Methods of Social Research - Research Process

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Questions and Answers

What are the two main categories that sciences are broadly divided into?

Natural and social sciences

What is social science concerned with?

Human life, behavior, social groups, and social institutions

Which of the following disciplines are included in social science? (Select all that apply)

Legislation (correct)

Anthropology (correct)

Psychology (correct)

Education (correct)

Demography (correct)

Law (correct)

Commerce (correct)

History (correct)

Astronomy

Public Administration (correct)

Economics (correct)

Biology

Geography (correct)

Social Work (correct)

Sociology (correct)

Social Sciences can be considered exact sciences like physical sciences.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is sine qua non of empirical sciences?

A controlled experiment Signup and view all the answers

What does the word "research" consist of?

The words "re" and "search" Signup and view all the answers

What makes research a structured inquiry?

It utilizes acceptable scientific methodology to solve problems and create new knowledge that is generally applicable. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two key characteristics of a research approach?

Systematic and organized Signup and view all the answers

What is said to be at the core of research?

Finding answers to questions Signup and view all the answers

Why are questions crucial for research?

Without a question, research lacks focus, drive, or purpose. Signup and view all the answers

What is research defined as?

An endeavor to discover, develop, and verify knowledge Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes scientific research?

It is a systematic and objective effort to offer solutions to problems Signup and view all the answers

What impact can cause and effect relationships have in research?

It can help formulate policies and programs Signup and view all the answers

What is considered an essential aspect of scientific research?

It is a systematic and objective attempt to study a problem for the purpose of deriving general principles Signup and view all the answers

What's the essence of social science research?

It is a systematic method of exploring, analyzing, and conceptualizing human life to extend, correct, or verify knowledge of human behavior and social life. Signup and view all the answers

What are some objectives of social science research? (Select all that apply)

Verify and test old facts Signup and view all the answers

What are some limitations of social science research? (Select all that apply)

Human Problems Signup and view all the answers

What are some objectives of good research? (Select all that apply)

Apply geographical knowledge to real-world observations Signup and view all the answers

What are some alternatives to research? (Select all that apply)

Common sense Signup and view all the answers

What does authority essentially rely on?

Accepting something as true simply because someone in a position of authority says it is true or because it is published in an authoritative source. Signup and view all the answers

How is tradition considered a special case of authority?

It represents the authority of the past, where acceptance of something as true is based on the belief that it has always been that way. Signup and view all the answers

What does relying on common sense involve?

It involves accepting what everyone knows and what seems intuitively true, based on ordinary reasoning. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of media in relation to myths?

Media tends to perpetuate myths prevalent within a culture. Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis of personal experience as a source of knowledge?

When something happens to you, you may accept it as true if you personally experience or observe it. Signup and view all the answers

What are the different aspects that research can be classified based on?

Purpose, process, and outcome Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of research are categorised based on purpose? (Select all that apply)

Exploratory research Signup and view all the answers

What is the key characteristic of descriptive research?

It involves fact-finding inquiries to describe the characteristics of a phenomena at present. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of analytical research?

It aims to understand phenomena by discovering and measuring causal relations among them. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of exploratory research?

It aims to gain insights and familiarity for later investigation by gathering preliminary information to define a problem and suggest a hypothesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of predictive research ?

It studies the frequency with which something occurs or its association with other factors, aiming to forecast future trends or outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of research categorized based on the process?

Qualitative and quantitative research. Signup and view all the answers

What does qualitative research emphasize?

It emphasizes exploring and understanding the quality or nature of phenomena, often through interviews, observations, and text analysis. Signup and view all the answers

What is the core of quantitative research?

It focuses on quantifying and measuring data, typically relying on surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of applied research?

It is used to answer specific questions, solve specific problems, or gain a better understanding of the world. Signup and view all the answers

What is another name for applied research?

Action research Signup and view all the answers

What is the objective of fundamental or basic research?

It focuses on developing generalizable theories and expanding theoretical knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is one difference between applied and fundamental research?

Applied research often seeks to solve problems of the modern world, while fundamental research prioritizes developing generalizable theories. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of research are considered other types? (Select all that apply)

Empirical research Signup and view all the answers

What is the main distinction of one-time research?

It involves studying a group for a short period of time, focusing on a particular point in time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of longitudinal research?

It involves studying a group over a longer period to observe changes and developments over time. Signup and view all the answers

How do field setting research and laboratory research differ?

Field setting research conducts research in real-world environments, while laboratory research takes place in controlled settings. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of simulation research?

It involves creating models or simulations to study complex systems or processes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key feature of clinical research?

It involves in-depth study of individual cases, often using case study methods to understand the complexities of individuals' experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What is the core foundation of historical research?

It relies on primary sources such as documents, records, and artifacts to reconstruct past events and understand historical contexts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis for conceptual research?

It focuses on developing and refining abstract ideas, theories, and models without necessarily directly testing them through empirical data. Signup and view all the answers

What is the foundation of empirical research?

It relies on direct observation, experiences, and data collection to test theories and draw conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social science research is a systematic study of human behavior, social groups, and social institutions.
Social sciences include various disciplines like anthropology, behavioral sciences, commerce, demography, economics, education, geography, history, law, legislation, psychology, public administration, sociology, and social work.
Unlike physical sciences, social sciences deal with complex human nature and environment, making controlled experiments difficult.
Research is a structured inquiry using scientific methods to find answers to questions and formulate new knowledge.
It is a systematic and organized process to find answers to questions and solve problems.

What Is Research?

Research comprises the words "re" and "search," meaning to investigate, test, or examine again or in detail.
Research is a systematic study in a field of knowledge to establish facts and principles.
Research uses acceptable scientific methods to solve problems and create new, widely applicable knowledge.

Research Process Characteristics

Research is organized and systematic—following specific procedures and steps to get accurate results.
Research is structured and planned, not spontaneous; focused on a specific scope.
Finding answers is the goal of research—the answer, whether yes or no, is still considered a result.
Research needs a question that is important, relevant, and useful to serve as a focus.

Objectives Of Research

Discover new facts
Verify existing facts
Understand human behavior
Understand the connection between human activities and natural laws.
Develop new scientific tools, concepts, and theories.
Understand societies' functioning
Study individual behaviors and social actions.
Evaluate social issues/problems, effects, and possible solutions
Explore social reality
Develop theories

Complexity of social phenomena
Human behavior
Respondent refusal
Researcher's personal values
Errors in decision-making

Objectives Of Good Research

Apply classroom knowledge to field observations.
Find answers to questions from reading.
Identify and solve geographical problems.
Develop map reading and interpretation skills.
Identify social problems and how they can be solved.
Improve classroom learning through projects

Alternatives To Research

Authority
Tradition
Common sense
Media myths
Experience

Based on purpose:
- Descriptive research: find what, when, who, how, and why of a phenomenon; no control over variables.
- Analytical research: analyzes and makes critical evaluations of existing data; aims at understanding causal relationships.
- Exploratory research: explores few or no previous studies; aims to understand problems, gather preliminary information, suggest hypotheses.
- Predictive research: determines the frequency and relatedness of events; essential for identifying causes and finding solutions to problems (e.g., through diagnostic research).
Based on process:
- Qualitative research: explores underlying meanings, perceptions, and motivations; uses detailed descriptions, words, images to understand phenomena.
- Quantitative research: focuses on measuring and quantifying phenomena; uses numerical data, statistics.
Based on outcome:
- Applied research: solves practical problems in society or organizations using scientific methods; focuses on practical solutions rather than general knowledge expansion.
- Fundamental research: focuses on building theories; aims for theoretical understanding and generalization.

Other Types of Research

One-Time research/Longitudinal research: studies one group over a long time to understand various life stages.
Field Setting/Laboratory/Simulation research: environment influences research approach.
Clinical research: uses case studies to deeply understand causal relationships.
Historical research: uses historical documents, events, etc., to understand the past.
Conceptual research: focused on abstract ideas and theories.
Empirical research: based on experiences, observations, and data collection.

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Description

Explore the systematic approach to social science research through this quiz. Delve into the complexities of human behavior, social groups, and institutions as you learn about structured inquiry and scientific methodologies. Test your understanding of the research process and its significance in social sciences.