Social research examines social phenomena using concepts from the social sciences. It aims to illuminate changes in society, but human behavior is irregular and difficult to predict compared to natural sciences. There are different types of social research including descriptive research that reports current conditions, analytical research that critically evaluates existing data, applied research that solves problems, and fundamental research that develops theories. Research can also be qualitative and focus on meanings, or quantitative and rely on measurable data. The scientific method is a systematic process used in social research involving observation, hypothesis, and verification through empirical evidence, concepts, and logical reasoning. However, whether human behavior can truly be studied scientifically is debated.

1. Social Research
Nature, Types
and
Scientific Method

2. Nature of Social Research
❖ Research that draws on the social sciences for conceptual
and theoretical inspiration
❖ Motivated by development and change in society (such as
rise in worries about security or binge-drinking)
❖ It employs social scientific ideas to illuminate those changes
❖ Unlike natural sciences, social sciences lack the power of
exact prediction- irregular nature of human behaviour
❖ Cause and effect are difficult to be segregated

3. Types of Social Research
Descriptive Vs Analytical
❖ Descriptive research- surveys and fact finding studies; to
describe the state of affairs as it exists at present; also
called Ex post facto research; researcher has no control
over the variables, he/she can only report what is
happening; cause and effect
❖ Analytical research- researcher has to use facts or
information already available, analyse these facts to
make critical evaluation of the material

4. Types
Applied Vs Fundamental
❖ Applied Research- finding a solution for an immediate
problem
❖ Fundamental Research- pure or basic type; concerned
with generalisations and with the formulation of a
theory; gathering knowledge for knowledge sake

5. Types
Qualitative Vs Quantitative
❖ Qualitative- concerned with phenomena relating to
quality; discovering the underlying motives and desires;
understanding why it happens- explaining in words
❖ Quantitative- based on the measurement of quantity or
amount; applicable to phenomena that can be expressed
in terms of quantity- numbers

6. Types
Conceptual Vs Empirical
❖ Conceptual research- related to abstract ideas or theory- to
develop new concepts or theories or to reinterpret existing
ones
❖ Empirical- relies on experience and observation; data based
research; coming up with conclusions capable of being verified;
first hand information at their sources
One-time research or Longitudinal research; field-setting research or
laboratory research; historical research, conclusion oriented research etc..

7. SCIETIFIC METHOD
“there is no short-cut to truth, no way to gain a knowledge of the
universe expect through the gate way of scientific method”
-Karl Pearson
❖ Social research is based on scientific method
❖ A systematic step-by-step procedure following logical process of
reasoning
❖ Rigorous, impersonal mode of procedure dictated by the demands
of logic and objective procedure
❖ Objective- logical- systematic method

8. Two Elements of Scientific Method
❖ Procedural Component- Observation , hypothesis and
verification are the three procedural components
❖ Personal Components- resourcefulness, ability, attitude
and other skill sets that the researcher needs to possess

9. Basic Features
❖ It relies on Empirical Evidence
❖ It utilises relevant Concepts
❖ It is committed to only objective considerations
❖ It presuppose ethical neutrality
❖ Results in probabilistic predictions
❖ Its methodology is made known to all concerned for critical scrutiny are
for use in testing the conclusions through replication
❖ Logical Reasoning Process- Induction(IPG) & Deduction (DGP)

10. However, whether human behaviour can be
categorised, studied and analysed scientifically is
highly debatable!!!