SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS
Module – 3
Social Research
1. Describe the scientific method.
Scientific method is a systematic rational approach to seeking fact. It is objective,
precise and arrives at conclusions on the basis of verifiable evidences.
2. Define research.
According to Emory, “research is any organized inquiry designed and carried out to
provide information for solving a problem”
OR
According to Kerlinger, “Research is a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical
investigation of hypothetical relations among natural phenomena”.
3. Define Social Research.
According to C.A. Moser, “Social research is a systematized investigation to gain new
knowledge about social phenomenon and problems”.
Social research is the systematic understanding of social facts or phenomena. It
gathers information about the social world and attempts to discover cause-and effect
relationships between social problems and answer or solve social problems.
4. What is Qualitative research?
Qualitative research deals with design techniques and measures that do not produce
discrete or distinct numerical data. Data analysis includes the coding of the data and
the production of verbal synthesis.
5. What is quantitative research?
Quantitative research includes designs, techniques and measures that produce
discrete, and distinct, numerical or quantifiable data.
6. What is descriptive research?
Descriptive research attempts to determine, describe, or identify what is or what
exists.
7. What is analytical research?
Analytical research attempts to explain why and how. It concerns with the cause an
effect relationships among variables.
8. What is a basic research?
A basic research is a research done to add new knowledge to the existing one. It is
mostly used only for the academic purpose.
9. What is an applied research?
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem faced by a
society or an industrial or business organization.
10. What is idiographic research?
Idiographic research provides all possible explanations of a particular case. Case
studies, informal interviews are idiographic.
11. What is nomothetic research?
Nomothetic research tends to be more general, with researchers trying to identify a
few causal factors that impact a wide class of conditions or events.
12. What is inductive research?
Inductive research is a method of developing theories or generalizations based on
specific observations or data.
13. What is deductive research?
Deductive research is a type of research in which the researcher starts with a theory,
hypothesis, or generalization and then tests it through observations and data
collection.
14. What are the steps involved in deductive research?
i. Theory
ii. Hypotheses
iii. Observation
iv. Confirmation
15. What are the steps involved in inductive research?
i. Observation
ii. Pattern
iii. Tentative hypothesis
iv. Theory
16. What is subjective research?
Subjective means making assumptions, making interpretations based on personal
opinions without any verifiable facts.
17. What is objective research?
Objective means making an unbiased, balanced observation based on facts which can
be verified.
18. What is the difference between subjective and objective?
Objective means verifiable information based on facts and evidence. Subjective
means information or perspectives based on feelings, opinions, or emotions.
19. What are the two kinds of logic?
Deductive and inductive.
20. Which research relies more in qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis?
Inductive research uses more qualitative analysis, like textual or visual analysis, to
find patterns and themes in the data.
Deductive research uses more quantitative methods, like statistical analysis, to test
and confirm the theory or hypothesis.
This method uses numbers to test the theory or hypothesis and draw objective
conclusion.
21. What are the features of inductive research?
i. Bottom-up approach
ii. Develops theories from observation
iii. Used in explanatory studies
iv. Flexible and adaptable to new things
v. Relies more on qualitative analysis
22. What are the features of deductive research?
i. Top-down approach
ii. Tests theories through observation
iii. Used in confirmatory studies
iv. Structured and systematic
v. Relies more on quantitative analysis