RESEARCH METHODS

Research Methods for Social Sciences



Research Methods for Social Sciences

Research Methods

This paper gives an overview of the methodology, which describes how the research can be carried out in social sciences. “Methodology” refers to how a research should be undertaken. In order to conduct a successful research, it is essential to collect relevant data from various sources and analyze it. Considering the nature of my research, I intend to use a triangulated approach drawing on qualitative, quantitative research and mixed methods of research in social sciences. There are a number of different types of method available for the collecting research data for social sciences. These are mentioned below.

Interviews

Questionnaire

Surveys

Observations

Case studies

Focus group

Description of the Research Problem

We need to discover the best research method that should be used to conduct research in social sciences. As mentioned above, there are many ways in which research can be conducted to determine the results.

Significance

It is important to find out the best method of research in order to know the best results with accuracy. Selecting the best method will enable us to determine the results without any biases. Therefore, this will enable the researcher to assess the problem properly and to find the best results. The advantages of opting for the best research methods are mentioned below which also serve as the significance of the study.

Accuracy

Un-biased

Valid

Reliable

Hypothesis

Hypothesis refers to the conjectures that explain observations and enable us to make educated guesses which are made to conduct tests. Therefore, it provides us with an idea that enables us to determine the relevancy and irrelevancy. Hypothesis is derived mainly from the literature of the problem. However, ignoring the source, there is one criterion that should be met by the hypothesis. Therefore, it should be stated so that it can be confirmed. There are three steps that can be used for conducting research in social sciences (Crotty 2006, pp. 45).

Proposal of hypothesis

Deduction from hypothesis

Verification of deduction by observation

Type III error

There are two meanings of Type III error from which the first one takes place when we get the correct answer to the wrong question. This is also known as Type 0 error in certain cases. The other takes place when two groups are different statistically, but they are concluded correctly. However, during the experiment value of that variable is lower in random sampling. Since the null hypothesis does not have any difference, it is rejected correctly. However, the treatment reduces the value of the variable. Such errors occur in rare cases only when random chance results in low values from a group that has higher values (Malhotra 1996, pp.41).

Techniques for Probability and Non-Probability Sampling

In probability sampling, selection of the sample is based purely on chance and is not controlled by the human mind. Therefore, each probability has a non-zero probability of being used as a sample another name for probability sampling is a random sampling and its examples are mentioned below.

1.Simple random sampling

2.Stratified random ...