functions of social research

1. MSW

2.  Social research is research conducted by social scientists following
a systematic plan. Social research methodologies can be classified
along a quantitative/qualitative dimension.[1]
 Quantitative designs approach social phenomena through
quantifiable evidence, and often rely on statistical analysis of
many cases (or across intentionally designed treatments in an
experiment) to create valid and reliable general claims. Related to
quantity.
 Qualitative designs emphasize understanding of social
phenomena through direct observation, communication with
participants, or analysis of texts, and may stress contextual
subjective accuracy over generality. Related to quality.

3.  1Methodology
 1.1Sampling
 1.2Methodological assumptions
 1.3Guidelines for "good research"
 2Ethics
 2.1Respect for persons
 2.2Beneficence
 2.3Justice
 4Foundations of social research
 4.1Sociological positivism
 4.2Modern methodologies

4.  Aims and objectives
 • introduce you to the nature of social research
 • define research strategy, research design and
research method
 • illustrate how the above differ in the two
major approaches to social research
 • consider the link between philosophies of
social science and the practice of social research
 • define the intellectual and social contexts
influencing the practice of social research.

5.  The methodological awareness of the
researcher(s) that is influenced by career
biography and training opportunities. This
methodological awareness defines the
relationship between theoretical and
philosophic issues and research practice.
 The practical constraints and facilities that are
present in the immediate context of social
research, the context of data collection, the
relationship between the researcher funding
agencies and those being researched.

6.  We have distinguished between three aspects
of social research: research strategy, research
design and research method. There are two
main research strategies, quantitative and
qualitative, and these are associated with
different positions on the philosophy of social
science: qualitative social research is for the
most part interpretivist, constructionist, and
inductive; quantitative social research is often
depicted as positivistic, objectivist and
deductive.