This document discusses various types and methods of research in social work. It provides definitions and descriptions of different types of research: - Pure research is undertaken solely for advancing knowledge without intent to apply findings, while applied research aims to solve practical problems. - Exploratory research investigates a problem to generate ideas or increase familiarity, descriptive research collects data to factually describe phenomena, and diagnostic research identifies problems and solutions. - Evaluation research assesses effectiveness of programs and projects, and action research concurrently evaluates action programs aimed at solving problems. The document also outlines research planning, specifying objectives, different research designs, and key components of a research proposal.

1. SOCIAL WORK
RESEARCH
JISMI JOHN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPT OF SOCIAL WORK
GASC

2. TYPES AND METHODS OF RESEARCH
• According to the intent, research may be classified as
• Pure Research
• Applied Research
• Exploratory Research
• Descriptive Study
• Diagnostic Study
• Evaluation Study
• Action Research

3. • According to the methods of study, research may be classified
as:
• Expectational Research
• Analytical Research
• Historical Research
• Survey

4. PURE RESEARCH
• Pure research is undertaken for the sake of knowledge without
any intention to apply it in practice.
• Pure research is also known as basic or fundamental research.
• It is undertaken out of inetlectual curiosity or inquisitiveness. It
is not necessarily problem-oriented.
• It aims at extension of knowledge.
• It may lead to either discovery of a new theory or refinement of
an existing theory.

5. APPLIED RESEARCH
• Applied research is carried on to find solution to a real life
problem requiring an action or policy decision.
• It is thus problem oriented and action action-directed. It seeks
an immediate and practical result.
• The immediate purpose of an applied research is to find
solutions to a practical problem, it may incidentally contribute
to the development of theoretical knowledge by leading to the
discovery of new facts or testing of a theory or to conceptual
clarity

6. EXPLORATORY OR FORMULATIVE
RESEARCH
• Exploratory research is preliminary study of an unfamiliar
problem about which the researcher has little or no knowledge.
• The purpose of an exploratory study may be:
• To generate new ideas or
• To increase the researcher’s familiarity with the problem or
• To make a precise formulation of the problem or
• To gather information for clarifying concepts or
• To determine whether it is feasible to attempt the study

7. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• Descriptive study is a fact-finding investigation with adequate
interpretation. It is the simplest type of research.
• It is more specific that an exploratory study, as it has focus on
particular aspects or dimensions of the problem studied.
• Data re collected by using one or more appropriate methods:
observation, interviewing and mail questionnaire.

8. DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH
• It is directed towards discovering what is happening.Why is it
happening and what can be done about.
• It aims at identifying the cases of a problem and the possible
solutions for it.
• A diagnostic study may also be concerned with discovering and
testing whether certain variable are associated

9. EVALUATION RESEARCH
• Evaluation study is one type of applied research.
• It is made for assessing the effectiveness of social or economic
programmes implemented (e.g., family planning scheme) or for
assessing impact of developmental projects (e.g. Irrigation project) on
the development of the project area.
• Evaluative research is thus, directed to assess or appraise the quality
and quantity of an activity and its performance and to specify its
attributes and conditions required for it success.

10. ACTION RESEARCH
• Action research is a type of evaluation study. It is a concurrent
evaluation study of an action programme launched for solving a
problem/for improving an existing situation.
• In the quest for development, advancement, excellence and
promotion of welfare of people, government, institutions and
voluntary agencies undertake action programmes for achieving
specific goals or objectives.

11. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
• Experimental research is designed to assess the effects of
particular variables on a phenomenon by keeping the other
variables constant or controlled.
• It aims at determining whether and in what manner variables
are related to each other.
• The factor,which is influenced by other factors, is called a
dependent variable. And the other factors, which influence it are
known as independent variables.

12. ANALYTICAL STUDY
• Analytical study is a system of procedures and techniques of
analysis applied to quantitative data.
• It may consist of a system of mathematical models or statistical
techniques applicable to numerical data. Hence, it is also known
as the statistical method.
• This study aims at testing hypothesis and specifying and
interpreting relationships.

13. HISTORICAL RESEARCH
• It is a study of past records and other information sources with a
view to reconstructing the origin and development of an
institution or a movement or a system and discovering the
trends in the past.
• It is descriptive in nature.
• Its objective is to draw explanations and generalizations from
the past trends in order to understand the present and to
anticipate the future. It enables us to grasp our relationship with
the past and to plan more intelligently for the future.

14. SURVEY
• Survey is a ‘fact finding’ study. It is a method of research
involving collection of data directly from a population or a
sample there of at particular time.
• Data may be collected by observation, or interviewing or
mailing questionnaires.
• The analysis of data may be made by using simple or complex
statistical techniques depending upon the objectives of the
study.

15. PLANNING FOR A RESEARCH STUDY
• Planning process
• 1.Selection of a problem for research: This involves identification of a
few problems and selecting one out of them, after evaluating the
alternatives against certain selection criteria.
• 2.Formulation of the selected problem: The selected problem is
defined and transformed into researchable questions.

16. • 3.Formulation of hypotheses: The propositions to be tested are set up.
• 4.Conceptualization: The concepts associated with the problem under
study are operationally defined and measurement devices are
designed.
• 5.Research plan or design: This plan covers all the aspects of the
selected research work and serves as a blue-print for the endeavour.
•

17. SPECIFICATION OF OBJECTIVES OF THE
STUDY
• The objectives refers to the questions to be answered through
the study. They indicate what we are trying to get from the
study.
• The objectives are derived from the conceptual model.
• The objectives may be specified in the form of either statements
or questions.

18. • Once the problem, the theoretical background, and the
concepts have been explained, it is time to address the aim and
objectives of the study.
• It is important to examine whether the researcher has raised
very clearly the questions to which he/she is looking for a
solution.
• The researcher should categorically put down the questions on
paper. This set of questions can be converted into objectives.

19. • Objectives are the foundations of a research project. Eventually,
the objectives guide the entire process of research.
• The major attributes of well-written objectives are:
• Clarity of expression and direction
• The objectives must have been stated clearly enough to indicate
what the researcher is trying to investigate. It is equally
important to avoid overlaps in stating objectives.

20. • Measurability
• The objectives must be stated in a manner that they are
measurable.

21. • Comprehensiveness
• The objectives provide the guiding framework for a research
project. Hence, the statement of objectives should be
comprehensive enough to cover each and every aspect of the
research study.
• Stating differently, as far as possible nothing should be left
outside the purview of the stated objectives.

22. • Judiciousness
• The value of the study lies not only in what it alone will produce,
but also in how it may add to or challenge other research in the
area.

23. RESEARCH DESIGN
• Meaning
• "A Research Design is the logical and systematic planning in directing
the research. The design research from translating a general scientific
model into varied research problem. But in practices in most of the
basis it is just a plan of study.
• "A research design is "the programme that guides the investigator in
the process of collecting, analysis and interpreting observations". -
David and Shava

24. FEATURES OF RESEARCH DESIGN
• It is a plan that specifies the objectives of study and the hypothesis to
be tested.
• It is an outline that specifies the sources and types of information
relevent to the research question.
• It is a blueprint specifying the methods to be adopted for gathering
and analysis of data.
• It is a scheme defining the procedure involved in a research process.

25. CONTENTS OF A RESEARCH DESIGN
• Introduction
• Statement of a problem
• Review of literature
• Scope of the study
• Objective of the study
• Conceptual model
• Hypothesis
• Operational definition of concepts
• The significance of the study
• Geographical area to be covered
• Reference period
• Methodology
• Sampling plan
• Tools for gathering data
• Plan of analysis
• Chapter scheme
• Time and financial budget

26. TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN
• Exploratory Research Design (Formulative Research)
• Descriptive research design
• Experimental research design