Page 59 - RESEARCH HANDBOOK FOR LL.M. AND PHD

Sample & Locale of the Study:
In order to attain the suggested objectives, the witnesses relating to various types of criminal offences
have been included in this study. They include:
(i) Theft
(ii) Personal violence
(iii) Robbery
(iv) Dacoity
(v) Attempted murder/murder
(vi) Rape
To have a suitable geo-cultural mix of the region, it was intended to have four districts one each from
the states i.e. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka. After the pilot study, it was
decided to conduct the study on the capitals of the concerned State. A sample of two hundred from
each state was proposed to be taken. The actual total sample size in the study was seven hundred and
ninety eight (N=798). Several procedures of sampling were considered. It was indeed difficult to have a
pre decided list of witnesses and then to contact them accordingly was practically difficult. Therefore,
the study was conducted in an open setting. The research team would visit the court premises to
contact the witnesses concerning the cases (according to the pre decided offences). This schedule was
repeated daily until the desired number from each state was targeted. Though it was not always easy to
contact and interview the witness waiting in the court premises, as the lawyers initially did not
cooperate. Eventually, they were convinced and the research team received ample of help from them.
The experiences in all the selected states were different. In order to meet the local demands like
language etc. investigators were employed from the same region. Infact the witnesses used to have lot
of free time after turning up to the court and hence the long interview did not face any problem.

Tools for Data collection:
An Interview Schedule for collecting necessary information from the respondents was devised. As far
as possible, all the items kept closed ended so that the respondents could easily answer. The aspects
relating to the objectives of the study were properly included. A team of research investigators was
deployed to contact the witnesses for eliciting requisite information. The job of data collection was
accomplished with the help of local research investigators specially engaged for this purpose.
In addition to it, informal discussions with lawyers, prosecutors, police officials and judicial officers
were held to gain insight into various aspects of the problem.

48 | National Law University, Delhi