Unit I. A.
Social research and
its basic components
Social Science Research and
Steps
Dr Mani Ram Banjade
Dr Eak Rana
19-20 February 2020
What Research Involves: Scientific
Approach
While social research helps us answer questions about the social world,
it also raises new questions and may change how we look at the world
as well.
It relies on the process and evidence of science as such, and it can
differ from casual observation, common sense reasoning, and other
ways to evaluate evidence, including pure logical-rational reasoning
(mathematical or philosophical proof) or legal-judicial procedure
Science
Image of science: a lab, microscope, people with apron coats
Physical and biological sciences: biology, chemistry, physics, and
zoology (analysis of rocks, plants, chemical compounds, stars,
muscles, blood, electricity)
The social-cultural sciences: sociology, anthropology, economics,
human geography, psychology, and political science (the study of
beliefs, behaviors, relationships, interactions, institutions, etc).
Application
Physical and biological sciences: agriculture, aviation, engineering,
medicine, and pharmacology
The social-cultural sciences: counselling, criminal justice, education,
management, marketing, public administration, public health,
social work, and urban planning.
social sciences is often called “soft sciences” as this deals with
human social life, which is highly fluid, formidable to observe, and
difficult to measure precisely.
Science
Science refers to both a system for producing knowledge and
the knowledge that results from that system.
Knowledge is organized into theories and grounded in
empirical data.
Knowledge is derived through a combination of empirical
procedures and logical reasoning.
Social scientist collect data (make empirical observation) and
test hypothesis with these data (assess them using rationalism)
or make theory through several observation
Theory, data, and empirical
Theory
Social theory is a coherent system of logically consistent and interconnected ideas used
to condense and organize knowledge.
It is a map that helps us better visualize the complexity in the world, see connections,
and explain why things happen.
Data
We use data to determine whether a theory is true and we should retain it or is false and
needs adjustments or can be discarded. Data are the forms of empirical evidence or
information carefully collected according to the rules or procedures of science.
Empirical
Empirical refers to evidence or observations grounded in human sensory experience:
touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste.
Data or empirical observations can be quantitative (numbers) or qualitative (words,
images, or objects)
Scientific Literacy
Scientific literacy is the capacity to understand scientific
knowledge, apply scientific concepts, principles, and
theories; use scientific processes to solve problems and
make decisions; and interact in a way that reflects core
scientific values (Lauksch, 2000:76)
Scientific Community
The scientific community brings science to life; it sustains the assumptions,
attitudes, and techniques of science.
The scientific community is a social institution of people, organizations, and
roles as well as a set of norms, behaviors, and attitudes that all operate
together. It is not a geographic community existing in one physical location
nor does everyone know everyone else within it, although its members
communicate and interact with one another frequently.
It is a collection of people who share a system of attitudes, beliefs, and rules
that sustains the production and advancement of scientific knowledge
Rather, it is a loose collection of professionals who share training, ethical
principles, values, techniques, and career paths.
Structure of Scientific Community
Practitioners/technicians
Periphery/
outer fringe
Scientists
Middle layer
Scientific Core
Leaders
Production of Scientific
Community
Budget Spent in Research
and Development
In 2010, Nepal’s spending on R&D: O.30 % of GDP
Total GDP in 2010: 16 खर्ब
Source:
[Link]
ch_and_development_spending
Social Norms
The informal rules that govern behavior in groups and
societies (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2018).
That means members obey by these informal rules
Researchers learn and internalize professional norms
Norms and and values over time, when they engage in the
scientific practice for a long period of time.
Values of a Norms of the Scientific Community:
Scientific Informal rules, principles and values that govern the
way scientists conduct their research
Community Universalism
Organized scepticism
Disinterestedness
Communalism
Honesty
Scientific Method, Attitude, or Orientation
Collection of ideas, rules, techniques, and approaches used by the scientific
community.
The scientific community values craftsmanship, pride in creativity, high-quality
standards, and plain hard work.
Doing science includes many methods; what makes them scientific is their
acceptance by
the scientific collective.
The scientific orientation tends simultaneously to be precise and logical, adopt a
long-term view, be flexible and open ended, and be willing to share information
widely (Yankelovich, 2003).
By contrast, nonscientific thinking is impatient with pursuing great accuracy or
rigor, wants definite immediate answers to particular issues that are current now,
and tends to be rather possessive and apprehensive about freely sharing
everything.
Journal Articles
Scrutiny through Peer review
These articles are the way that scientists formally communicate with one
another and disseminate the research results.
Sharing of
summary Sending to
Paper Revise &
Research Research Oral Pre- with larger Referees for
submission Publish
Report sentation scientific to a
Blind
community Review
Journal
and receives
feedback
Blind Review
A process of judging the merits of a research report in which the peer
researchers do not know the identity of the researcher, and the researcher
does not know the identity of the evaluators in advance.
Top Sociology
Journals
According to the 2016
5-Year Journal Impact
Factor (TM)
Key things to note
Referees are not paid
Respect of peers and scientific community increases
with increased number of publications
Academic promotions are attached with the number of
publications
You can begin with small and simple, practice over and
again, and learn from your experiences and missteps
Varieties of Social Research
Qualitative vs Quantitative
Source: Neuman, 2014
Difference
between
Quantitative and
Qualitative
Research
Source: Kumar 2011
Reliability
Refers to the consistency of a measure. Psychologists consider
three types of consistency: over time (test-retest reliability), across
items (internal consistency), and across different researchers
(inter-rater reliability).
Authenticity
Fairness: avoid marginalization during the inquiry process and Reliability and
ensure that all participants’ voices—their views, concerns,
and perspectives—are represented throughout the research
Authenticity
process
Raising awareness
Respecting others’ viewpoints
Stimulating change
Empowerment of participants
Ontology and Epistemology
Ontology: Greek ‘Onto’ (existence or being real) and ‘logia’ (science or study)
The science of being; deals with the nature of reality
• There is only one reality or truth
• There are multiple realities
• Reality is constantly negotiated
Epistemology.
Deals with the nature of knowledge. It entails on how you examine reality (or
how can I know reality).
Studies grounds and modes of knowledge acquisition.
Social ontology
Describe society and its different parts and processes. The purpose of this is
to understand and describe the underlying structures that affect individuals
and groups
8-Step Research Process
Formulating a Constructing an
Conceptualising a Selecting a
research instrument for
research design sample
problem data collection
proposal
Writing a
research
Writing a
Processing data Collecting data
research report
Source: Kumar, 2011
Source: Kumar, 2011
Thank you
