgment affects the quality of the research
work. Where the ability to give sound judgment is missing, there may be a misapplication
 of principles and rules. This might be fatal if such misapplication happens in a research
work of great importance to health. Therefore, a researcher must have the natural ability to
discern what is right between two factors brought before him. Conclusively, whether a
research work is an academic or organizational work, the researcher must be able to
consistently gather information that are needed for the task. Research has to do with the
discovery of new information and only a well-planned method of information gathering
can aid in the actualizing of this aim. The quality of a research work, its success and its
usefulness is dependent on the level of diligence exhibited by the researcher. It is
imperative that the researcher is one with good attributes to enable him scale the litmus test
of acceptability of his work in the society.
❖ Research design

After defining a research problem or formulating a hypothesis, as the case may be, the researcher
has to work out a design for the study. Research design is the conceptual structure within which
research is conducted. It is a logical systematic planning of research. The term research design
refers to the entire process of planning and carrying out a research study. It is the process of
visualization of the entire process of conducting empirical research before its commencement.
Research design is a blue print of the proposed research. However, the blue print is tentative as the
researcher may not be able to foresee all the contingencies before he starts his investigation. He is
allowed to meet these contingencies when he encounters them in his research journey. Research
design helps the researcher to identify in advance the kind of data he requires, the means to collect
them, the methods to be used for analysis and interpretation of the data, and presentation of his
findings with more accuracy. Research design, thus, helps him in minimizing the uncertainties,
confusion and practical hazards associated with the research problem. It helps in enhancing
efficiency and reliability of his findings.

❖ Formulation of Hypothesis
 After extensive literature survey, researcher, in the light of the survey, has to rephrase or
reformulate his statement of problem, if necessary.A statement of problem, depending upon
research goals and the nature of inquiry involved, may take form of either a mere statement or
a proposition indicating possible relationship between two or more variables or concepts, the
validity of which is unknown in the beginning. Such a proposition is known as hypothesis.

Hypothesis, thus, is merely a tentative assumption made in order to draw and test its logical or
empirical consequences. It is a tentative, testable statement. A statement to be a hypothesis must
be capable of being tested. If its validity cannot be put to empirical confirmation, a proposition,
howsoever attractive or interesting may be ceases to be a hypothesis.

The manner in which a hypothesis is formulated is very important as it gives significant clues
about the kind of data required, the type of methods to be used for collecting data, and the methods
of analysis to be used. It guides the researcher by delimiting the area of research and keeps him on
the right track throughout his investigation. It sharpens his thinking and focuses attention on the
more important facets of the problem under inquiry. Therefore, a hypothesis, to be worked with,
needs to be precise, specific, and conceptually clear. It must have empirical referents. It must also
be related to available research techniques.

FOOTNOTES

Footnotes are the source and reference of the materials used in the research work. It is mandatory
to acknowledge if the source is not accepted. It falls under the category of plagiarism.

These are always listed at the bottom of the page, only beneath the footer. It reflects references of
each page separately. Footnotes are end notes placed at the bottom of a page. They cite sources or
provided comment on a section part of the text above it. lets imagine you want to add an interesting
comment to a sentence you have written, but the word is not directly relevant to the argument of
your paragraph. In this case, you could use the symbol for a footnote. Then, you could reprint the
sign at the bottom of the page and insert your comment. Here is an example 1

This is an depicted of a footnote.1 The number "1" at the conclusion of the previous sentence
corresponds with the previous sentence. See how it fits within the part of the written context

1 You can add your thoughts about the sentence preceding the footnote at the bottom of the page.

When your reader go through the footnote in your paper's main text, they might immediately
glance down at your comments right away, or continue reading the paragraph and then read your
comments at the end. do this since it is more convenient for your reader, most citation styles
demand that you utilize either footnotes or end notes in your paper because it is more convenient
for your re dear. Some, however, allow you to include parenthetical references (author, date) in
the text of your work. look our section on citation styles for more additional information. Footnotes
are not just for fascinating comments, however. Sometimes they refer to relevant sources -- they
let your reader know where specific material came from or where might they can go for further
information on the subject. To decidewhether you should refer your sources in footnotes or the
body of your report, you should ask your instructor or look our section on citation styles.

IMPORTANCE OF FOOTNOTES:

A series of footnotes is a second technique to document your sources. if you put them at the
conclusion of the text,they're called end notes, and if you put them at the bottom or foot of
each page, they're called footnotes. i We will use footnotes as the general terms. Footnotes are
a bit trickier than bibliographies. In a bibliography, you automatically list all your sources.
However, it would help decide when to use them with footnotes and how. When is it
appropriate to utilize footnotes? The answers once again goes back to your source. For
example, if you are stating a straightforward fact and the reliability of your source is not an
issue, you would not footnote. However, you should footnotes if you say a startling new point
or a fact that may make your reader wonder about its source. The first is to give your readers

1
What Are Footnotes? , Plagiarism.org. https://www.plagiarism.org/article/what-are-footnotes(last visited on Dec
5, 2021)
a basis to judge how reliable the information is, provide them with a place to check your facts
or find more information on the subjects and give credit to another source. 2

1) The first thing you should follow is always creating a footer at the end of every paper

2) That footer must provide a list of all source you have referred to write the content of that
particular page.

3) Keep track of all the sources you have referred to during the research to mention them
while writing the notes quickly.

4) Keep track of all the sources you have referred to during the research to menction them
while writing the notes quickly.

5) When you need to limit the amount of clutter in your paper, use the shorter version of
footnotes.

6) Place it properly at the bottom of each page so that it can be found easily.3

TYPES OF FOOTNOTES:

There are two sorts of footnotes often used in writing. A content footnotes is used to provide
additional information or a reference that clarifies or supplements the main point of the
paragraph. A copyright permission footnote is used to credit the source for long quotations,
tables or graphs, and other lengthy details within a text. Both types of footnotes will display
at the end of the printed page, and the reader with a footnote will have a small letter or number
following it. This same number or letter will appear at the bottom of the page beside the
footnote.4

2
What Is The Importance Of The Footnotes? - Blurtit., https://education.blurtit.com/109758/what-is-the- importance-
of-the-footnotes(last visited on Dec 5, 2021)
3
Why Are Endnotes and Footnotes Important For an Effective
https://medium.com/@officialinstantassignmenthelp/why-are-endnotes-and-footnotes-important-for-an-
effective-assignment-4e2c57982f3e(last visited on Dec 5, 2021)
4
Footnoting In A History Essay., https://thehudsonsedona.com/2020/07/09/footnoting-in-a-history-essay(last
visited on Dec 5,2021)
1.Content footnotes

2.Copyright footnotes

CONTENT- FOOTNOTES

A subtance footnote is used to provide additional information or reference that clarifies or

supplements the information in the text. A copyright permission footnote is used to give credit
to the source for long quotations, tables or graphs, and other lengthy details within a text

COPYRIGHT FOOTNOTES

Include that permission in a copyright permission footnote. You should include the credited
source in the caption if you've obtained permission to use a table or infographic. Don't use a
footnote in that case.

THE BLUEBOOK [19TH EDITION]5

A uniform citation system is commonly used for the legal authority in the United States.
Students and lawyers are often expected to abide by its mandates but find it challenging
because it is so dense with rules. The guide was developed to try to break down some of this
density and help you try to make sense of it all

BLUEBOOK (19th EDITION) CITATION FORMAT EXAMPLES (FOR FOOTNOTES)

GENERAL RULES:

*Times New Roman, Size 10,1 line Spacing, Justified.

*Add full stop after every footnote.

*Months should be written in abbreviated forms: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Aug.,
Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

5
BLUEBOOK (19th ed.) CITATION FORMAT EXAMPLES
https://www.itmuniversity.org/Images/19THEDNCAITAION.pdf(last visited on Dec 5, 2021)
BOOKS

*Volume No. (if any) Name of author, the title of the book pg. Cited (Editors/Translators
Name, Edition Cited year). E g.:

*2, Frederick Pollock & Frederic William Maitland, The History of English law 205-06 (2d
ed.1911)

*CHARLES DICKENS, BLEAK HOUSE 49-55(Norman page ed., penguin book 1971)
(1853).

RULES & EXCEPTIONS6

1) The first name must always be written before the surname

2) In case of citing a book that has been edited, write, ed. Or, eds. After following the name
of the editor.

3) If translated. Write trans after the name of the translator.

4) If both, then first write the editors name and then writer's name

5) For more than two authors, editors, or writer's, write the name of the author, editor, or
writer's that appears first, followed by ''et al.’’

6) Do not add, p ‘‘or, pp ‘‘before the page number. Just write the numerical

7) If the book is being published by more than one publishing house, write the name of the
publisher cited after the editor's word of the editor in sentence case.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

For the consecutively paginated journal (where the periodical is organized by volume and page
number continues throughout the book, it is a consecutively paginated periodical) Name of the
Author, ‘‘Title of Article’’, journal volume no. ABBREVIATION OF JOURNAL page on

6
How to write Dissertation and synopsis., https://lawcolloquy.com/publications/blog/how-to-write-
dissertation-and-synopsis/25(last visited on Dec 5, 2021)
which Article Begins, page cited (year). Eg. Charles A. Riech, ‘‘The new property’’, 73 YALF
L.J. 733,737-38 (1964).

RULES & EXCEPTIONS

➢ For two authors, write both their names divided by, &. ‘‘

➢ For more than two authors, write the author’s name that appears first followed by ‘‘et al.’’

➢ For non-consecutively paginated journals (work appearing in periodicals that are separately
paginated within each issue)

➢ Name of Author, ‘‘Title of Article’’. ABBREVIATION OF JOURNAL, data of issue as

appears in the cover, at the first page of work, page site. E.g.

➢ Barbara ward,’’ progress for a small planet.’’ HARV. BUS. REV., Sept-oct. 1979, at 89,90.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

Author’s name, Name of Article/ news reports, ABBRV. Of NAME OF NEWSPAPER, Month
Date, year, at pg. no. Eg.

Ari L. Goldman, O’Connor warns politicians Risk ex-communication over abortion,

N.Y. TIMES, June 15, 1990, at A1.

CASES

a)U.S Cases:

First-party v. the second party, Reporter Vol. No., Reporter Abbreviation, First page

of an issue, specific page Reference (year)E g: Meritor sav. Bank V. Vinson, 477 U.S.57,60 (1986)

b)Indian Cases:

Case name, (year of the reporter) Vol No. Reporter Abbreviation, first- page year ofthe decision if
different from year of the reporter (Indian, if not evident from context) Eg:

➢ Charan Lal Sahu V. Union Carbide (1989) IS.C.C. 674 (India). Reporters that depart from this
style shall be written in their configuration. E.g.:
➢ Jabalpur V. Shukla, AIR. 1976 S.C. 1207 (India)

RULES AND EXCEPTIONS

Do not italicize the case name.

If there are multiple party, list only the first party. Italicize the procedural phrases. E.g., in re, Ex-
party, etc.

ABBREVIATION… (IBID & OP.CIT)

Definition

➢ Ibid. (abbreviation for the Latin ibidem, meaning “The same’’) Refers to the same author and
source (eq., book, Journal) immediately preceding reference.

➢ Op. cit. (abbreviation for the Latin opus Citatum, meaning ''the work cited"). Refers to the
reference listed previously by the same author

➢ Ibid refers to the immediately preceding reference; op. Cit. Refers to the prior reference by
the same author

EXAMPLES

❖ 5.R. Poirer, ‘‘Learning physics,” (Academic, New York, 1993), P.4 6.Ibid

❖ T. Eliot, “Astrophysics,” (Springer, Berlin, 1989) P.141. R. Builder, J Phys Chem 20(3) 1654-
57, 1991.

❖ Eliot, op. cit., p.148

ABBREVIATION (ID)7

‘‘Id” is an all-purpose short form citation that may be used for any cited authority except internal
cross-references

7
Short form: Id., Infra, Supra, Hereinafter - Bluebook ..., https://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/bluebook-legal- citation/short-
form (last visited on Dec 5, 2021)
❖ “Id” always refers to the immediately proceeding reference authority, either in the same
footnote or the previous footnotes, so long as it is the only authority cited in the proceeding
footnotes.

❖ Sweal V. Painter, 339 U.S. 629, 632 (1950).

❖ Id.

❖ NOTE: sources refered in explanatory parentheticals or phrases or as part of the case prior or
contemporaneous history are not counted as intervening authorities preventing the use of
“Id.”8

❖ Any changes in what is cited, such as page numbers, need to be indicated after “id.”

❖ Id. At 45.

ABBREVIATION…(SUPRA)9

“Supra” may be used to refer to certain types of previously cited materials as well as internal cross-
references.

“supra” citations are most commonly used for secondary authority, such as books and periodicals.
Therefore the most common format for a supra short form citation consists of the author’s last
name followed ‘’supra’’. Offset by a comma. Immediately after “supra” is the word “note” in
ordinary type, followed by the number of the footnote in which the authority was first cited in full:

❖ 15. PHILIP D. O’NEIL, JR., VERIFICATION IN AN AGE OF INSECURITY: THE

FUTURE OF ARMS CONTROL COMPLIANCE 45 (2010)

❖ 25. O’NEIL, Supra note 15.

❖ A incite offset by a comma should indicate changes in what portion of the authority is being
cited. An “at’’ is typically necessary to avoid confusion

8
How to write Dissertation and synopsis., https://lawcolloquy.com/publications/blog/how-to-write-dissertation-
and-synopsis/25(last visited on Dec 5, 2021)
9
Short form: Id., Infra, Supra, Hereinafter - Bluebook .., https://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/bluebook-legal-
citation/short-form(last visited on Dec 5, 2021)
❖ 28. O’NEIL, Supra note 15, at 52

❖ If a work has an administrative author, use the complete institutional name; works without an
author may be cited by the title, while unsigned student-authored law journal works should be
awarded by therelevant designation such as "Note" or "comment."

BRIEF REVISION OF ABBREVIATIONS:

❖ Ibid- immediately after the second footnote without any changes in the source

❖ Id- Everything is the same as above but changes the page number, e.g., Id at 29.

❖ Supra -same as referred earlier but not on the same page. Write the name of the author, supra
note 12.

❖ If there is a change in the page number. authors name, supra note 12 at 22

STATUTES

a) U.S. Law

The official name of the act, U.S.C. title number Abbreviation of cited code, sections symbols, and
span of sections containing statute (Data of code edition mentioned).

EXAMPLE

Comprehensive environmental response, compensation and liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601- 9678
(2006)

b) U.S. Constitution

Abbreviation of constitution cited Abbreviation for Amendment No of amendment cited, section

symbol and no. of section cited

EXAMPLE

U.S. CONST. Amend. XIV,2 LA. CONST. art. X, Pt IV.

c)Indian law

Act name, Act No., Acts of parliament, year of volume (India, if not evident from context)
EXAMPLE

The copyright (amendment) act, 1992, No.13, Acts of parliament, 1992 (India)

SHORT FORMS

DICKENS, supra note 2. Reich, supra note 3, at 739.

Id. At 740

STYLES OF FOOTNOTES:

There are three main designs for footnotes used in writing today. Each has a slightly different way
of making a footnote: APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language
Association), and Chicago Manual.10

a. APA: Content notes should use a superscript number used at the bottom of the page with the
message. APA does not recommend using footnotes unless necessary for an explanation
because it is expensive to reproduce.

See the following content footnote in APA style: In APA-style footnotes, the last and first name
of the author appears at the beginning, followed by the italicized title of the article or website. The
date can be included in brackets or parentheses if desired. was retrieved.if applicable the website
address should be put at the conclusion of the footnotes.11

b. MLA: MLA format for footnotes is very similar to the APA style. MLA recommends limited
use of footnotes and, if they are needed, use endnotes in place of footnotes. This is because
footnotes can often take up too much space at the bottom of the page, whereas the endnotes
don't take up any room.

10
How do you properly footnote?, https://philosophy-question.com/library/lecture/read/349880-how-do-you-
properly-footnote (last visited on Dec 6, 2021)
11
What Are the Different Types of Footnote Formatting?., https://www.infobloom.com/what-are-the-different-
types-of-footnote-formatting.htm(last visited on Dec 6,2021)
After all, they are on a separate page at the end of the piece of writing.

See the following content footnote in MLA style:

MLA footnote

Italicize the title of the book. If the book specifies an edition (other than the first), include this and
shorten it (e.g., 2nd ed., rev. ed.). Add the URL if you recomended the book online instead of in a
Phys Format Example

This is the format of a whole note, one, and this is the format of a short letter.

1.Author first name last name, "Page Title," Website Title, publishingdate, URL.

2.Author’s last name, “Shortened Page Title.”Now, look at the following copyright permission
footnote in MLA style:

Another prominent style of footnote formatting is MLA. This format focuses on the author, but
the website can be met I The author's name goes first in other cases, came by the date the details
was found in a month, day, and year format. details on the source title or website address follows
this details. This kind of footnote syntax, like other aspects of MLA, is designed to furnish concise
and short citations in the text and is tailored to the needs of academic disciplinary

c) CHICAGO FORMAT:12

Format Example

1.Author first name, last name, Book Title, edition. (Place of publication:

2.Publisher, year), page number(s), URL.

3.Author last name, Shortened Book Title, page number(s). Chicago book chapter citation

12
Chicago Style Footnotes | Citation Format and Examples., https://www.scribbr.com/chicago-
style/footnotes/(last visited on Dec 6, 2021)
Sometimes you’ll cite from one chapter in a book containing texts by multiple authors – for
example, a compilation of essays. In this case, you’ll want to mention the relevant chapter rather
than the whole book.

The chapter title should be italicized,whereas the book title should be contained in quotation
marks, the chapter titleis the sole thing on the short note.

The author of the chapter you're

mentioning is the person who created it. Editor's note. The book's editor is named at the end of the
footnote (with theabbreviation "ed.") and left out of the short note.

Format Example

This is the format of a whole note, one, and this is the format of a short letter.2

1.Author first name last name, "Chapter Title," in Book Title, ed. Author first name last name
(publication: Publisher, year), page number(s).

2.Author last name, “Shortened Chapter Title,” page number(s). Chicago journal article citation

The article title should be included in quotation marks, while the journal name should be italicized.
Volume and issue numbers identify which journal edition the details appears in.

A DOI is a digital object identifier. This is frequently more reliable than the URL when linking to
online journal article.

Format Example

This is the style of a whole note, one, and this is the format of a short letter.2

1.Author first name last name, “Article Title,” Journal Name Volume, Issue number (Year): page
number(s), DOI or URL.

2.Author last name, “Shortened Article Title,” page number(s). Chicago website citation

The page title should be enclosed in quotation marks. Italicization is not used for website names.
If the publication date is unknown, you can alternatively list the date when you accessed the page
at the end of the citation (e.g., accessed on September 10, 2019).

d) HARVARD BLUEBOOK [20TH EDITION]

Books General
Rule:

[Volume Number, if any] [AUTHOR ’S NAME], [TITLE OF THE BOOK ] [Page

Number][(Publisher’s Name Year ofPublishing)]. Footnotes

◆ GLANVILLE WILLIAMS, LEARNING THE LAW 69 (Sweet & Maxwell2014).

◆ ALAN R EDFERN ET. AL., R EDFERN AND HUNTER ON INTERNATIONAL
ARBITRATION 211-215 (Kluwer Arbitration 2009).
◆ 2 DD BASU, CONSTITUTION OF I NDIA 201 (2010). IOWA
◆ GLANVILLE WILLIAMS, LEARNING THE LAW (Sweet & Maxwell 2014).
◆ ALAN R EDFERN ET. AL., R EDFERN AND HUNTER ON I NTERNATIONAL
ARBITRATION (Kluwer Arbitration 2009).

Multiple Editions, Same Publisher:

[AUTHOR ’S NAME], [TITLE OF THE BOOK] [Page number] [(Edition Year of Publishing)].

Footnotes

FRANCIS A. CAREY, ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 310 (6th ed. 2006). CASES

General Rule:

[Plaintiff/ Appellant/ Applicant] v. [Defendant/ Respondent], [Citation]. Footnotes

➢ Guru Nanak Foundation v. Rattan Singh and Sons, AIR 1981 SC 2075.

➢ Ador Samia Pvt. Ltd. v. Peekay Holdings Ltd., (1998) 8 SCC 572.

➢ Vodafone International Holdings B.V. v. Union of India and Anr., (2012) 341 ITR 1(SC).
IOWA

➢ Guru Nanak Foundation v. Rattan Singh and Sons, AIR 1981 SC 2075, 2077.
➢ Ador Samia Pvt. Ltd. v. Peekay Holdings Ltd., (1998) 8 SCC 572, 5oned in italics first if the
author’s name is unknown.

General Rule:

<Short Title of the Act>, § <specific section being referred to>, No. <Act number>, Acts of

Parliament, <year of the Act> (<country abbreviation>). Footnotes

➢ Banking Regulation Act, 1949, § 3, No. 10, Acts of Parliament, 1949 (India). IOWA

➢ Banking Regulation Act, 1949, No. 10, Acts of Parliament, 1949 (India).

Note: While citing a State legislation, in place of ‘Acts of Parliament’, use ‘Acts of <relevant

State> State Legislature’. E.g., Maharashtra Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1953, § 5, No. 40,

Actsof Maharashtra State Legislature, 1953 (India). CONSTITUTION

➢ INDIA CONST. art. 1, § 9, cl. 2.

➢ INDIA CONST. art. 269, amended by The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act,

2000.

ARTICLES:

General Rule:

[Author’s name], [Title of the article], [Journal Volume Number] [NAME OF THE
JOURNAL(abbreviated)] [Starting Page of the Article], [Pages Cited] [(Year)]. Footnotes

➢ Emre Öktem, Turkey: Successor or Continuing State of the Ottoman Empire? , 24 LEIDEN
J. I ‘LL L. 561, 575-576 (2011).

➢ David E. Graham, Cyber Threats and the Law of War, 4 J. NAT'L SEC. L. & POL'Y 87,91
(2010). IOA

➢ Emre Öktem, Turkey: Successor or Continuing State of the Ottoman Empire? , 24LEIDEN J.
I NT'L L. 561 (2011).

➢ David E. Graham, Cyber Threats and the Law of War, 4 J. NAT'L SEC. L. & POLY 87 (2010).
Accepted abbreviations for most journals can be found here:

ONLINE SOURCES:

Online-only Sources

[NAME OF WEBSITE], [URL] [(last visited Date)].

BEN & JERRY’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, http://www.benjerry.com (last visited Oct. 6,

2008).

Dynamic web-pages, such as blogs

[Name of the author], [ Name of the article], [NAME OF THE WEBPAGE] [(Date of access,
timeof access)], [URL].

Asahi Shimbun, A-Bomb Disease Ruling, JAPANESE L. BLOG (Mar. 27, 2009, 9:29 PM),

http://japaneselaw.blogspot.com.

Online source that preserves original pagination, such as a PDF

[Name of the author], [ Name of the article], [Journal Volume Number] [Name of the Journal

(abbreviated)] [Starting Page of the Article], [Pages Cited] [(Year)], [URL].

Kenneth W. Simons, Retributivists Need Not and Should Not Endorse the Subjectivist Accountof
Punishment, 109 COLUM. L. R EV.1, 3 (2009),

http://www.columbialawreview.org/Sidebar/volume/109/1_Simons.pdf.

Direct Citations to Internet Sources

[Name of the author], [ Name of the article], [NAME OF THE WEBPAGE] [(Date of
publication,time of publication)], [URL].

Eric Posner, More on Section 7 of the Torture Convention, VOLOKH CONSPIRACY (Jan. 29,

2009, 10:04 AM)

Id/ Supra/ Infra

10GLANVILLE WILLIAMS, LEARNING THE LAW 69 (2014). 11 Id. at 70.

24GLANVILLE, supra note 10, at 89.

Endnotes and footnotes are the important elements that are required to write very carefully in order
to compose an effective assignment. These notes will help your readers know the various resources
that you’ve used so that they can verify your research work. Moreover, they are a mean of citing
the sources within the text of the assignment to add immense value to your paper. That’s why you
should write them very carefully to make your work worthful. Besides this, end-notes and
footnotes hold a great importance in your assignment writing work.

Importance of Endnotes and Footnotes:

1). Endnotes or footnotes indicate the authenticity of the paper. It will show how much original
your paper is and how relevant it is to the researched data. It can be considered as an alternate way
of citing.

2). It gives professors a deep insight into the research undertaken by the scholars to collect relevant
data for the assignment. It also helps them refer to such sources to gain more information about
the topic.

3). Assignments footnotes are essential as well as helpful to support the claim done in the text of
the document. It can be used in highlighting the subject matter of your paper.

4). Basically, these are used to add more explanation of the sources that you’ve used. It can also
include bibliographical material.

5). It is footnotes or endnotes through which professors get an idea about the researching as well
as referencing skills of students. They can understand extensiveness and the extent of the research
carried out by the scholars. And if anyone lacks it, tutors help them improve.

So, by now you must have understood why endnotes or footnotes are important to write in your
academic papers to make them more worthy. However, most of the students are not aware of their
usage, and that’s why they fail to mention them properly. Because of it, their paper get rejected
most of the times . At that crucial time, they look for various service providers. So, in order to
avoid such a situation, here a few crucial tips that can be considered while writing such notes
effectively in your paper.
Tips to Write End-Notes and Footnotes in Your Assignment

1). The very first step that you need to follow is always creating a footer at the end of every paper.

2). That footer needs to contain the list of every source that you have referred in order to write the
content of that particular page.

3). Keep track of all the sources that you have referred during the research so that you can easily
mention them while writing the notes.

4). The style of writing these notes in the footer should be the same as the style you have followed
for writing your assignment.

5). Use the shortened version of footnotes when you require to reduce clutter in your paper.

6). Place it properly at the end of each page so that it can be found easily.

These were the important tips to write endnotes and footnotes. Moreover, there are two different
ways to write them, such as:

1). Number Referencing Index: In this, you have to mention numbers at the end of every paragraph
or sentence corresponding to the referenced sources in the footnotes.

2). Alphabetical Referencing Index: This is same as number referencing index except that
alphabets are used in it instead of numbers.

IMPORTANCE OR SIGNIFICANCE OF LEGAL RESEARCH

INTRODUCTION
Law is an instrument of social change and an essential ingredient in any social investigation. The
Study of human behavior, its fundamental interactions, attitude relating to law studies is Legal
Research. We often study the relationship between the world and law. A world that law intends
to regulate in Legal Research. The orderly set investigation of problems with the law, such as
Codes, Acts, Constitutions, etc., is legal research.
Lawyers, Law commissions, and researchers perpetually do legal research to fight for justice and
maintain peace and order. Legal Researchers do make orderly and sensible research into social,
political, and economic conditions that rise to individual rules, acts, or codes. They also analyze
socio-legal and other repercussions of those acts or regulations. Legal research is an essential and
necessary tool for individual lawyers (advocates) and law firms disregarding their practice areas.
In the matter of question or doubt related to any case, it helps in the essential search of the case.
While doing legal research in the legal industry, the most basic and initial step is to find out the
leading case governing the crucial points in question.

IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL RESEARCH IN LAW

Legal research sounds simple and easy, but in reality, it is a very tough job. The eligibility to
conduct legal research is essential for lawyers, judges, and legal scholars irrespective of the arena
or different practices. The most basic and crucial step in law research is to find out the leading case
executing the facts in question and then do additional research on it. As most researchers know,
this is far more hazardous than it sounds.
• · To search for relevant "authorities" who will help them find an answer to a legal
problem or issue.

1. To examine the law by reducing, breaking, and separating the law into separate elements: It can
be as simple as exploring and explicating new statutes and statutory strategy and outline, rendering,
and criticizing particular affairs or statutes.
2. To combine the specific elements of cases and statutes into logical or practical legal measures
or general principles: We must go through the issues and conclude based on legal standards and
rules. While we are doing legal research in the legal industry, we should keep some general rules
and legal standards in mind. For perfect material, a legal researcher has to look at different cases
and statutes; only then can he conclude a conclusion after comparing other issues.
3. To look at doctrinal or theoretical issues: The research finding helps advise and suggest courts
or clients about the diligence of the legitimate philosophy to particular cases, affairs, or other legal
activities. It might also knock judicial opinions and thoughts and, in case of difference arises
between the adjudication of different courts, indicates the answers to those disputes.
4. To provide teaching material for students: The end articles include books and modules. It is to
understand and realize the legal doctrine, principles of law. Legal analysis is beneficial for students
as well as for advocates and law firms. By doing research, a law student can explore their studies
and be more involved in them.
5. To acquire knowledge of the legal subject while arguing for a better way of doing things: A
researcher who performs research has to face critics and remarks on legal principles and
assignments from the view of different types of sciences like economics, politics, etc. Therefore,
legal research is very helpful in questioning and doing things better to tackle the situation very
efficiently. Based on facts, a person can win arguments very quickly.

HOW LEGAL RESEARCH BENEFITS IN LAW

An individual assigned for a legal research work assignment should be knowledgeable and
enlightened of the fundamental principles and aims, and issues of law related to the topic of
research undertaken. Thorough and exhaustive knowledge will help in determining and deciding
the law in substantial matters and facts. The suggestion for efficacious legal research is to improve
good analysis tactics and to follow a dynamic approach.

There is numerous equipment available for conducting and operating effective research; legal
research has become more difficult because they want accurate and recent information to ask the
researchers to expand new abilities to keep pace with changes. Legal studies are a critical and
crucial ability all working towards legal professionals ought to produce. However, legal
professionals who are hard-pressed for time and can't dedicate and devote time to research can
now outsource research tasks to legal support offering distributors primarily totally based in India.
The advantage of outsourcing such obligations shall save on fees and will be introduced with the
same output as those offshore companies and sellers guide a crew of well-certified knowledgeable
legal professionals who are experts and specified in doing research projects and assignments.

Problems Encountered by Researchers in India

Research Methodology is a study subject in some of the under-graduate courses and most of the
Post-graduate courses. Still, there is a lack of awareness of the purpose of research and the purpose
of including research methodology in the curriculum. Many students hate this subject and the
hatred is increased when they see the numerical in biostatistics when it is clubbed with research
methodology. There are several problems encountered by students and novice researchers.

lack of Scientific Training

The research methodology is not systematic. Many researchers undertake research work without
having actual knowledge of the research methods. They just look for similar studies and copy the
methodologies listed in it. Even the research guides do not have a thorough knowledge of the
various methodologies. This scenario warrants the need for some sort of short-term training to be
imparted to researchers prior to undertaking research activities. There is a paucity of competent
researchers. The scenario in most cases is like a blind leading the blind. Most of the people who
hold the position of research guides are themselves not thorough with the various methodologies.
They lead the researcher/students to copy methodology of similar studies.

Insufficient Interaction

There is no proper interaction between researchers and the business establishing, government
institutions, etc. This leads to a great deal of data going untapped. Interaction programs should be
organized between researchers and other institutions on a regular basis. This will highlight what
issues need to be researched, what data is required for conducting research, and how the study will
be useful.

Lack of Confidence

Most of the business establishments are of the opinion that, researchers can misuse the data
provided by them. As such, they are reluctant to divulge details of their company. This affects the
research studies for which that particular data may be of utmost importance. Thus, confidence
building measures should be adopted, which will convince the business units that their data will
be put to productive purposes, and will not be misused in any manner by the researcher.

Lack of Code of Conduct

No specific code of conduct exists for the researchers, which leads to inter-departmental and inter-
university rivalries
The outlook of the researcher/research student:

All students before being selected by the guide interact with their senior students. They already
finding difficulty with research, tells the hardships they suffer or suffered. This changes the
outlook of the students. Research is the way you take it. It can be either

Lack of confidence to take up a new study especially explorative study

This may be due to any of the above-mentioned reasonably the fear of the result and fear of not
able to answer questions during presentations. One should be dare enough to disseminate the result
of the study, as it is the truth heshe has come to know after the research process. Limitations of the
study are always considered and no one is going to blame on that, unless until the research is re-
done. This leads to undertaking of overlapping studies, as there is a want of information

❖ Review of Literature

Once the research problem is formulated, the researcher needs to undertake an extensive survey of
literature connected with, related to, and/or having bearing on, his research problem. This is the
process whereby the researcher locates and selects the references that are relevant for his inquiry.

A scholar of law, at this stage, is expected to carefully trace and lay his hands on standard
textbooks, reference books dealing with or having bearing on the research problem, legal
periodicals (to locate research articles written, or authoritative comments made, on the subject or
its allied subjects), case reports (to get familiarize with the thither judicial exposition of the
problem), conference/symposium/seminar proceedings, if any, (to acquaint with different
dimensions highlighted in, delved into, or emerged from, the conference/symposium/seminars,
Government or Committee Reports (to appreciate and understand perspectives of the experts in
the field and of policy-makers), and general web pages (to know latest emerging perspectives and
illustrative examples). The researcher has also to take special care to locate earlier studies done on
the problem and to have a quick reading thereof.

A literature review provides a comprehensive review of the literature in a specific area of interest.
It enables you to:

• investigate previous research and find out what’s been done before
 • consider theoretical frameworks
• identify ‘gaps’ in existing knowledge to find out if your study is worth doing
• determine/clarify/justify your research question/problem
• select the most appropriate methodology (if applicable).

Importantly, a literature review sets the context for your study and provides the framework for
interpreting the results of your study. A literature review, like an essay, has an introduction, body
and a conclusion.

The researcher’s aim is to contribute something new to the existing state of knowledge so therefore
he has to choose from the latter area. This also justifies his research and makes it an original
contribution. It also helps inn avoiding the possible pitfalls, and informs areas that might have been
neglected in the research questions.

Meaning, Scope, and Purpose

Interviews are used to gather information by asking questions. It is a form of research where
the researcher asks questions and hopes to receive responses from the respondents. It is an
encounter in which the interviewer asks the interviewee spoken questions to elicit a response.
Interviewing entails more than just asking and answering questions; it also entails the interviewer
observing the interviewee's behavior, attitude, opinion, way of thinking, and beliefs beyond the
oral part. By observing the interviewee's reaction to the question posed to him, this form of
research method can elicit the truth. The purpose of this research interview is to learn about the
individual participant's perspectives, experiences, and opinions about the topic at hand. Interviews
are beneficial for delving into sensitive topics where participants may not want to discuss them
openly, especially when extensive information is required 13.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERVIEW
1. The interviewer and the participants, i.e., the interviewer and the respondents, are strangers.
As a result, the investigator must make a suitable introduction to the respondent.

13 M. Easwaramoorthy & Fataneh Zarinpoush, Interviewing For Research, Imagine Canada, (Dec. 25, 2021, 8:30 PM),
https://sectorsource.ca/sites/default/files/resources/files/tipsheet6_interviewing_for_research_en_0.pdf.
 2. The participant's relationship with the interviewer is just temporary. It has a predetermined
start and endpoint.
3. An interview is not just a casual talk; it is a conversation with a specific goal in mind, such
as gathering information for a study.
4. An interview is a method of eliciting verbal responses to questions that have been asked
verbally.
5. Face-to-face interaction between the interviewer and the respondent is not required because
interviews can also be conducted over the telephone.
6. An interview does not have to be conducted with a single respondent; it can alternatively
be done with a group of people14.

The study's primary goal is to pay close attention to what the respondents have to say to learn
more about the study topic.
When conducting interviews, it is critical to ask questions that are likely to produce as
much information as possible regarding the research issue. It is better to start with questions that
the participant can readily answer before moving on to more complex and sensitive subjects.
Depending on the topic, researcher, and participant, the interview length varies. The interview
could run anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes on average.
TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
There are three major types of interviews, they are;
(a) Fully-Structured interview
(b) Semi-Structured Interview
(c) Unstructured Interview

(a) Fully - Structured Interview

A standardized interview is a term used to describe this type of interview. This is a
standardized interview with a specified timetable. All responders are asked the same questions in
the same order. Because the questions are usually fairly detailed and the interviewee has a fixed
range of answers, standardization of the question makes it easier to compare responses. The

14Gopal, M. H., THE INTERVIEW AS A RESEARCH TOOL AND THE NEED FOR SYSTEMATIC TRAINING IN ITS USE.
Indian Economic Review, 4(2),(1958), 39–50. http://www.jstor.org/stable/29793156.
questionnaire method is similar to the fully-structured interview. There is a difference between the
two is questions in a structured interview are asked verbally 15.
Sample
If you were to consider the level of your education, would you say you are happy or unhappy with
yourself?
a. Very happy
b. Fairly happy
c. Not very happy
d. Not at all happy
e. Can't choose

(b) The Semi-unstructured Interview

This sort of interview has predefined questions, but the language of the questions can be
changed at the interviewer's discretion, especially if the questions appear to be inappropriate for a
particular interviewee. The ability to adjust the wordings makes it adaptable and thus allows the
interviewee some control over the process. It also allows the interviewer to probe the interviewee
because the subject area is predetermined and known to the interviewer, allowing him to ask
pertinent questions in order to elicit the necessary information on the issue. In radio and television
interviews, this sort of interview is frequently employed16.

(c) The Unstructured Interview

There is no particular pre-planned timeline or framework in this style of interview. It is the
most adaptable interview format. With minimal coaching, the interviewer invites the respondent
to speak freely and extensively about a specific topic. Both the interviewer and the respondent
have more freedom in their interactions. Because the questions asked of different interviewers will

15Rukmini Desai, The Interview Method: Advantages and Limitations | Social Research, Your Article Library, (Dec. 26, 2021,
10:43 AM), https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/social-research/the-interview-method-advantages-and-limitations-social-
research/92801.
16Rukmini Desai, The Interview Method: Advantages and Limitations | Social Research, Your Article Library, (Dec. 26, 2021,
10:43 AM), https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/social-research/the-interview-method-advantages-and-limitations-social-
research/92801.
be different, and the questions will have been worded in different ways because they are not
standardized, the responses may not be comparable. When it comes to contentment, for example,
are you happy with your life?17

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

Interviewing is an art, and the researcher should possess certain qualities such as
confidence, professionalism, courteous manners and the ability to ask questions in clear and easily
understandable language.The researcher should follow certain basic principles to obtain adequate
and truthful information18. It is of utmost importance that the researcher's manners be at all times
courteous, tactful and non-judgemental. Under no circumstances should the researcher argue or
contradict anything that the respondent has said. The basic function of the interviewer is to learn
what the respondent believes and says without disputing or influencing that response. No matter
what the respondent says, the interviewer should accept it without expressing surprise, approval
or disapproval." The dress of the interviewer is also important and that the interviewer should keep
three things in mind in selecting clothing for interviewing: the expectations that surround the role
of the interviewer, the type of persons to be interviewed and their probable response to one's dress,
and manners. Within the limits of good taste, the individual interviewer should decide what dress
would be appropriate for the occasion." 19

METHODS OF INTERVIEW

1. Face to Face Interview

17Rukmini Desai, The Interview Method: Advantages and Limitations | Social Research, Your Article Library, (Dec. 26, 2021,
10:43 AM), https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/social-research/the-interview-method-advantages-and-limitations-social-
research/92801.

18Minocha, Aneeta A. “INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE.” Journal of the Indian Law Institute, vol. 24, no. 4, Indian Law Institute,
1982, pp. 730–38, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43950837.
19 M. Easwaramoorthy & Fataneh Zarinpoush, Interviewing For Research, Imagine Canada, (Dec. 25, 2021, 8:30 PM),
https://sectorsource.ca/sites/default/files/resources/files/tipsheet6_interviewing_for_research_en_0.pdf.
 The personal interview method entails a person known as the interviewer asking questions
to the other person or persons in a face-to-face conversation. This type of interview could be a
direct personal investigation or an indirect oral investigation. In the case of a direct personal
investigation, the interviewer must personally collect information from the sources 20.

Advantages of Face to Face Interview

1) More information, and more in-depth information, can be obtained.
2) The interviewer's competence can overcome the respondents' resistance if any, and the
interview procedure can be tweaked to produce a nearly perfect sample of the general
population.21
3) This method offers more flexibility because the option to restructure questions is always
available, especially in the case of unstructured interviews.
4) The observation approach can also be used to record spoken responses to a variety of
queries.
5) This technique can also be applied to collect personal information.
6) Examples can be handled more successfully because there are no missing returns to
contend with; non-response is often low22.
7) In most cases, the interviewer has some control over who answers the questions. In the
case of a sent questionnaire, this is not possible. Group talks are also possible if desired.
8) The interviewer may catch the informant off guard, resulting in more spontaneous
responses than would be possible with a mailed questionnaire.
9) The interview language can be tailored to the aptitude or educational level of the individual
being questioned, reducing the risk of misinterpretation of questions.
10) The interviewer can gather additional information on the respondent's personal features
and environment, which can help interpret the results 23.

20Jain, R.B. “SAMPLING METHOD IN LEGAL RESEARCH.” Journal of the Indian Law Institute 24, no. 2/3 (1982): 678–91.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/43952231.
21 Anwarul Yaqin, Legal Research and Writing Methods, p.153 , Lexis Nexis (1st Ed. 2008)
22 Advantage and Disadvantage of Interview, The Business Communication, (Dec. 26, 2021, 11:58 AM),
https://thebusinesscommunication.com/advantage-and-disadvantage-of-interview/.
23 7 Interview Methods in Research: Steps and Tips for Interviewing, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-
development/interview-methods-in-research (last accessed on Dec. 25, 2021).
Disadvantages of Face to Face Interview
1) It is a fairly costly procedure, especially when a large and geographically diverse sample
is taken.
2) There is still the chance of interviewer bias as well as respondent bias, as well as the
headache of interviewer supervision and control.
3) Under this method, certain sorts of respondents, such as prominent officials or executives,
or persons in high-income groups, may be difficult to reach, and the data may thus be
insufficient24.
4) This method takes longer, especially when the sample is big and multiple calls to the
respondents are required.
5) The interviewer's presence on the set scene may overstimulate the respondent, to the point
that he may provide false information only to keep the interview interesting.
6) The structure necessary for choosing, training, and managing field staff under the
interview approaches is more complex and fraught with difficulties.
7) Interviewing can sometimes result in systematic inaccuracies.
8) A successful interview necessitates a good connection with the respondents, which allows
for open and honest responses. This is a challenging criterion to meet 25.

2. Telephone interviews:

This method of data collection is calling respondents directly on the phone. It is not a
widely utilized method, but it is critical in industrial surveys, especially in developed areas.

Advantages of Telephone Interview

24Rukmini Desai, The Interview Method: Advantages and Limitations | Social Research, Your Article Library, (Dec. 26, 2021,
10:43 AM), https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/social-research/the-interview-method-advantages-and-limitations-social-
research/92801.
25 Chitra Reddy, Interview Methods and Types: Advantages and Disadvantages, Wisestep, (Dec. 26, 2021, 11:43 AM),
https://content.wisestep.com/interview-methods-types-advantages-disadvantages/.
 1. It is more adaptable than the mailing method.
2. It is a faster technique of acquiring information than other ways.
3. It is less expensive than personal interviewing; the cost per response is pretty modest in
this case.
4. Recall is easy and cost-effective; callbacks are simple and cost-effective.
5. The response rate is higher than that of the postal approach; non-response is often quite
low.
6. Respondents' responses can be recorded without causing them humiliation.
7. The interviewer will have an easier time explaining the requirements.
8. Access can be achieved to responders who would otherwise be unable to be contacted for
various reasons.
9. No field personnel are required.
10. A representative sample with a larger dispersion is possible.26
Disadvantages of Telephone Interview
1. Respondents are given little time to think about their replies; in most situations, the
interview period will not last more than five minutes.
2. Only people who have access to a phone can participate in surveys.
3. Cost constraints may limit the extent of geographical coverage.
4. It is unsuitable for lengthy surveys requiring detailed responses to a variety of topics.
5. There is a higher chance of the interviewer being biased.
6. Questions should be brief and to the point; probing is tough to deal with.

ESSENTIAL CONDITION OF INTERVIEW

HOW TO TAKE A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

26Rukmini Desai, The Interview Method: Advantages and Limitations | Social Research, Your Article Library, (Dec. 26, 2021,
10:43 AM), https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/social-research/the-interview-method-advantages-and-limitations-social-
research/92801.
 1. Arriving for the interview with prior knowledge of the subject, familiarity with your
recording equipment, and a consent form that the interviewee will sign giving you
permission to utilize the tape-recorded interview for research reasons. It would be best if
you also emphasized that the interview will be stored as part of a wider project
documenting Latino migrants' life in the United States.
2. Make the narrator as comfortable as possible; kind, friendly behavior will relax your
interviewee. Interviews should not start off on a sour note. Take the opportunity to
introduce yourself and discuss your proposal. "Hello, Mr. Jones," for example. Jill Savage
here. What is new with you today? thankful to you for letting me take your time to interview
you for my oral history project on your migration experiences. Let's look for a peaceful
spot where we can sit and converse. To do the interview, where would you prefer to sit?
"How do you want to go about the interview?"
3. Take your time finding a peaceful place to conduct the interview. Even the sound of clocks,
pets, and chatter can add distracting noises to recordings, as well as distract you and the
interviewer, lowering the overall quality of the interview and recording. Between you and
the interviewee, set up the recorder. Before you start recording, make sure the narrator is
ready to go27.
4. Start the interview with a few basic questions that the interviewee will be able to answer
quickly and effortlessly.
5. Ask each question one at a time, and do not press the person to react quickly. Allow enough
time for the interviewee to consider and react. Silence should not make you nervous.
Silences improve interviews; pause for at least ten seconds before asking the next question.
6. Speak clearly and loudly enough for the interviewee to comprehend and hear you. Keep
your questions as succinct as possible so that the interviewee understands what you're
asking. If necessary, repeat the question.
7. As many open-ended inquiries as you can think of. Instead of giving yes/no answers, these
questions invite the interviewee to share stories.

27 Michael Sunday Afolayan & Omolade Adeyemi Omiyinde, Interviews and Questionnaires as Legal Research Instruments,
Vol.83, 2019 ; Journal of Law, Policy and Globolization , ISSN 2224-3259(online); p.51, 51-59, (2009),
https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JLPG/issue/view/3935.
 8. Use clear, simple English while drafting your queries. Keep in mind that the people you'll
be interviewing aren't academics.
For example, Do not inquire about "how gender has influenced your migrating experience."
Rather, inquire, "How was your experience crossing the border as a woman?" "Did your gender
play a role in your decision to migrate?" "Did you have a different experience as a woman than
other migrants, you know?" "Tell me about your experiences as a single man trying to make a new
life in the United States."
Another case in point. Do not inquire, "Do you use social media?" or "what, if any, social
networks did you use?" Instead, consider this: "Do you rely on anyone (family members, friends,
or coworkers, for example) to assist you with your trip?" "Do you have any family members or
friends whom you could rely on when you first arrived in the United States?" or "Do you have any
family members or friends whom you could rely on when you first arrived in the United States?"
If they say yes, you can ask follow-up questions, "Who were they?" for example. Moreover, in
what ways (or in what ways) did they assist you? Was that a common occurrence?"

9. Pay attention to the interviewee's responses and then follow up with questions like "how
did you feel about that?" or "what occurred next?" to elicit further information before
moving on to the next topic on your page. Respond to the interviewee in a professional
manner. If the interviewee relates a traumatic recollection, pause or says something like
"that must have been terrible." Also, if the person is visibly moved, ask if they would like
to take a break and halt the interview and resume it later 28.

10. Do not contradict or correct your interviewee, and keep your personal opinions to a
minimum. Do not say, "Tell me about that winter; you must have had a dreadful time."

11. Do not rush the interview's conclusion. Prepare a strong closing question that will assist
the interviewee in summarising or reaching a conclusion. Before pausing the recorder, you

28Gopal, M. H., THE INTERVIEW AS A RESEARCH TOOL AND THE NEED FOR SYSTEMATIC TRAINING IN ITS USE.
Indian Economic Review, 4(2),(1958), 39–50. http://www.jstor.org/stable/29793156.
 might want to ask them if there is anything else they want to say that they haven't already
told you29.

Always express gratitude to your interviewee for their time and assistance with your
assignment. Make sure the interviewee signs the consent form.

QUALITIES OF INTERVIEWER
1. An analytical mind
2. A people person
3. The ability to stay calm
4. Intelligence
5. Curiosity
6. Quick thinker
7. Commitment
8. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
9. Sympathetic
10. Systematic

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
A schedule is the name given to a set of questions that are asked and answered, out by an
interviewer in a face to face situation with another An interview schedule contains a list of
questions which are fairly standardised 30.
In survey research, both questionnaires and schedules are widely used for collecting
information. Where a schedule is used, the job of the researcher is to put questions to respondents,
using the questions from the schedule in the order the questions are listed, and record the responses
in the space meant for the same in the schedule. Sometimes the researcher may hand over the

29 Anwarul Yaqin, Legal Research and Writing Methods, p.156 , Lexis Nexis (1st Ed. 2008)
30 Anwarul Yaqin, Legal Research and Writing Methods, p.160 , Lexis Nexis (1st Ed. 2008)
schedule to the respondents and may help them in recording their responses in the appropriate
spaces in the schedule31.
An interview schedule may be used by a single researcher or by a group working on a
project. Usually, schedules are used as a method of census surveys. In large-scale surveys, data
collection in large-scale research conducted by big organizations or persons interviewers (often
called research workers or enumerators) are appointed governments in population : o conduct
interviews with the help of schedules. These schedules contain necessary instructions and
guidelines for interviewers.
Interview schedules and questionnaires are similar in nature. Both are widely used as a
method of data collection. However, there are some Interview Differences. Questionnaires which
are handed over personally by the researcher are filled out by the respondents. Schedules are used
by the searcher to ask questions and responses are recorded by the researcher himself or herself.
When schedules are used, the researcher explains the purpose and importance of the study and
tries to remove any difficulty the respondent feels in understanding a particular question. Only
when respondents are literate can questionnaires be utilized. When schedules are used, affirmation
can be collected even where the respondents are illiterate. In the case of questionnaires, often
questionnaires received are incomplete or the responses provided are irrelevant due to incorrect
understanding of a question or some other reasons. When schedules are used, the information
collected is generally complete and the responses appropriate, because the presence of the
researcher can ensure that the questions are understood correctly and relatively accurate answers
are recorded32.
CONCLUSION
The main objective is to provide fundamental guidelines for selecting, building, and
administering research instruments, with a focus on the two most common instruments used in
research surveys, namely questionnaires and interview schedules. Their uses and drawbacks, as
well as the advantages and disadvantages of each, are discussed, form and content of their creation,
were all explored. The response rate as well as the quality of the information obtained will be

31 Michael Sunday Afolayan & Omolade Adeyemi Omiyinde, Interviews and Questionnaires as Legal Research Instruments,
Vol.83, 2019 ; Journal of Law, Policy and Globolization , ISSN 2224-3259(online); p.51, 51-59, (2009),
https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JLPG/issue/view/3935.
32Gopal, M. H., THE INTERVIEW AS A RESEARCH TOOL AND THE NEED FOR SYSTEMATIC TRAINING IN ITS USE.
Indian Economic Review, 4(2),(1958), 39–50. http://www.jstor.org/stable/29793156.
determined by the research topic, the researcher's choice, and the amount to which the suggestions
in this work are implemented.

❖ MEANING OF A REPORT

Every research leads to the creation of a research report. Report is the formal logical presentation
of the research that has been conducted. The purpose of research report is to convey to the
interested persons the whole result of study in sufficient detail and to determine the validity of the
conclusions. The culmination of research is in the form of the research report which explains with
clarity the various steps that have been undertaken to come to the conclusion. Writing of a research
report requires not only technical skill but also thorough knowledge of the subject matter,
perseverance and the right perspective on every aspect of the research problem. The ability to write
effective report is one of the most useful skills a researcher can acquire. The arrangement of ideas
and interpretations of the findings is of utmost importance. In this regard Briwn observes: “we say
it as simply as we possibly can, and this that is, that a report is a communication from someone to
another who wants to use that information. The report may be elaborately formal, it may be a letter,
in great many organizations, it is memorandum; but it is always planned for use.

❖ SIGNIFICANCE / OBJECTIVES OF A REPORT

A well written report helps in knowledge building in the concerned area but also helps in future
research. While all the necessary information is presented in the appropriate manner so that the
targeted readers may be able to understand and utilize the same. The objectives of a research report
are:

1. Conveying of knowledge to the concerned people in the field of research

2. Proper presentation of the findings for further utilization of the recommendations.

3. Give impetus to research in the concerned knowledge area.

4. To re-examine the validity of generalizations drawn by the researcher after the report has been
submitted.

❖ TYPES OF REPORT
Reports are of different types depending upon its area, purpose and the approach. Following are
some illustrations of the various types of reports:

1. Business report

2. Project report

3. Dissertation

4. Enquiry report of a commission

5. Thesis

❖ LEGAL RESEARCH REPORT

A report which deals specifically with a legal problem is said to be a legal research report. Such a
report is not a complete description of the work done by the researcher. It is only a brief statement
of the most significant facts that are necessary for the understanding the generalizations drawn by
the investigator. 4 Once all the data has been analyzed and interpreted, the last step to the entire
research process is to write a research report. This report must be comprehensive and written in
simple yet clear language so that it is adequately communicated to the concerned readers.

❖ GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR REPORT WRITING

After the research process is over, many researchers face the difficulty of writing down the
research. It is advisable that before starting the report writing, the entire research time frame,
planning and organizing of the study material is done on the basis of the objectives and the
hypothesis made. Following are some of the basic guidelines that a researcher may follow
throughout the research so that report writing becomes lucid and manageable.

1. Knowledge of the research material

The comprehensive and adequate knowledge of the research area by the researcher cannot be
understated. It forms the backbone of the entire research process and is of vital importance at the
time of analysis, interpretation and report writing.

2. Organizing of research material

Material collected must be organized and the notes made on them manageable and properly
arranged with sufficient information which may be required. The research information must be
logically analyzed and represented in the correct sequence of time or occurrence.

3. Continuous report reflective thinking

Researcher constantly reflects on the material and data collected for a more comprehensive legal
research report.

4. Rough drafts

Prepare rough drafts which will help him with research interpretation and generalizations to be
more accurate and relevant to the research questions or hypothesis.

5. Rewrite and polish the rough drafts

Careful revision of the drafts helps in checking the development of the arguments in the report,
representation of the material as well as the cohesiveness of the entire report.

6. Preparation of the final bibliography

It is essential that from the very beginning of the research, the researcher must maintain a
bibliography of the literature read, consulted and incorporated in the research process. This
bibliography is generally appended to the research project. It should be arranged alphabetically
and be divided into various parts like name of the books, articles, reports and legislation consulted.

7. Footnotes and head notes

The researcher must whenever citing another author’s work make due footnotes or endnotes to add
authenticity and reference to the report. There are various methods of writing bibliography and
footnotes like the blue book method, OSCOLA method etc.