Research Methodology for Social Sciences

Contents: 1. Social Science Research: An Introduction. 2. Types and Dimensions of Social Research. 3. Phases of Social Research. 4. Research and Scientific Methods. 5. Variables in Social Science Research. 6. Sampling in Research. 7. Hypotheses and Levels of Measurement. 8. Review of Literature in Social Research. 9. Quantitative and Qualitative Research. 10. Research Design. 11. Research Techniques. 12. Data Collection and Analysis. 13. Experimental Research and Survey. 14. Writing a Research Report. 15. Problems in the Study of Social Phenomena. Bibliography. Index.

Research refers to scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. Research comprises defining and redefining problems; formulating hypotheses; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions; reaching conclusions; and finally suggesting solutions. Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its advancement. It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation, comparison and experiment.

Society is an organized group of persons associated together with shared objectives, norms and values. Social research is a systematized investigation to gain new knowledge about social phenomenon and problems. Social research helps to analyze and understand human behaviour which forms the basis for all decisions and policies. In social research, society is the laboratory and human beings are the objects. In spite of complexity of human behaviour and human relations, it is possible to find general patterns of social behaviour and thus to make reasonable predictions.

This book ties together the two domains of knowledge, namely qualitative and quantitative research techniques. It is designed to invoke methodological thinking among budding scholars, faculties and researchers in social sciences.