Introduction to Social

Research
Pradeep Kumar Mishra
15 Sep 2015

What is Research
Systematic Investigation
May involve data collection and data
analysis
Coming out with some new findings
not known earlier
Most Important: In order to qualify as
research all of the above must be
done in order to the body of
knowledge

Science
Features of science
Standardized procedures for
investigation
Observable facts
Falsifiability of theories

Social Research
Research dealing with
physical sciences physics, chemistry,
life sciences
Social sciences Sociology, Political
Science, Psychology, Management

Social Research has the constraints

of not being subject to pure
experimentation

Types of Research
Quantitative-Qualitative divide
Research dealing with quantitative data
Where variables can be measured

Research dealing with qualitative data

Where measurement is not an issue

Quantitative vs. Qualitative divide is slowly fading

away
Research designs dealing with both quantitative and
qualitative information
Need of the research rather than quantitative or
qualitative should be the focus

Hence it is wrong to term quantitative or

qualitative research

Types of Research
Positivist-Interpretive Traditions
Positive Research
Primacy of phenomenon
Hypothesis testing emphasised
Laws drawn from observable facts
Objectivity: value-free
Scientific statements, rather than
normative ones

 Interpretive Research
Making sense rather than
measurement
Subjectivity is recognized
Human beings are distinct from the
natural order
Fundamental difference between
physical and human sciences/
behavioural studies

Wifes point of view

Husbands point of
view

Source: Babbie, 2004, pp.11

Deductive vs. Inductivism

Deductive:
A theory based on premises
Primacy to logic; verification later
Ex. Power Corrupts; Mr. A is in Power; hence Mr. A is Corrupt

Inductive
A theory based on observations
Primacy to generalization from observation
Ex.
A is in Power; A is corrupt
B is in Power; B is corrupt
---- Mr. N is in power, N is corrupt
Hence power corrupts

Epistemology vs. Ontology

Epistemology:
Deals with what constitutes a knowledge
Provides guidance to methods
Positivism, Interpretivism are
epistemological issues

Ontology
Concerned with nature of social entities
Objectivism, constructionism are
ontological issues

Other terms
Realism: The world exists independent of
human thought and perception
Idealism: The physical world is someway
related to human thought and perception
Critical Realism: Social science research is
also affected by human agency
understanding vs. reality
Hermeneutics: theory of text interpretation
Phenomenology: study of structure of
consciousness from first-person point of view

Thank You