Research Methodology for Social Sciences: An Overview
By Henry Ogoi
()
About this ebook
Social science is defined as a branch of science devoted to study the societies and the relationships among individuals within the societies. Social science research is a systematic method of exploring, analyzing and conceptualizing human life in order to extend, correct or verify knowledge of human behavior and social life. Social research seeks to find explanations to unexplained phenomena, to clarify the doubtful and correct the misconceived fact of social life. It involves the application of scientific method for understanding and analyzing of social life in order to correct and verify the existing knowledge as a system
However, conducting research is a daunting task that requires in -depth knowledge of the subject-matter, planning, care, and hard work. As part of the requirements for the award of degrees in higher education institutions, students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels normally carry out research, which they report in the form of dissertations or theses. The research journey commences with the selection of a research topic and the preparation of a proposal on the selected topic. Experience has shown that students tend to encounter difficulties in writing research proposals for their supervisors because they do not fully comprehend what constitutes a research proposal. Many students lack an understanding of the subject-matter, interest in research, good knowledge of the methodology, time and research guidance, and scholarly and related references.
The purpose of this book is to provide the students with an overview of how to write an effective and scholarly research proposal and dissertation by discussing the essential ingredients required in scientific research. As a supervisor of both undergraduate and graduate students, I can attest that most students face a huge challenge in selecting their research topic resulting in delays in completing their dissertation journey. From the students' point of view, this book endeavors to explore the challenges faced by both undergraduate and graduate students when they are writing their research proposal and research project and how to mitigate those challenges in order to accomplish their academic goals. In a nutshell, the book endeavors to provide the students with the tips for writing a quality dissertation to enable them graduate without any hassle.
Read more from Henry Ogoi
Managing Your Learning: How to Navigate Your Studies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPersonal Financial Planning: How to Manage Your Money Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Research Methodology for Social Sciences
Related ebooks
Essentials of Research Design and Methodology Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Qualitative Research for Beginners: From Theory to Practice Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Social Research Methods. A Complete Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Practical Guide to Qualitative Research: A Guide for Research Students, Supervisors, and Academic Authors Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQualitative Research:: Intelligence for College Students Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Research Methodology Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Researcher's Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Academic Writing & Research: How to Write a Good, Strong, Important and Interesting Thesis Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Guidelines for Effective Research to Publication: A Concise Approach Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsResearch Methodology: An Introduction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Successfully Deal with Your Dissertation Data Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsResearch Methods: Information, Systems, and Contexts Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5how to write a successful research proposal كيف تكتب مقترح بحث ناجح: a successful research proposal Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThinking as Researchers Innovative Research Methodology Content and Methods Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGlossary of Research Methodology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSnapshot View of Social Research Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsModern Research Design: The Best Approach To Qualitative And Quantitative Data Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChoosing a Research Method, Scientific Inquiry:: Complete Process with Qualitative & Quantitative Design Examples Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTheoretical Frameworks in College Student Research Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Research Methods and Methods in Context Revision Notes for AS Level and A Level Sociology, AQA Focus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Joseph A. Maxwell's Qualitative Research Design Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEthics for Graduate Researchers: A Cross-disciplinary Approach Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIntroduction to Scientific Research: Strategy and Planning Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPsychology Research Methods: A Writing Intensive Approach Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Write a Dissertation: An Instructional Manual for Dissertation Writers. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsResearchers Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBasic Research Strategies: A Guidebook for Stressed Thesis and Dissertation Writers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Introduction to Data Analysis in Qualitative Research Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMethods of Research: Simple, Short, And Straightforward Way Of Learning Methods Of Research Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Teaching Methods & Materials For You
Dumbing Us Down - 25th Anniversary Edition: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Speed Reading: Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour: Mind Hack, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Verbal Judo, Second Edition: The Gentle Art of Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters--And How to Get It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Personal Finance for Beginners - A Simple Guide to Take Control of Your Financial Situation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Closing of the American Mind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jack Reacher Reading Order: The Complete Lee Child’s Reading List Of Jack Reacher Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Take Smart Notes. One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Principles: Life and Work Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Inside American Education Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Chicago Guide to Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5From 150 to 179 on the LSAT Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Tools of Learning Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Everything You Need to Know About Personal Finance in 1000 Words Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My System Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Science of Making Friends: Helping Socially Challenged Teens and Young Adults Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Speed Reading: How to Read a Book a Day - Simple Tricks to Explode Your Reading Speed and Comprehension Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four-Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix (10th Anniversary, Revised Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic, Second Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Research Methodology for Social Sciences
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Research Methodology for Social Sciences - Henry Ogoi
INTRODUCTION
Social science is defined as a branch of science devoted to study the societies and the relationships among individuals within the societies. Social science research is a systematic method of exploring, analyzing and conceptualizing human life in order to extend, correct or verify knowledge of human behavior and social life. Social research seeks to find explanations to unexplained phenomena, to clarify the doubtful and correct the misconceived fact of social life. It involves the application of scientific method for understanding and analyzing of social life in order to correct and verify the existing knowledge as a system
However, conducting research is a daunting task that requires in -depth knowledge of the subject-matter, planning, care, and hard work. As part of the requirements for the award of degrees in higher education institutions, students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels normally carry out research, which they report in the form of dissertations or theses. The research journey commences with the selection of a research topic and the preparation of a proposal on the selected topic. Experience has shown that students tend to encounter difficulties in writing research proposals for their supervisors because they do not fully comprehend what constitutes a research proposal. Many students lack an understanding of the subject-matter, interest in research, good knowledge of the methodology, time and research guidance, and scholarly and related references.
The purpose of this book is to provide the students with an overview of how to write an effective and scholarly research proposal and dissertation by discussing the essential ingredients required in scientific research. As a supervisor of both undergraduate and graduate students, I can attest that most students face a huge challenge in selecting their research topic resulting in delays in completing their dissertation journey. From the students’ point of view, this book endeavors to explore the challenges faced by both undergraduate and graduate students when they are writing their research proposal and research project and how to mitigate those challenges in order to accomplish their academic goals. In a nutshell, the book endeavors to provide the students with the tips for writing a quality proposal to enable them graduate without any hassle.
CHAPTER ONE
PRELIMINARIES
The Concept of Research
Research is defined as the systematic approach to obtaining and confirming new and reliable knowledge. Research is defined as a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among natural phenomena. Research involves searching for explanation of events, phenomena, relationships and causes. It is a circular process that leads to asking questions relating to the what, how and why things occur. The purpose of scientific research is to explore credible and reliable new knowledge.
Components of Research:
It is systematic: Research endeavors to solve problems whether social, political, economic, cultural or health-related in a systematic way.
It is objective: Research attempts to find an objective, unbiased solution to the problem through gathering of new data from both primary and secondary sources.
It is based on observable experience or empirical evidence: It entails accurate observation and description.
It employs carefully designed procedures and rigorous analysis.
Types of Research: There are three types of research, that is, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods:
i). Qualitative Research
A type of educational research in which the researcher relies on the views of participants; asks broad, general questions; collects data consisting largely of words (or text) from participants; describes and analyzes these words for themes; and conducts the inquiry in a subjective, biased manner.
Constructivism – multiple realities; biased; inductive.
Qualitative research approach seeks to describe and analyze the culture and behavior of humans and their groups from the point of view of those being studied. Qualitative research is described as an effective model that occurs in a natural setting and enables the researcher to develop a level of detail from high involvement in the actual experiences.
It uses natural setting and relies on flexible and interactive strategies to collect data from the target population. These strategies include interviewing, group discussions and questionnaires. In qualitative research, feelings and insights are considered important.
Ethnography- It is the study of an intact cultural group in a natural setting over a prolonged period of time by collecting primarily observational data.
Grounded Theory-It seeks to drive a theory of a process, action, behavior, or interaction grounded in the views of the participants in the study.
Case Study-It is an in-depth systematic investigation of a phenomenon by a researcher. A case study has been defined as an empirical enquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident. The cases are bounded by time and activity. The researcher collects detailed information using a variety of data collection procedures over a sustained period of time.
Phenomenology-It involves studying a small number of subjects or participants via extensive and prolonged engagement to develop patterns and relationships of meaning. The researcher ‘brackets’ his experiences to comprehend those of