Research Methodology: Process, Technique and Application is a contemporary and comprehensive guide designed to align with the evolving landscape of modern research, particularly under the vision of the New Education Policy. The book emphasizes the development of innovative thinking and practical research acumen, especially in the context of solution-oriented and multidisciplinary research approaches. It effectively bridges classical research foundations with advanced analytical frameworks, integrating tools from mathematics, statistics, and computational sciences to strengthen social science inquiry.

The volume uniquely incorporates both linear and non-linear analytical techniques, including Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM), Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), grounded theory, meta-analysis, game theory, and participatory data analysis. By combining theoretical depth with practical application, the book enhances predictive accuracy and research adaptability. It serves as an essential resource for students, researchers, and academicians, making research more engaging, systematic, and impactful across diverse disciplines globally.

Prof. (Dr.) Sankar Kr Acharya, presently, Dean, Post Graduate Studies; former Head, Department of Agril Extension and Director, Extension Education, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, WB, born on 6th October, 1960, started his career as Assistant Professor at BCKV in 1988 and has been in teaching, research and extension more than 36years. An erudite teacher as well as an elegant speaker, is internationally acclaimed for his unique research domain of Social Entropy and Energy Metabolism, Social Ecology and Environmental Sociology, Enterprise Ecology Framework, Conservation Stewardships: Research Publication: 251 in National and International Journals. Book Publication: 119 books authored. So far, he has delivered 49 keynote addresses and chaired 57 sessions in National and International congresses. Expert Member, Agriculture Commission; Marketing and Extension Sub Committee, Govt. of West Bengal; Expert member WWF projects in BTR (Buxa Tiger Reserve Project); Expert member; DFID project on Primary Education (DPEP); Rapid Environment Impact Analysis. Co-PI of ICAR, NAHEP and World Bank funded project on Conservation Agriculture. So, far he has successfully guided 23 Ph D scholars and 97 M Sc scholars. He is the Fellow of ISEE, IARI, New Delhi, Fellow, BIOVED, Allahabad; Fellow, Society of community mobilization, IARI, New Delhi. He is now acting as editor, reviewer of several national and international journals Awards and Distinctions: Distinguish Scholar Award, Krishisanskriti, New Delhi; Certificate of Merit for standing First class first at M Sc(Ag) in Agricultural Extension, 1986; ;Honorary Appointment to the Research Board of Advisors, The American Biographic Institute (2003). He has been honored to be selected as the Convener of Panel (PE-32) entitled the hunger, poverty and silence, of World Congress, IUAES, University of Manchester, UK, 2013. He has been honoured to be selected as the Convener of Panel (P-102) entitled, Uncertainties, Unpredictability and Marginalization: The impact and mitigation for survival of agriculture and humanity, of the 19th World Congress, IUAES-WAU, 14-20 October, 2023, New Delhi, India, 2023 ;Honoured to be nominated as Expert Member, Working group on Agricultural Extension, West Bengal State Agriculture Commission (2007) ;Honoured to be nominated by the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, BCKV to Act as an Expert Member, DPEP, A DFID, UK, project for planning and revamping primary education through POA of GOVT of India.(1995)Expert Member, Buxa Tiger Reserve Project funded by WWF(World Wide Wild Life Funding), 1998 ;Dr Daulat Singh Memorial Award, Society of Extension Education, Distinguished Professor and Academician Award, Research Education Solution (RES), M S Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University(2022); Eminent Scientist Award, EIABT, Citwan Nepal. He is also the Expert Member, Research Council, Vidyasagar University, WB. Achievers of German patent (Utility model no.20202310273): Novel LOT based inventory management system with radio controlled pallet racking for storage solution. He is the Fellow, West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology (WAST), 2024. He is also the fellow of ISEE, New Delhi, Fellow, BIOVED, Allahabad, Fellow, Mobilization, New Delhi. On academic missions, he visited Italy, France, Germany, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Bangladesh, He has a rich profile of editorial and reviewers’ contributions a different national and international Journals. Now, he has been invited to Zurich, Switzerland to deliver the Keynote address in International conference on Conservation Agriculture, June 22-23, 2025.

Dr. Prasenjit Pal is presently working as Assistant Professor (SG) in Statistics at College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Imphal. He has been in teaching, research and extension for the last twelve years in the Department of Fisheries Extension, Economics and Statistics, College of Fisheries, CAU (I). He obtained his M.Sc degree in Agricultural Statistics from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IASRI), New Delhi, in 2006 and Ph.D degree in Agricultural Statistics from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalay (BCKVV) in 2011. He is the active advisory members of many PG and Ph.D scholars in various University and Research Organizations. He authored 118 research publications in reputed National (86) and International Journals (32), 4 Books and good number of Popular articles/Book chapters/Extension Bulletin as on date. Besides this, he is associated with many administrative responsibilities. He has organized many training programmes, webinars. He is the life member of several scientific societies.

Dr. Arnab Banerjee, born on 25th February 1997, in Bankura district of West Bengal obtained his B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, West Bengal, in the year 2019. He obtained his M.Sc. in Agriculture and Rural Development from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), Narendrapur, West Bengal, in the year 2021. He was awarded with a gold medal for securing 1st position in M.Sc. He has done his Post Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Extension Management (PGDAEM-MOOCs) from National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad in 2023; and he has been awarded with a pair of gold medals for securing 1st position in PGDAEM. He has published some research articles in reputable journals. Additionally, he has been awarded with the best oral presenter awards in international conferences. In 2025, he has obtained his Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Extension from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya under the supervision of Prof. S.K. Acharya.

Chapter 1: Research: Basics of Research Methods, its Approaches and Typology Sankar Kr Acharya and Prasenjit Pal

Chapter 2: Analytical Methods for Hypothesis Testing in Social Science Prasenjit Pal

Chapter 3: Basics of Sampling Methods in Research Sankar Kr Acharya and Prasenjit Pal

Chapter 4: Multivariate Techniques in Social Sciences Prasenjit Pal and Sankar Kr Acharya

Chapter 5: Nonlinear Programming in Research Prasenjit Pal

Chapter 6: Statistical Analysis and Software Prasenjit Pal and Sankar Kr Acharya

Chapter 7: Participatory Approaches in Community Based Observation (CBD) and Researches Sankar Kr Acharya, Prasenjit Pal and Arnab Banerjee

Chapter 8: Reference Writing in Research Publication Prasenjit Pal and Sankar Kr Acharya

Chapter 9: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture Prasenjit Pal

Chapter 10: The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP): A Structured Approach to Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Arnab Banerjee and Sankar Kr Acharya

Chapter 11: Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM): A Tool for Modeling Complex Systems and Decision-Making Arnab Banerjee and Sankar Kr Acharya

Chapter 12: Artificial Neural Network (ANN): Foundation, Anatomy, and Application Arnab Banerjee and Sankar Kr Acharya

Chapter 13: Delphi Technique: Harnessing Expert Consensus for Decision-Making and Forecasting Arnab Banerjee, Sankar Kr Acharya and Biswarup Saha

Chapter 14: Statistical Techniques Used in Project Management Sankar Kr Acharya and Arnab Banerjee

Chapter 15: Meta-Analysis in Research Sankar Kr Acharya

Chapter 16: Game Theory Sankar Kr Acharya

Chapter 17: Grounded Theory: A Comprehensive Overview Sankar Kr Acharya