EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
Promotion of research in school education and research-based policy perspectives for qualitative improvement of school education are important concerns of the NCERT.
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19 EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH Promotion of research in school education and research-based policy perspectives for qualitative improvement of school education are important concerns of the NCERT. The main functions in this area, inter alia, include: (i) developing and strengthening institutional research capacity, (ii) research-based documentation of information on education, especially school-related aspects, and (iii) providing channels of communication to reach out to the functionaries and beneficiaries related to educational research and receiving feedback on research findings and their impact on education system. Apart from the constituent units of the NCERT undertaking research, the Educational Research and Innovations Committee (ERIC), a standing com- mittee of the NCERT, acts as a catalyst to promote and support educational research in the country.
Fifth Survey of Educational Research The Fifth Survey of Educational Research intends to cover predominantly Ph.D. and M. Phil. abstracts of India covering the period 1988-92. As a prelude to the survey report, a Bibliography of Educational Research of the above survey was released to facilitate the researchers with the primary source of information about the researches. The survey covers more than 1,800 abstracts, which have been classified into 38 areas. The survey document is being brought out in two volumes-the first volume covers Trend Reports and the second volume covers Abstracts.
For the Sixth Survey covering the period from 1993 onwards, a new modality has been adopted to minimise the time gap between the completion of studies and their wider dissemination. A biannual research journal Indian Educational Abstracts has been introduced. Two Issues of this journal were published. After bringing out six issues of the journal, a Trend Report will be brought out.
International Research Seminars The NCERT organised the second international seminar on the focal theme 'School Effectiveness and Classroom Processes at the Primary Stage' at its Campus in New Delhi from 24 to 26 July 1996. The seminar was a part of the Research Component of the DPEP to evolve research-based strategies to provide primary education for all children up to the age of 14 years.
Select Indian and foreign scholars in the field of Primary Education were invited to contribute papers on the seminar theme. Out of 170 papers received, 65 were selected for presentation and discussion in the seminar. Of these, 10 papers were contributed by foreign scholars representing Denmark, Hong Kong, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA.
Representatives of European Commission (EC), World Bank (WB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Overseas Development Administration (ODA), Tribhuvan University Research Centre and Development, Nepal, District Primary Education (DPEP) Bureau of the Government of India, Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Bombay, NG0s and Departments of Education of Indian Universities, attended the seminar and participated in the deliberations.
Senior faculty members of the NCERT also participated in the seminar and contributed in the discussions. Thirteen technical ses- sions were held during the seminar. Proceedings of the seminar were published under the title Understanding Classroom Processes at Primary Stage. The papers presented in the seminar are being published. Action was initiated for organising regional seminars on the focal theme of 'Teacher Empowerment' as forerunners to the 1997 International Research Seminar on Teacher Empowerment. and School Effectiveness at Primary Stage.
Completed Research Projects Six research projects supported by the Educational Research and Innovation Committee (ERIC) were completed during 1996-97.
Research Journals The NCERT brings out three journals of educational research, namely, (i) Journal of Indian Education, (ii) Bharatiya Adhunik Shiksha, and (iii) Indian Educational Review. The Journal of Indian Education and the Bharatiya Adhunik Shiksha are quarterly journals in English and Hindi, respectively. The main purpose of both the journals is to provide an open forum for fruitful and continued interaction among teachers, teacher educators, educational administrators and
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Research projects Completed during 1996-97
S.No. Title of the Project Principal Investigator
Research in NCERT Constituents
1. A Study of Internship in Teaching Dr G.N.P. Srivastava
with a view to Develop Strategies RIE, BHOPAL
for its Improvement
This project was undertaken (i) to
study the existing pattern of
practice teaching and internship in
teaching programmes of RIEs, IASEs
and some other significant teacher
training institutions, (ii) to
analyse critically various
components of internship in teaching
programme, and (iii) to prepare
guidelines and materials in order to
restructure and overhaul the
internship-in-teaching programme and
its related aspects. A 'Handbook of
Internship-in-Teaching', including
the findings and recommendations for
improving the total system of
teacher education, was brought out.
Researches Conducted in Other Organisations
2. Early Childhood Education (ECE) and prof. J. Mohanty
its Need for Universalisation of Sambalpur
Elementary Education (UEE)
The study was undertaken with the
objectives: (i) to make a survey of
ECE centres in respect of Management
and Administration, Organisation of
Curricular and Co-curricular
Programmes, Methods of Teaching, Use
of Learning Materials and Media,
Class Organisation and Techniques,
(ii) to find out the relevance of
their programmes in various
dimensions, (iii) to know their
contribution towards the achievement
of national goals of UEE, (iv) to
identify the strengths and
weaknesses in Management, and (v) to
suggest measures-for enabling these
ECE centres in achieving goals of
UEE. Based on the analysis of data
collected from 200 ECE centres,
several recommendations have been
made for removing the deficiencies
and improving the system.
3. Structural Constraints in Dr R.P.Sinha
Educational Development: A Study of Patna
Educational Backwardness among
Tribals of Bihar
The research examined whether
educational opportunity was adequate
and within the reach of the tribal
students, whether it was being
equally utilised by all tribal
students (selected and sampled for
the present study) irrespective of
their socioeconomic and other
variables. An attempt has been made
to identify factors in the college
and home of tribal students which
facilitated or stumbled education
among them. The report includes
student's outlook on the status of
the scheduled tribes and facilities
provided in terms of status
perception, awareness of the
reservation of jobs, scholarship
schemes, and policy of reservation.
It also includes impression of
college teachers regarding the
tribal students particularly with
reference to (i) facilities
available to the tribal students,
(ii) problems, if any, encountered
by them In teaching the tribal
students and (iii) to suggest ways
and means for the removal of
difficulties encountered by them
in this regard.
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Research Projects Completed during 1996-97 (contd.)
4. Standardisation of Assessment Prof. Veena Mistry
Check-list for Pre-school Children Baroda
The authors have standardised the
assessment check-list for pre-school
children, based on a total sample of
750 children (450 from urban and 300
from rural areas). The content of
the check-list covers five major
areas of development, namely, (i)
gross motor skills, (ii) finer motor
skills, (iii) conceptual and
readiness skills, (iv) language
skills, and (v) personal social
skills.
5. A Developmental Investigation of Dr. P. Karanth
Onset Progress and Stages of Mysore
Literacy Acquisition-Its
Implications for Instructional
Process
The present study was a longitudinal
study extending over three academic
years undertaken with the
objectives: (i) to study the process
of literacy acquisition in terms of
a sequence of stages as outlined in
Frith's Model, (it) to identify the
stages and draw Its implications to
the educational system in terms of
(a) the interaction of orthographic
features and literacy acquisition,
and (b) instructional methods and
literacy acquisition. The subjects
of this investigation were students
of upper kindergarten of age-group
4-5 years from two different schools
of Mysore. The results of the study
indicate that while children
learning to read Kannada do progress
through a series of stages; these
stages are not the same as those
proposed by western models such as
that of Frith's (1985). The
implications of these results for
both developmental framework for
learning to read and write Indian
scripts and for instructional
processes have been drawn. Further,
the broader relevance of these
results to remedial measures for
children with reading disorders as
well as adult literacy programmes
have been stated.
6. Development of Moral Values among Dr R.R.Singh
Adolescents through Curriculum Sangaria
Planning: A Moral Action Model
There is aheavy demand of moral
promoters and ethics workers for the
modern society so that prospective
generation may live in a cordial and
unpollutedhuman and physical
environment. Education should not
confine itself to mere information
but it has to address itself to fill
man's life with ethical values. The
researcher feels that his moral
action model consisting of CDRFISHER
proves its worthwhileness and
utility in the field of education
and comments that the present moral
action model can be improved and
modified in accordance with the
environment found in a school. He
further suggests that the models of
moral education may be used at the
school level and a kit of moral
education materials can be prepared
for easy availability to schools.
research workers through presentation of innovative ideas. By keeping its readers abreast of the latest advances in education, these Journals promote fresh thinking in all aspects of school education. The Indian Educational Review includes research papers which are previewed.
Research Studies in Progress The work on five research projects undertaken by the constituent units of the WERT and 38 research studies undertaken by outside research institutions continued during the period under report.
Policy Research Three studies on policy-related issues, viz, (i) Returning of Evaluated Answer Books to the Examinees after Board's Examination to Promote Transparency in the Evaluation
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Research Studies in Progress during 1996-97
S. No. Title of the Study Principal Investigator
Departmental Studies
1. Development of a Science Technology Prof. A.C. Banerjee
Society (STS) Approach of Teaching RIE, Ajmer
Science in Middle Schools and Try-out of
its Effectiveness in Selected Schools
2. An Evaluation of Asharam Schools in Dr. K.R.Sharma
Madhya Pradesh RIE, Bhopal
3. Students' Preconceptions and Dr H.C. Jain
Misconceptions in Physics at +2 Level RIE, Ajmer
4. Study of Development of Classification Dr S.C. Jain
Reasoning Using Computers RIE, Ajmer
5. Teacher Educators in Perspective: Prof. V.K. Raina
Exploration in Their Social Origins, DTEE, NCERT
World-View, Life Experience, Preferences
and Professional Productivity
NCERT Sponsored Studies
1. Development of English Language Test at Dr Rama Mathew
School Level Hyderabad
2. Psycho-social Correlates of Career Dr G. Mohan Kumar
Choice among High School Students Bangalore
3. A Study of Attitudinal Change in Pre- Prof. B. Dwivedi
service Student Teacher Behaviour through Varanasi
Use of Action Research Strategy
4. Evaluation of the Working and Management Dr P.P.Gokuknathan
of Navodaya Vidyalayas in North-Eastern Shillong
Region of India
5. Assessment and Influence of Special Dr (Smt.)C. Pandian
Education Needs Madras
6. A Study of Social Curricula and Prof. Susheela Bhan
Textbooks of +2 Stage from the Standpoint New Delhi
of Peace Promotion with a View to
Developing Curricula for Peace Education
7. Behavioural Analysis and Modification of Dr S.S. Kaushik
Parent Training Techniques Involved in Varanasi
Improving Study and Homework Behaviours
of Their Academically Backward Children
8. A Study of Scientific Temperament among Prof. V.K.Dubey
Junior High School Students in Varanasi Varanasi
9. Innovative Institutions and Their Prof. Mohd. Miyan
Programmes for Professional Development New Delhi
of School Teachers in India
10. A Study of the Impact of Key Dr Arun K. Gupta
Institutional and Instructional Variables Jammu
on Training Outcomes in College of
Education
11. Cognitive Process, Cultural Adaptation Dr R.C. Mishra
and Education of Children of Some Tribal Varanasi
Groups
12. Construction and Standardisation of Dr Sunita Sharma
Tactile Test of Intelligence (Verbal and Aligarh
Non-Verbal) Suitable for Visually
Disabled Children of 11 to 19 Years of
Age
13. An Evaluation of Certain Aspects of Dr P. Adinarayana
Total Literacy Programme (Akshara Chittoor
thapasman) with Special Reference to the
Education of Children (age group 9-14
years) in Chittoor District of Andhra
Pradesh
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Research Studies in Progress during 1996-97 (contd.)
S.No. Title of the Study Principal Investigator
14. Integrated System of Education in Bihar- Dr Shashi Prabha
A Study of Adjustment of Handicapped Patna
Students
15. Drug Abuse in Male Adolescents in Senior Dr (Smt.)S.Banerjee
Secondary Schools and Application of Varanasi
Certain Intervention Techniques to
Prevent Drug Addiction by Modifying Their
Temperamental Susceptibility
16. Role of Performance of Special Education Dr G.L.Reddy
Teachers Algappa
17. A Study of Effectiveness of Mastery Prof M.M.Chel
Learning Approach in Teaching Mathematics West Bengal
at the Secondary Level of Education in
West Bengal
18. Reducing Burnout in Women Teachers Dr.(Smt.)N. Mishra
Lucknow
19. A Comparative Study of the Personality Dr B.C.Mishra
Patterns and Academic Achievement of SC Orissa
and ST Students and Non SC/ST Students
Ashram Schools and Studying in Non-Ashram
Schools in Orissa
20. Development of Concepts Relating to Dr Debjani Sengupta
Measurement among Visually Impaired Calcutta
Children
21. Development and Evaluation of Child- Dr(Smt.)R.Malhotra
Centred Curriculum for Mentally New Delhi
Handicapped Children
22. Development of Low-Cost Functional Dr M.N.G. Mani
Assessment Kit (LOFAKT) and Studying the Coimbatore
Relationship between Visual Acquity and
Visual Efficiency of Low Vision Children
23. Population Socialisation among the Rural Dr T.P. Aggarwal
High School Students, Parents, Teachers Kurukshetra
and Legislators
24. Effectiveness of the Local Resources in Dr G.S. Paliwal
Biology Education at the Secondary Level Uttar Pradesh
in Uttar Pradesh
25. Strategies to Develop Reading Skills in Dr P. Vimla Devi
Hearing Impaired Children at High School Tirpura
Level
26. Teacher Expectations in Indian Schools, Dr N.C.Dhoundiyal
Their Effect on Teaching Process and Almora
Student Outcomes
27. Development of a Career Maturity Dr (Smt.) A. Shukla
Inventory for Use with Female Lucknow
College/University Students
28. A Study of Feasibility of Involvement of Dr (Smt.) P. Mathur
Female Health Personnel in Women's Delhi
Education Programme in Rural Community
29. Influence of Home Environment on Dr. Sudha Bhogle
Cognitive Development of Children in Age Bangalore
Group 6-8 Years.
30. Impact of Job Experience on Burnout Dr Uma Ranjan
Syndrome in Teachers Hyderabad
31. Interdisciplinary Approach to Experimental Smt. K. Rajalaxmi
Learning in Primary Classes Tadepalliguden
32. Navachar Shikshan Samagri Ka Unopcharik Dr N.P. Narain
Shiksha Ki Pragati Par Prabhava Patna
33. Hand and Task Training Requirement for Dr Miriam Ittyerah
Blind Children Delhi
34. A Study on Functioning of Ashram Schools Dr P.S. Reddy
in Tribal Areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tirupati
Maharashtra
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Research Studies in Progress during 1996-97 (contd.)
S. No. Title of the Study Principal Investigator
35. Evaluation of Early Childhood Teacher Shri S.P.Malhotra
Education Programmes and Suggesting Krukshetra
Perspectives
36. Investigation of Meta-representational Dr Nandita Bahu
Language in Oriya: Its Linguistic, Bhubaneswar
Cognitive and Educational Implications
37. Reading Disabilities and Cognitive Dr M.K. Pani
Information Processing among Primary Orissa
Level Children
38. A Study on the Impact of an Integrated Sr (Ms) I.Mahapatra
Intervention of Scholastic Performance of New Delhi
School Children
Publication Grant Scheme
Ph.D. Theses Published with the Partial Assistance from the ERIC,
NCERT
S. No. Title Name of the Author
1. Development of Language Creativity Dr Sucheta
Kurukshetra
2. Readability Formula for Kannada Dr D. Nanjappa
language Bangalore
3. The Impact of Educational Video Film and Dr A.M.Kapadia
Tape-Chart Programme on Students' Learning Surat
4. Teachers' Motivation to Work Dr J.P.Mittal, NCERT
5. Behaviour Problems in Children Dr Neelam Sood
Delhi
Publication Grants Sanctioned for Ph.D. Theses
1. Study into the Competence of Principals Dr (Ms) Alka Kalra
for Efficient Management of Senior New Delhi
Secondary Schools
2. Effect of Training in Creative Dr Basanti Pradhan
Thinking on Creativity and, Achievement New Delhi
of Secondary School Pupils.
3. The Concept of Secularism and its Dr(Smt.)S.Raghuvanshi
Educational Implications Allahabad
4. Factors underlying Semantic Abilities as Dr (Km.) Tarun Lata
Predictors of Achievement in Science, Badaun
Mathematics, Social Studies and
Language at Class X Level
5. A Study of Relative Effectiveness of Some Dr Naresh Kumar
Information Processing, Models of Teaching Gupta, Delhi
on Mental Processes and Attitude towards
Science
6. H. Bergson and J. Krishnamurti: A Critical Dr(Smt.)A.Y.Sardesai
and Comparative Study Pune
7. Behavioural Problems among Children aged Dr Neelam Sood
6-11 Years: A Psychological Study New Delhi
8. A Biographical Study of the Characteri- Dr. N. D. Jain
stics of the National Awardee Teachers RIE, Bhopal
with Special Reference to Personal, Social