Legal Research Methodology By Prof. (Dr) Shipra Gupta, Dr Neelam Batra 1st Edition Nov 25

Legal Research Methodology By Prof. (Dr) Shipra Gupta, Dr Neelam Batra 1st Edition Nov 25

• [Complete Methodological Coverage] The text explains methodology as a framework linking paradigm, research design, and approach, and contrasts doctrinal with non-doctrinal (socio-legal) methods


• [Practical & End-to-end] Guidance spans problem identification, questions/hypotheses, design, sampling, data collection, analysis, and report writing, with chapter-end summaries that reinforce learning


• [Legal Reasoning] A dedicated chapter covers inductive and deductive reasoning, fallacies, and legal syllogisms


• [Tools for Modern Research] Curated open and commercial e-resources (e.g., India Code, PRS, Indian Kanoon, etc.) are catalogued to aid authoritative, up-to-date work


• [Ethics & Integrity] A whole chapter addresses research ethics, plagiarism vs. copyright infringement, predatory publishing, and journal-selection checklists


• [Endorsed by Justice Augustine George Masih | Supreme Court of India] He highlights the book's role in bridging academic rigour with practical application in courts and policy-making

• Chapter 1 – Introduction to Legal Research
  
  
  
  • Explains the meaning, scope and significance of legal research for practitioners and academics
  
  
  • Outlines the role of legal research in law reform (Law Commission reports, Constituent Assembly debates, committees and judicial legislation)
  
  
  • Distinguishes primary and secondary authorities and surveys electronic/online resources
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 2 – Legal Research Methodology
  
  
  
  • Defines 'method' and 'methodology,' and sets out the components of methodology—paradigm, research design and approach
  
  
  • Maps the broad categories of legal research methodologies
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 3 – Socio-Legal Research (SLR)
  
  
  
  • Presents SLR as an interdisciplinary inquiry with theoretical and empirical dimensions and notes typical field challenges
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 4 – Methods of Reasoning
  
  
  
  • Covers argument construction, fallacies, inductive and deductive reasoning, and the contours of legal reasoning
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 5 – Review of Literature
  
  
  
  • Details sources and tools for judicial/legislative and secondary materials, evaluation standards and organisation strategies for literature reviews
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 6 – Identification & Formulation of Problem:
  
  
  
  • Provides staged guidance on framing titles and formulating researchable problems
  
  
  
  


• Chapters 7/8 – Variables; Research Questions & Hypotheses
  
  
  
  • Explains variable types and operationalisation, and sets criteria and typologies for questions and hypotheses
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 9 – Research Design
  
  
  
  • Reviews exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, experimental and correlational designs, and explains time-dimension choices (cross-sectional vs. longitudinal)
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 10 – Sampling
  
  
  
  • Sets fundamental rules for sampling and distinguishes probability from non-probability techniques with methods and examples
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 11 – Data Collection Techniques & Tools
  
  
  
  • Covers questionnaires, interviews and observation, including practical and ethical considerations for fieldwork
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 12 – Research Ethics & Academic Integrity
  
  
  
  • Summarises ethical principles, plagiarism vs. copyright infringement, and red flags for predatory journals with regulatory context (e.g., UGC norms)
  
  
  
  


• Chapter 13 – Data Analysis & Report Writing
  
  
  
  • Brings qualitative and quantitative analysis together with guidance on structuring and presenting a legal research report
  
  
  
  

About the authors