Research in Social Science

Dr.Jisu Ketan Pattanaik

Assistant Professor of Sociology
National University of Study and
Research in Law, Ranchi
 QUESTIONS
How to theorize a Research Problem?
What is the Role of Review of Literature in Research?
What are the important steps of Scientific Research/
Empirical Research?
How to distinguish between Quantitative and
Qualitative Research?
What is the difference between doctrinal and empirical
research?
What is the difference between HYPOTHESIS &
RESEARCH QUESTION?
Methods of Data Collection(Quantitative and
Qualitative Research)
What are the important steps of SYNOPSIS?
 Research Design and Types of Research Design
Construction of HYPOTHESIS and Types of
Hypothesis
Sampling and Types of Sampling Design
Methods of Data Collection
Qualitative Research
Data Analysis, Data Interpretation and Report
Writing.
 What is Research

Research is a process and means to acquire

knowledge about any natural or human
phenomena
It is a scientific undertaking to discover new
facts or verify and test old facts
 Types of research

Pure/Basic and Applied Research

Deductive and Inductive Policy

research research

Market Quantitative Qualitative

research research research
 Basic/Pure and Applied /Action
Research
Gathering knowledge for knowledge sake is
termed as PURE or BASIC research
Gathering knowledge that could aid in the
betterment of human destiny is termed as
APPLIED/Practical/Action Research.
 Deductive and Inductive Research
Deductive Research-General to particular
Inductive method of Research-Particular to
general
 Policy Research
Policy formulation
Oriented towards formulation of new
policies/reviewing existing policies
Census of India
National Family Health Survey by IIPS
Economic Survey, Govt of India
Human Development Report by UNDP
Crime in India-NCRB, New Delhi
 Market Research
Business and Industry
Market research is the investigation of the
structure and development of a market for the
purpose of formulating efficient policies for
purchasing, production and sales
Reliance Fresh
 Steps in research process
Analytical Phase
Conceptual Phase Empirical Phase
10. Analysis of data
1.Formulation of the 6.Preparing research
design 11.Hypothesis testing
research problem
7.Sample size and 12. Generalization and
2.Literature review Sampling method Interpretation
3.Theories-Theoretical 8.Method of data 13.Preparation of the
Framework collection report
4.Objectives
5.Developing the
hypothesis
Statement of the Problem/Formulation of
the Research Problem
Identification of the Research Problem (PI) and
Selection of the Research Problem (PS)
Why your Research Problem is Important?
Why you are interested to do research on a particular
topic?
In what way you can/your research can contribute to
the Knowledge domain?
Whether Your Research Topic/ Problem has any Policy
Implications?
To what extent it will be beneficial for the society?
Statement of the problem in Paragraph not in bullet
points.
 Review of Literature
To gain preliminary orientation and background
knowledge
It shares with the reader the results of other
studies that are closely related to the one being
undertaken
To identify research gaps in the field
It provides a framework for establishing the
importance of the study as well as a benchmark
for comparing the results with other findings.
 Models of Review of Literature

Cooper(1984)
Theoretical
In Integrative
Review in which Methodological
Review of
the researcher review, where
Literature the
focuses on the researcher
researchers
theory that focuses on
summarize
relates to the methods and
broad themes in
problem under definitions.
the literature.
study.
 Review of Literature

1. International Studies
2.National Studies
3. State Level Studies

Theme
Subtheme
1.Past Studies
2.Present Studies
Year Wise
 The Use of Theory in Research/Building
Theoretical Framework
Theoretical Construction-An act of rationalization,
process of justifying .
A theory appear in a research study as an
argument, a discussion, or a rationale, and it
helps to explain(or predict) phenomena that
occur in the world.
According to Thomas Theory develops as an
explanation to advance knowledge in particular
field.
According to M.N.SrinivasTheoretical
representation is required for empirical details
Options for Placing Theory in a
Quantitative Study
In the
Introduction

After
Hypotheses or
Research
Questions
THEORY In the review
of Literature

In a Separate Section
 Scientific Research
Application of Natural Science Methods in
Social Science Research-Auguste
Comte(positive Philosophy)
OBSERVATION
EXPERIMENTATION
COMPARISION
HISTORICAL ANALYSIS
(Fact-Empirically verifiable observation)
Quantitative Research and Qualitative
Research
In Quantitative research the focus is on data that
can be measured numerically. Quantitative
research typically emphasis complex statistical
techniques ( for example comparing rates of
suicide).
Qualitative Research focuses on interpretive
description(words) rather than statistics to
analyze underlying meanings and patterns of
social relationship (example A study of suicidal
behaviour based on suicide notes is an example
of qualitative research).
Difference between Quantitative and
Qualitative Research

Quantitative Qualitative
-Objective
-Subjective
-Explanatory and Experimental in
Nature -Exploratory and Descriptive in
Nature
-More Popular in Sociology,
Psychology, Economics, Political -More popular in Anthropology,
Science Sociology, History, Tribal and
Cultural Studies, Law
-The role of researcher is an
outsider to the subject -Researcher plays the role of
insider and strongly associated
-More Structure with the people.
-Hypothesis -More Open and Flexible
-Research Questions
 Methods of data collection

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

Interview Schedule
Case Study
Questionnaire
Participant Observation
Focus Group Discussion
Key Informant Interview
Content analysis
In-depth Interview
Proposed format for research synopsis
Introduction
Review of Literature
Statement of the Research Problem
Theoretical Framework
Formulation of Objectives of the Study/Research Questions
Development of Hypothesis
Research Methodology
Universe/Population of the study
Determining Sample and its size
Research Design
Method of Data Collection
Data Analysis
Tentative Chapterization
References