Social Research (Week 1)

What is a social scientist?

A person who studies people, groups, institutions, and societies using systematic research methods in an attempt to understand how the world works.

What does “Systematic research/process” mean?

Carefully studying a question or completing a task by following a neat step-by-step plan and using evidence to find a reliable answer or achieve a goal.

What is research?

The systematic process of asking questions, collecting evidence and analysing information to improve our understanding of people, society and the world.

What are research methods?

Tools social scientists use to conduct research.

What do you need to keep in mind to do research?

Bell, Waters & Johnson (2014):

Methodical investigation - you must investigate while adhered to a strict plan.

Systematic inquiry - using a step-by-step process to answer a question.

Seeks to answer questions.

Credibility is dependent on careful planning and conduct.

What can we use research for?

Walliman (2022):

Describe - what happens?

Explain - why or how it happens.

Evaluate - what is the outcome of the situation?

Compare - what happens other times?

Correlate - what makes this situation happen?

Predict - what will happen other times?

Control - use it for positive benefits.

Examples of what research could achieve

Identify factors linking to victimisation or offending rates.

Evaluate teaching methods or school policies.

Understand why people do or don’t vote.

Ways to approach research

(Walliman, 2022)

What is the “Reflective Cycle”?

An idea by Gibbs (1988) on how to solve a conflict or issue: