Social Research and Research Methods - Coursework Example

Social Research 1 A Discussion Essay on Social Research and Research methods. Social Research 2 Q.1 Does Social research always has to have a purpose….? The concept of a Social Research always includes society in particular; in fact a social research is a type of research done by sociologists concerning the social problems which in turn includes all sorts of social activities and social psychology that affects the people of the concerned society. The argument that does social research always has to have a beneficiary?, appears to be quiet odd, because the aspect research of any social researcher would be based on how to help the human community or how to make the lives of all humans beings in the society peaceful. A beneficiary of a social research would be people living in the society. But one thing has to be accepted here that, as far as social research is concerned the beneficiary cannot be an individual always. A social research is based of a study of a particular community of group, or society, analysing their living conditions, providing best solutions for the sample community etc. For a best social research a researcher needs to find out the causes first, and concentrate on observation of the theory. For example If he takes the problem of illiteracy, he should observe the present condition and collect data o the past to make an appropriate analyses and bring out reforms. In such a case an observation definitely needs a sample, but at the same time the sample would be the beneficiary of the research, since the sample gets benefits which would be suggested by the researcher. The social research always includes theories such as population control, education, politics, human geography etc. A social research should include exploration of the topic, and he has the duty to understand and make others Social Research 3 understand the social life of people, in order to resolve the situations prevailing in the society. People are the subjects of social research, and a social research requires voluntary involvement and concentrate on the fact that nothing is done against the subjects [people]. These are the ethics that should be followed while doing a social research, so while considering this a social research requires a beneficiary, because the result of the research would be in favour of the people. And this should be the ethical way to proceed. Q.2. Traditionally, social research has been compared to a research in the hard sciences….? Social Research manage very large –scale social factors and social structures and their collection and analyses of data contemplates on the human community as a whole, in other words a social research is absolutely mend for sociology [which in turn includes economics, politics, education, culture and tradition etc] ,. Where as a scientific theory is concentrates on a particular concept which is taken form any of the natural sciences. A scientific research most of the times includes an individual or single sample. This will not happen in the case of a social research, so social research could be termed as a hard science. Though social researches have been changing according to the changing trends in society. In olden days social research is concerned with the development of humanity, but with the growth of science and technology the social research has been extended in areas concerning the social progress and technological progress of humanity as a whole. Social Research 4 A social research is considered as scientific in terms of the observational and experimental methods the research has in it which are all treated with a scientific perspective but at the same time, it cannot be considered as scientific because a social research is implemented only of social aspects, where the concept of natural science cannot be identified. Q.3. Value of Secondary data…..? The collection of secondary data depends on the type of subject chosen in a any type of research. The function of secondary data will include a deep analysis based on the already existing data that are available about the concerned field. This might be in different forms depending upon the seriousness of the issue. A secondary data will also be equally informative and the information might be either small, simple, or huge lot, etc. But the problem with the secondary data is that the researcher should not get into ambiguous situation while working out the process of analysing. A researcher should rather make himself fit for judging which secondary data might suit his thesis in the best way at the same time the secondary data should not be considered in such a way that it alters the thesis of the research. These arguments are general as far as any research is concerned. Mean while for a social research, based purely on the social subjects, a secondary data might be in the form of a general opinion collected from the public, or a poll, political attitudes, statistics etc. However, the analysis methods, selection of samplings, general opinions must consider with regard to the specific subject of sociology. Social Research 5 Where as, a direct data collection will give a clear-cut details on the same intended subject. A direct data collection will give more chance for a neat understanding of the level of the subject. In addition, a researcher needs to maintain both type of data collection for his research, as that would help in identifying the accurate solution rather than the approximate. In such a case a secondary data collection cannot be completely mentioned as not important, but could be considered as secondary. Q.4. Differences between inductive and deductive methods of research; An inductive approach involves a research based on an already existing concepts form which a specific or particular theory is identified. A deductive approach is aimed at proving a specific concept in a general scenario. In other words an inductive method searches a theory with a proof in hand, the deductive method searches a proof if the already selected ready made theories. For example if people suffering form obesity also suffer form depression, a social researcher should try find out that all those who suffer form depression also have some other health problem added to. So his theory should be concluding by saying that an obese person will develop the risk of depression also. An inductive method proceeds in the following style, for example if a statement exists that “obesity leads to diabetes”. The aim of the researcher should be based on analysis of the people suffering from diabetes as result of obesity. At the same time this inductive method might result in the researcher replying that all those who suffer from obesity will get diabetes. The inductive method has some disadvantages when compared Social Research 6 with the other. The logic of possibility seems to be less in inductive method when compared with the deductive method. A logical reasoning and answering is required for any kind of research, in the case of inductive method deriving a specific theory form a generalised pre-existing concept cannot end up with a logical analysis. A convincing argument is lack in inductive method. A deductive method contains all the logical reasoning and answering that could be accepted as well, so a deductive method is more effective than the inductive method. Q.5. The role of the researcher, and the difference between the researcher and the research, qualitative and quantitative approach , nature of human beings in each of the approaches, underlying construction of social reality, role of the researcher: Qualitative Research: There are controversies still on the run about whether qualitative is better or quantitative is , for a social research? Since both the methods include the role of researcher as well as the human beings. A qualitative research on the on hand, contains many resources for a deep understanding of the thesis, this is almost like, the research result seen directly by the people. The researcher as well as the people could easily identify the range of experience and models. Though both methods cover, a wide range of experience within, measuring to give numerical approach to the research is impossible in qualitative approach. Qualitative methods require the involvement and work of the researcher in large. A theory formed in the course of the qualitative research and then the same is experienced as well, where as a quantitative method approves only a structured or framed data, the results are given based Social Research 7 on measurements. Statistical analysis is not quiet possible ion qualitative analysis, as it allows only a small sampling list, further a large sample analysis is difficult to manage in a qualitative analysis. A qualitative method helps the researcher in understanding the thesis; it also requires the researcher to set a trend for himself. That is he needs to be prepared to see through the eyes of the people taken for study. A theory is generated at the course of the study or from the meaning, which emerges form the data. The relationship that exists between the researcher and the researched is close in a qualitative analysis compared to that of a quantitative analysis. It requires the researcher as well as the people to have a deep knowledge of the theory and social condition respectively. The qualitative analysis needs the cooperation of the researcher to furnish his research knowledge in addition to the data collected and understood by him, so that he could give a neat report for a public reference. Where as in a quantitative analysis, the researcher’s responsibility depends on collecting a statistical data, rather than understanding the problem. Here the people as well as the researcher will have a less effective communication, than in a qualitative analysis. . Read More