TEN YEARS ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES USED IN DISSERTATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN.

A study was conducted in Departmental Library of the Institute of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the year 2014, using content analysis methodology. The objective was to analyse citations of research methodologies used in M.Sc. dissertations submitted to the Department. The library contained more than 360 M.Sc. (Hons.) dissertations on various field related topics. Dissertations submitted to the Department of Agricultural Extension from the year 2000-2009 (10 years) were studied and analyzed carefully. Based on identified units of analysis, each selected dissertation was evaluated. The content analysis sheet was developed keeping in view the objective of study. The data collection sheet so prepared was pre-tested on five dissertations to check the suitability. The sheet was finalized after making amendments in the illumination of pre-testing experience. The data were collected with the help of data collection sheet. The data were obtained by reading certain parts of the each dissertation selected for the study. The data thus collected, were entered in SPSS in order to develop data spreadsheet. Computer software SPSS used for data analysis. The data were tabulated and simple percentages were worked out for interpretation, discussion, drawing conclusions and suggest appropriate recommendations. Most of the dissertations (36.7%) were based on effectiveness/role/impact of the agricultural social aspects followed by assessing adoption level (13.9%). Moreover majority (77.2%) of the dissertations used simple random sampling for selection of respondents followed by systematic random sampling (8.9 %). It is suggested that newly emerging research themes based on field oriented problems should be addressed. As far as sampling techniques are concerned, it is proposed that other than simple random sampling techniques; cluster sampling nominal group etc. should also be used for effective description of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]