Central University of Jammu organises Expert Lecture on “Understanding Variables in Research” under Shiksha Shastrarth Forum

JAMMU: The Department of Educational Studies, Central University of Jammu, organized an enriching expert lecture titled “Understanding Variables in Research” under the Shiksha Shastrarth Forum. The program was held under the esteemed patronage of the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sanjeev Jain. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from faculty members of the Department of Educational Studies and research scholars, providing an engaging platform for strengthening research methodology and promoting academic inquiry.

The program commenced with the formal welcome of the distinguished resource person, Dr. Seema Rani Thappa, Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education, Nagaland University. Welcoming the gathering, Prof. Asit K. Mantry, Head, Department of Educational Studies, underscored the importance of research methodology in producing meaningful and credible scholarly work. He emphasised that a sound understanding of research variables forms the cornerstone of quality research design, enabling researchers to develop logically coherent and methodologically rigorous studies. Prof. Mantry also noted that the lecture marked the first academic programme of the current session under the Shiksha Shastrarth Forum, highlighting the Forum's significance as a vibrant platform dedicated to fostering intellectual discourse and advancing research excellence.

Delivering the expert lecture, Dr. Thappa presented a comprehensive overview of the concept of variables in educational and social science research. She elaborated on the meaning, characteristics, and significance of variables while systematically explaining various types, including independent, dependent, moderator, mediator, control, and extraneous variables. Using practical illustrations and research-based examples, she demonstrated how the appropriate identification and operationalisation of variables enhance the validity, reliability, and overall quality of research investigations. She also guided participants on selecting variables in alignment with research objectives, formulating hypotheses, and avoiding common methodological errors during the research process.

The lecture was followed by an interactive session in which research scholars actively engaged with the resource person through thoughtful questions on identifying variables in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research, operational definitions, conceptual frameworks, and research design. Dr. Thappa addressed the queries with clarity, practical insights, and illustrative examples, making the session highly informative and beneficial for both emerging and experienced researchers.

The program concluded with a formal Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to the resource person, faculty members, research scholars, and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the event. The lecture marked yet another intellectually enriching academic engagement under the Shiksha Shastrarth Forum and reaffirmed the Department of Educational Studies' continued commitment to nurturing research aptitude, promoting academic excellence, and strengthening scholarly dialogue within the university community.