Sociological inquiry (SI) aims to provide understanding of the social world through exploration of human social and cultural conditions. SI publishes both theoretical and empirical work using varied research methods. SI follows certain procedures like defining problems, gathering and analyzing data, and verifying results. Commonly used methods include experiments, surveys, and case studies which may employ qualitative or quantitative techniques like observation, interviews, and questionnaires. The overall goal of SI is to obtain understanding of how social phenomena work and change over time and context.

2. Sociological Inquiry (SI) is committed to the
exploration of the human condition in all of its
social and cultural complexity. Its papers
challenge us to look a new at traditional areas
or identify novel areas for
investigation. SI publishes both theoretical and
empirical work as well as varied research
methods in the study of social and cultural life.

3. Sociological inquiry is like any scientific activity,
or like playing a game.
It has goals to achieve,
Rules to follow,
And strategies to work out in order to obtain a
high probability of success.

4. Participants are people or group of people that
are involve in a certain activity.
Sociological inquiry, or the activity itself has a 2
groups of participants, the players and the
spectators.

5. THE PLAYERS THE SPECTATORS
The Scientist
The Scientist Assistants
Other Workers
Are the recipients of the
results.
The Spectator is either
interested or
disinterested,
appreciative or
inappreciative, benefited
or unbenefited.

6. Is the way by which human beings interact with
each other in social units such as the family,
the school , and the factory.
Is the prime concern of sociological inquiry.
This concern goes beyond the study of face-to-
face contact; it is also the systematic
motivations and behavior of individuals within
groups.

7. The basic goal of Sociological Inquiry is to
obtain an understanding of the observable
social world.
To understand the aspects of this world, one
has to observe phenomena in relation to
particular points of time and place and realize
how they were, how they are, and how and
why they have or have not changed.

8. To pursue the game, sociological inquiry abides
by certain fundamental procedures. The
researcher thus:

9. Our social world is made up of broad and complex
phenomena. Above all else, researchers have to
locate and evaluate what is already known about
this prospective area of inquiry. Thereafter, it is
necessary for them to delimit the scope and
breadth of the problem and to define the
phenomena to focus on.
Thus, in defining a sociological problem, data is
gathered and eventually, in the analysis of the
data, a conceptual scheme or theoretical
framework is set up.

10. Sociological inquiry is the collection and
ordering of facts in terms of a conceptual-
theoretical model, this model is being subject to
reconstruction as its application result in new or
different findings.
Through sociological inquiry, researchers are
guided by concept, hypothesis, theory, and
fact.

11. A concept is a general term that refers to all
cases of particular class of objects, events,
persons, relationships, processes, and ideas.
A hypothesis is a proposition or assumption
stating what is to be resolved.
A theory is a statement of logical relationships
between facts. It is a set of interconnected
concepts and propositions presenting a
systematic view of phenomena.
A fact is an observable experience that can be
repeated and verified.

12. In order to meet the fundamental aim of
sociological inquiry, a more immediate goal is
to provide a simulation or a model that can be
shown to correspond to certain principles, a
sample of the total population to represent the
whole as accurately as possible.
The researcher also chooses the techniques to
identify and record the data to be studied.

13. This involves the testing of the hypothesis or
answering questions or assumptions with facts
that have been gathered.
Measurements are yardsticks which
sociologists create and endow with meanings.
This is a test of the validity of the
measurement. If the measurement is taken at
different times or by different individuals and
the same results are yielded, the measurement
is deemed reliable.

14. The introduction summarizes all the main
findings expected, which are checked against
the originally stated hypothesis.
Pictures, tables, charts, and graphs can be
used as effective aids for easier understanding
of the results.
Citation of original sources in footnotes,
bibliographic entries, and suggested readings
are useful guides for in-depth reading.

15. Further checking and verification of findings are
necessary.

16. Certain research methods, techniques, and
tools may be used single or in varied
combinations during one or all of the
procedures. The most commonly used
methods in research designs are the
experimental method, the sample survey, and
the case study.

17. The experimental design may be used with a
factory, office, school, or prison as a laboratory
for carrying out the experiment,
A number of variables are used, holding them
constant except one, the effect of which can
vary or change.
Two sets of subjects – the experimental and
control groups – are matched to resemble each
other as closely as possible.

18. The sample survey method involves a sample
which would closely represent a universe or a
particular population from which it was chosen,
like barrio, province, region, housing project,
university, hospital, or apartment complex.
A Statistician may be consulted in setting up
the sampling techniques and tools to be used
so that the margin of conclusion drawn will be
valid for the whole population with a very small
margin of error.

19. Intensive examination of a specific group over
a long period of time is carried out in the case
study .
Careful recording of significant events and the
consequent evaluation of these against the
original set of hypotheses are necessary.
Case study do not necessarily lead to
conclusive generalizations, but they are rich
sources of fresh and deep insights for further
researches.

20. The techniques used may be qualitative or
quantitative.

21. The Qualitative techniques do not involve the
intensive use of universal values in the
research process.
The data derived through qualitative
techniques can be analyzed quantitatively
through the use of statistics which deal with a
mass of data and permit more precise
statements of their relationships.

22. This technique involves the classification and
enumeration of data, analyses of the
quantitative relationships involved, and
assignment of numerical values to their
relationship.

23. Observation and interviewing may also be used
as a technique.
Observation may be non-participatory or
participatory. In non-participant observation,
the researcher enters the situation as a third
party as he or she actually observes and
records what is being studied. In participant
observation, the research takes part as a
member of the group being studied.

24. The researcher also obtains data by interviewing
people.
If the interview is non-structured, the researcher
leaves it to the interviewee to guide the
conversation.
In structured or directed interview, the researcher
follows a relatively more definite order of
questions.
A questionnaire is a tool for securing answers to
questions written down. It may provide space for
the respondent’s written answer or allow him or her
to choose and check his or her response from a
listed series of possible answers.

25. This method utilizes the people who are the
actual targets of developments in the research
process. The program is presented to the
people themselves, and so the research is
done in the context of people-centered
development.
This type of research can be used for the
accumulation of knowledge, as well as for
social action, evaluation of the program, and
extension work.

26. According to Hollnsteiner (as cited by Abad)
participatory research involves the people’s
conscious reflections on what action and goals
they consider possible and desirable. Thus, the
research becomes meaningful to them and
they can mobilize their resources to attain their
ends.

27. The universality and continuity of scientific
inquiry lies in its function as a method, be it in
the physical, biological, or social areas.
Karl Pearson stated that “The unity of all
science consists alone in its method, not in its
material. The man who classifies facts of any
kind whatever, who sees their mutual relation
and describes their sequences, is applying the
scientific method and is a man of science”

28. Social Scientist should posses a good grasp of
the basic premises of their field.
Social Scientist must realize that sociological
inquiry is more rigorous and more systematic
than common sense.
Social Scientist should be aware of two
predominant traditional thoughts that have
preoccupied sociologists regarding the
treatment of their data.

29. **One of the traditional thoughts is closely
associated with the idea of Max Weber who
advocated the use of Verstehen. Weber
believed that objective measurements are not
sufficient.
**Another traditional thought is Positivism,
expounded by Auguste Comte, which claims
that the methods of the physical and the
biological sciences can be applied to the study
of the human being.

30. Social scientist must be objective. The sincere
desire to be objective does not necessarily
result in complete objectivity.
The social scientist may be biased without
being aware of it.

31. Skeptical receptivity is also necessary for
sociological inquiry. Although researchers have
to be open-minded about new and unique
ideas, they need to be sufficiently skeptical to
reserve conclusions about these ideas unless
and until they have derived tested answers to
fundamental questions about them.

32. A persistent critical spirit is important in
sociological inquiry if it is to go beyond
common sense or presumptive speculation. It
should not be bound, limited, or encapsulated
by traditional wisdom or conventional
knowledge.

33. *Scientific behavior also requires cooperation,
honesty, and liberalism
Social researchers may also develop some
sensitivity that people in the community where
they work manifest towards scientists and their
work.

34. Sociological inquiry is intended to provide an
understanding of our observable world, and to increase
our understanding of ourselves and our groups.
There are certain fundamental procedures to be
followed in SI, such as the definition of problem,
gathering of data, analysis of data, checking and
verification of results
The commonly used methods in research design are
the experimental method, sample survey, and case
study method.
Sociologists are involved in SI, in their work, they
should have attempted to show objectivity, a critical
spirit, skeptical receptivity, communality, and liberalism.