So562 Qualitative Research

Methods in Sociology

Credit hours: 3
Course Introduction Teaching hours: 48

Mani Ram Banjade, PhD

Introduction

• Name, background

• Why sociology?

• Research experience

• Career goals
Who am I ?
 Research is a careful investigation or inquiry especially
through search for new facts in any branch of
Knowledge (The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)

Research is a systematic, formal and precise process

employed to gain solutions to problems or to discover
and interpret new facts and relationships (Waltz and
Bausell, 1981)
What is
Research? Research is the systematic, controlled, empirical and
critical invsestigation of hypothetical propositions about
the presumed relations among natural phenomena
(Kerlinger, 1973)

Research is the pursuit of truth through objective and

systematic method of finding solutions to a problem
(Kothari, 2004)
 What is research ?

Research is defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the

use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to
generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings.

Research starts with a question or a problem and then finding

answers or solution of the question or the problem.

Gathering evidence is a key part of a research.

 Concepts

Variable
• Variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of
category you are trying to measure

Hypothesis
• The statement from a causal explanation or a proposition that has at least one
independent and one dependent variable, but it has yet to be empirically
tested.
Independent vs dependent variables

• Independent Variable: The first variable that causes or produces

the effect in other variables and is stand alone. Age of a person
doesn’t depend on what he/she eats or does.

• Dependent variable depends on other variables/factors. Total

marks a student scores depends on so many factors e.g. time
spent in studying
Key features of Research

• Search/discover knowledge

• Systematic investigation or experimentation: Scientific Method

• Generalization

• Basic and applied research (Resolving pressing societal problems)

• Developing hypothesis (or propositions) and testing them

• Analysing existing knowledge in new and creative way

• Generative new concepts, methodologies and understandings

 RESEARCH FEATURES

• Academic activity

• Systematic learning

• Systematic analysis

• Scientific methods

• Time demanding

• Consistent effort

• Logical
RESEARCH ELEMENTS

• Inquiry
• An iterative process
• Writing –presentation
• Analytical
• Logical –evidences
• Dissemination –Publish, conference
SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
RESEARCH

• Human needs never end

• Societies are dynamic –social world is ever

changing –emerging and evolving social problems

• Research impacts your daily life

WHY RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS ?

• Enhances the knowledges

• Enhancing understanding the published work

• Demystifies/clarifies confusion

• Enhances proper understanding of the subject

• Promotes learning about the methods and issues

• Know how the original study originated

• Understanding the rationale

 Enhances observation skill

Improves your performance

Builds your confidence in initiating the

action

WHY RESEARCH IS
IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS Informs decision-making

Brings consistency in the work

Directly or indirectly contributes to

development

Satisfies human curiosity