SOCIAL RESEARCH AND STAGES IN SOCIAL RESEARCH

RESEARCH
Research is an intensive and purposeful search for knowledge and
understanding of social and physical phenomena. It is a method for the
discovery of true values in a scientific way.
Research may be defined as the application of the scientific method in the
study of problems. At times, the terms research and scientific method are
used interchangeably.
Webster’s Twentieth Century Dictionary defines the term Research as a
careful, patient, systematic, diligent inquiry or examination in some field of
knowledge undertaken to establish facts or principles. According to Random
Dictionary of English Language “Research as a diligent and systematic
enquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts,
theories, application etc.”. Research is an activity undertaken to establish
facts or principles in a scientific way.
SOCIAL RESEARCH
Social research Social research may be defined as a scientific undertaking by
means of logical and systematized techniques. Social research consists of the
process of formulating and seeking answers to questions about the social
world. Social research is fundamentally a scientific enterprise aims to:
 Discover new facts or verify and test old facts;
 Analyze their sequences, inter-relationships and causal explanations
which are derived with an appropriate theoretical frame of reference;
Ø  Develop new scientific tools and theories which would facilitate reliable
and valid study of human behavior.
OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
Ø  Development of knowledge
Ø  Scientific study of social life.
Ø  Welfare of humanity
Ø  Classification of facts
Ø  Social control and prediction
CHARATERISTICS OF RESEARCH
Ø  Research is directed towards the problem.
Ø  Research emphasizes the dent of generalizations, principles or theories that
will be helpful in predicting future occurrences.
Ø  Research is based upon observable experiences or empirical evidence.
Ø  Research demands accurate observation and description.
Ø  Research involves gathering new data from primary or first hand sources
or using existing data for a new purpose.
Ø  Although research activity may at times be somewhat random and
unsystematic, it is more often characterized by carefully designed procedures,
always applying rigorous analysis.
Ø  Research requires expertise.
Ø  Research strikes to be objective and logical applying every possible test to
validate the procedures employed, the data collected ad the conclusion
reached.
Ø  Research involves the quest for answers to unsolved problems.
Ø  Research is characterized by patient and unhurried activity.
Ø  Research is carefully recorded and reported.
SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
Ø  It inculcates scientific and inductive thinking.
Ø  It provides new ideas and insights.
Ø  It promotes the development of logical habits of thinking and organization.
Ø  It evaluate existing policies and helps to formulate new policies.
Ø  It solve various operational problems related to economy, politics, business
and Government.
Ø  It studies social relationships and helps to solve various social problems.
Ø  It helps to improve the level of living in the society
STEPS IN SOCIAL RESEARCH
Ø  Selection of the problem
Ø  Study of research literature
Ø  Formulating the problem
Ø  Research design
Ø  Formulating the hypothesis
Ø  Selecting the sample
Ø  Collection of data
Ø  Methods and tool for data collection
Ø  Analysis of data
Ø  Interpretation and generalizations
SELECTION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Ø  We are aware that the goal of social research is to improve the level of
living in the society. Society in general is plagued by several problems which
need to be studied for finding a solution.
Ø  The most urgent of them need the attention of the researchers.
Ø  It is thus selection of research problem has high value to the society and
the researcher must be able to identify those problems that need an urgent
solution.
Ø  Choosing a correct problem for study is a difficult exercise, as it depends
on the time, effort and commitment on the part of the scholar.
HOW A PROBLEM ORIGINATES
Basically research problem originates from the following three sources
Ø  Contemporary interest
Ø  own interest
Ø  gaps in the field
LITERATURE SURVEY AND EXPERIENCIAL SURVEY
The process of focusing a research question requires a knowledge of the field,
an understanding of previous research, an awareness of research gaps and
knowledge of how other research in the area has been conducted.
Ø  The literature review is a major component of the research. It is an analysis
of relevant publications that help set the context for and define the research
topic. The literature review starts with the selection of a problem for research
continues Through the various stages of the research process and ends with
report writing. The task of locating previous research on a topic has been
made much simpler and faster with widespread access to the internet and the
availability of electronic data bases, electronic journals, online journals and
sophisticated search engines. The internet is useful in providing access to
many types of information.
NEED TO SURVEY LITERATURE
Ø  The main purpose of the survey of literature is to indicate the problems
that are already investigated and those that need further investigation.
Ø  A critical reading of relevant literature becomes indispensable not only in
locating the research problem but also in analyzing the procedure. Ideas are
generated only through this process of reading and re-reading he works done
in the chosen field.
Ø  A high degree of reading ability contributes to comprehension of facts
which are useful in a consideration of the problem taken up for the study.
Ø  This would help the researcher to know how the same are conducted, the
methodology employed, issues covered and prescriptions suggested.
Ø  In order to gain maximum benefit out of this exercise of surveying the
literature one has to consider the following points:
Ø  Reading relevant literature
Ø  Reforming original works
Ø  Reading with comprehension
Ø  Reading in time
Ø  Indexing the literature
Reviews require a critical understanding of the literature that demonstrates
the higher order intellectual skills of analyzing, evaluating and creating. Use
both internet and library if possible. Be selective about information on the
internet by using only formally published material. Abstracting is a key
intellectual skill for analysis and synthesis of key concepts. Set up the word
processing package or word processer in a common format for all
assignments Avoid plagiarism that is plagiarism is cheating, as is coping
research papers from the internet. Academics take intellectual honesty very
seriously indeed. Give due acknowledgement by coping material from other
scholarly work with citation.
Academic experience like classroom lectures, discussions seminar
discussions and out –of-class exchanges of ideas with fellow students,
scholars, experts and professors will provide many stimulating ideas to be
studied. Daily experiences, Field visits, internship training and extension
work will also provide exposure to practical problems which call for study
and such experiences help the investigator to develop new ideas about a
problem.
FORMULATING THE PROBLEM
Ø  Besides selection equally important in its formulation. A research scholar
should take every care in formulating the problem without any scope for
ambiguity.
Ø  The type of the statement to be employed depends on the preferences of
the scholar and the nature of the problem. The problem may also be
formatted in the form of a few statements.
Ø  There are two ways in studying a problem :
(i) posing questions and
(ii) Making statements.
AN EFFECTIVE PROBLEM FORMULATION INVOLVES THE
FOLLOWING:
Ø  Definition of the problem
Ø  Scope for the problem
Ø  Justification for the problem
Ø  Feasibility of a problem
Ø  Originating of the problem
CRITERIA OF A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM
 (i)            Clear and unambiguous: There must be a perfect clarity in the

problem taken up for study. It should not give scope for divergent
expressions and thus become confusing.
 (ii)            Logical and systematic: The researcher must be able to establish

relationships ina logical manner and they should not look disjointed
Similarly, the problem must be amenable for study in a specified step or in a
specified sequence, in accordance with the well defined set of rules and
methods.
(iii)            Empirical: Research is always related to one or more aspects of real
situation and hence deals with concrete data that provides a basis for external
validity to research results. Therefore, the problem should be such as to take
realities into considerations. It is only through this process that knowledge
gets accumulated and society is benefited.
(iv)            Relation between variables: the problem selected for study should
express a relation between the variables contained in the study. The problem
under study must be in a position to highlight the nature, extent and
implications of such relation existing among variables of the study. It is
through this process of establishing effective relation between variables that
meaning conclusions are derived from the study.
(v)            Verifiable: though results of the research studies in social sciences
cannot be reproduced, the problem chosen for study should not look absurd.
It should be undertaken with an intension to make the study useful and
replicable.
(vi)            Management: the scope of the study depends on the purpose in mind.
Normally, research studies are undertaken by the students for securing
different degrees like M.A., M.Phil, Ph.D. Now the students is required to
select such a topic which should be within his reach and yet fulfill the basic
requirements of a study at the specified level.
(vii)            Interesting: the problem to be studied must be interesting to the
student and also to the people working in that field. Unless the problem is
interesting, the candidate may lose interest in the middle. The cooperation of
the respondents also varies depending how you can make your problem
interesting to them. Some studies by nature evoke a lot of curiously among
the researchers and respondents alike.
HYPOTHESES
Ø  Once the selection, formulation and definition of the problem have been
accomplished, the derivation of hypotheses is the most important step in the
research process.
Ø  It is usually considered as the principal instrument in research.
Ø  “A hypothesis is a tentative generalization, the validity of which remains to
be tested in its most demeatary stage, the hypothesis may be a mere hunch
guess imaginative data, which becomes the basis s for action investigation” -
George a Lund Berg
Ø  “A proposition which can be put to test to determinate validity” -Goode
and Hatt
Ø  The hypothesis is a powerful tool in research process to achieve
dependable knowledge.
Ø  It helps the researcher to relate theory to observation and observation to
theory.
IMPORTANCE OF THE HYPOTHESES
Ø  Hypotheses facilitate the extension of knowledge in an area
Ø  Hypothesis provides the researcher with rational statements
Ø  Hypothesis provides direction o the research
Ø  Hypothesis provide basis for exporting the conclusions for the study
FORMULATION OF THE HYPOTHESES
Ø  Hypotheses are the products of considerable speculation and imaginative
guess work.
Ø  They are based partly on known facts and explanations and partly
conceptual.
Ø  There are certain necessary conditions which are conducive to their
formulation.
Ø  Richness of background knowledge
Ø  Versatility of intellect
Ø  Analogy and other practices
CRITERIA OF USEABLE HYPOTHESES
Ø  Hypotheses should be clearly ad precisely stated.
Ø  Hypotheses should be testable
Ø  Hypotheses should state the expected relationship between variables
Ø  Hypotheses should limited on scope
Ø  Hypotheses should be stated as far as possible in simple terms
Ø  The hypotheses selected should be amenable to testing within a reasonable
time
CHARACTERISTICS OF HYPOTHESIS
Ø  It should be conceptually clear, specific and well designed
Ø  It should be available to techniques and capable of being varied
Ø  It should be capable of empirical test
Ø  It should not be mere a judgment
Ø  It should be simple and to the point
TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
Ø  Descriptive hypothesis: It describes the characteristics of a variable.
Ø  Relational hypothesis: It describes the relationship between the variables.
Ø  Casual hypothesis: It describes the causal relationship between the
variables.
Ø  Working hypothesis: Hypotheses which are subject to modification as the
investigation proceeds.
Ø  Null hypothesis: They state that no difference exists between the parameter
and statistic being compared to it.
Ø  Statistical hypothesis: These are statements about a statistical population.
These are quantitative in nature in that they are numerically measurable.
Ø  Commonsense hypothesis: It represents the commonsense ideas. They
state the existence of empirical uniformities perceived through day to day
observation.
Ø  Complex hypothesis: It aim s at testing the existence of logically derived
relationship between empirical uniformities.
Ø  Analytical hypothesis: these are concerned with the relationship of analytic
variables. These hypotheses occur at the highest level of abstraction. It also
specifies the relationship between changes in one variable and changes in
another.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Ø  Research design is the basic framework which provides guidelines for the
rest of research process.
Ø  “Research design constitute the blue print for the collection, measurement
and analysis of data” – Bernard S Philips.
Ø  “Research design as the logical and systematic planning and directing a
piece of research” – Pauline and Young
Ø  “Research design is the plan, structure and strategy of investigation
conceived, so as to obtain answers to research questions and to control
variants” – Fred N Kerlinger
NEED FOR A RESEARCH DESIGN
Ø  It facilitates the smooth sailing of the various research operations
Ø  It gives maximum information with minimum expenditure of effort, time
and money
Ø  It stands for advance planning of the methods to be adopted for collecting
data and  techniques to be used for analysis
Ø  It has a great bearing on the reliability of the results arrived at
Ø  It minimize the bias and maximizes the reliability of the data collected and
analysed
FEATURES OF GOOD RESEARCH DESIGN
Ø  Flexible
Ø  Appropriate
Ø  Efficient
Ø  Economical
Ø  Reliable
Ø  Suitable to the context
DIFFERENT RESEARCH DESIGN
Ø  Based on fundamental objectives or purposes it has been classified into
two types :
1.exploratory research, 2. conclusive research
Ø  Each of these two general types of research can be subdivided as follows:
1. Exploratory research           2. Conclusive research
a. search of secondary data      a. Descriptive research
b. survey of knowledgeable                 I. case study
c. case study                                        II. Statistical study
                                                  b. Experimentation
Few others have classified the type of research study into the following four.
1. Exploratory or formulative study: exploratory or formulative studies are
those which aim at gaining familiarity with a phenomenon or which aim at
achieving insights into the phenomenon or studies which deal with
formulation of a more precise research problem or developing a hypothesis.
The major emphasis of such studies is on the discovery of ideas and insights.
It basically deals with exploring the Ideas and facts which are new. This is
the primary and first research done on that Particular problem which provides
the first hand or new knowledge or discovering something new regarding to
the study or problem. In general, exploratory research is meaningful in any
situation in which the researcher does not have enough understanding to
proceed with the research project.
2. Descriptive and Diagnostic studies: a study which wants to portray the
characteristics of a group or individual or situation is known as descriptive
study. Under descriptive study the researcher should specify the objectives
with sufficient precision to ensure that the data collected are relevant.
Researcher can adopt both primary and secondary sources of data for this
study. In descriptive studies, hypotheses are generally formulated on the basis
of existing data. The main objective of descriptive study is to acquire
knowledge. Descriptive studies are mainly probe into such areas where there
is research gap.
3. Diagnostic study: a study which wants to determine the frequency of
occurrence of an event of its association with something else is known as
diagnostic study. It is concerned with an existing problem and its basic nature
and cause. The aim of this study is to obtain complete and accurate
information. It also deals with the detailed or in depth knowledge of each and
every aspect of the problem.
4. Experimental study or hypothesis-testing research studies: Experimental
studies are mainly designed to find out the cause and effect relationships of
the phenomenon under study, or the researcher tests the hypothesis of causal
relationships between the variables. The experimental designs are used in
researches relating to the phenomena of several disciplines. The experimental
designs originated in the context of agricultural operations. The beginning of
such designs was made by Professor R.A. Fisher when he was working at
Centre of Agricultural Research in England. The principle of replications, the
principle of randomizations and the principle of local control are the three
main principles of experimental designs given by Prof. Fisher.
Research design is needed because it facilitates the smooth sailing of the
various research operations, thereby making research as efficient as possible.
Yielding maximum information with minimum expenditure of effort, time
and money