Media Release
Mangaluru, May 4: The Yenepoya Research Centre for Finance and Entrepreneurship Development (YEN-REFINED) at Yenepoya Institute of Arts, Science, Commerce and Management (YIASCM), Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), organized a state-level Research Development Workshop (RDW) titled 'The Art and Rigour of Qualitative Research: Design, Data Collection, Analysis and Writing' on April 29. The programme was conducted with the objective of enhancing participants’ understanding of qualitative research methods, including research design, data collection, and academic writing.
The inaugural ceremony of the program was anchored by Dr S M Riha Parvin, assistant professor, YEN-REFINED & department of MBA, YIASCM. The session formally began with a prayer led by Mohammed Ashiq, invoking blessings for a meaningful and successful academic session, followed by a formal welcome address to the dignitaries and participants. The inaugural session was held in the presence of the resource person, Dr Aparna M Varma, assistant professor & co-chair (HR-OBC Area), TAPMI, Manipal, and was presided over by Prof Jeevan Raj, principal of YIASCM, alongside other notable dignitaries including Narayan Sukumara A, vice-principal of YIASCM, and Prof Niyaz Panakaje, coordinator of YEN-REFINED & MBA, YIASCM.
During his address, Prof Niyaz Panakaje briefly introduced the theme of the workshop and provided an overview of the sessions. He spoke about the importance of exploring qualitative research and highlighted the expectations of academic journals in terms of clarity, structure, and quality of research work, encouraging participants to actively engage in the sessions and make the most of the learning opportunity. Following this, the resource person discussed the foundations of qualitative research, including the formulation of research questions and key philosophical perspectives, and elaborated on aspects such as data collection methods, coding, and the process of writing research papers, along with guidance on addressing reviewers’ comments and improving manuscript quality for publication.
In presidential remarks, Prof Jeevan Raj congratulated the organizers for conducting the workshop and highlighted the importance of research as a means of understanding people, society, and deeper human perspectives. He emphasized the importance of interaction and field visits in qualitative research to gain real-world insights and explained how stories and narratives can be effectively connected to research outcomes to provide deeper meaning and context. He also stressed the need for continuous learning and skill development among researchers and faculty members.
The technical session was delivered by Dr Aparna M Varma, who provided a comprehensive overview of qualitative research and its practical applications. She introduced participants to the fundamentals of qualitative research design and emphasized the importance of framing clear and meaningful research questions aligned with appropriate study frameworks. She also discussed key philosophical foundations of research, including ontology, epistemology, and methodology, helping participants understand the underlying perspectives of qualitative inquiry. She discussed various qualitative data collection techniques, including interviews, focus groups, and observation, highlighting their relevance in capturing in-depth insights, and explained the process of coding and thematic analysis to derive meaningful interpretations from qualitative data. She also focused on developing academic writing skills, guiding participants on how to effectively present qualitative research findings for publication, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining rigor and consistency throughout the research process. She encouraged participants to propose their own research questions and engaged them in interactive discussions, making the session more participative and insightful.
The programme concluded with a valedictory session, during which participants shared their feedback and reflected on the knowledge gained. Narayan Sukumara A, vice-principal of YIASCM, delivered his presidential remarks, highlighting the importance of fostering innovation and strengthening collaboration in academic research. This was followed by an address by Prof Niyaz Panakaje, who appreciated the active participation of the attendees and reiterated the importance of qualitative research in achieving academic excellence. The session then proceeded with the certificate distribution, which was overseen by Babitha Shali Lasrado, research scholar, YEN-REFINED, YIASCM, to 43 participants. The program concluded with a vote of thanks graciously delivered by Dr S M Riha Parvin, assistant professor, YEN-REFINED & department of MBA, YIASCM.
The programme was organized under the guidance of Prof Niyaz Panakaje, with Dr S M Riha Parvin, and with the active support of the YEN-REFINED research team. The session served as an important platform for enhancing qualitative research skills, promoting methodological rigor, and strengthening research competencies among faculty members and researchers, thereby contributing to the advancement of research quality within the institution.