Patna: Governor-cum-chancellor Syed Ata Hasnain on Saturday urged researchers to focus on solving real societal and governance challenges through fact-based studies. He also warned against manipulating data to fit preconceived conclusions..Inaugurating a six-day workshop on SocialScienceResearchMethodologyandWritingSkills at the Chandragupt Institute of Management, Patna (CIMP), he said India has no shortage of information, but needs fact-based research that is useful to society and policymakers.Emphasising that good research begins with the right questions, Hasnain said scholars should examine not just what happened, but why it happened. He cited issues such as variations in the performance of govt schemes, school dropouts, migration of youth, and barriers to higher education for rural girls as areas requiring rigorous social science research.The governor cautioned against manipulating facts to suit preconceived conclusions and stressed the importance of integrity in research. “Research begins with curiosity but progresses through integrity,” he said, adding that researchers must be willing to accept findings that challenge their assumptions.Highlighting the challenges of the AI and social media era, Hasnain said while artificial intelligence can assist in data analysis and information retrieval, it cannot replace human judgement or intellectual honesty. He also urged scholars to present their findings in clear and simple language.Describing Bihar as a fertile ground for social science research, he called for more studies on education, migration, employment, urbanisation, technology, women’s participation and youth aspirations, and said research should contribute to better policymaking and governance.The workshop has been organised by Bihar Lok Bhawan and the state higher education department in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), with the Institute of Human Development, New Delhi, as knowledge partner. Senior academics and officials, including Deepak Kumar Singh, Dhananjay Singh and Rana Singh, attended the inaugural session.
