All research work conducted for the purpose of forming information in the social sciences can generally be called social research. Social science theories or research findings are used for theoretical knowledge, problem solving, development program formulation, implementation and evaluation, etc. Social research is basically just a social version of scientific research.
According to P.V. Young (1994:30), social research can be defined as a scientific method; through the application of logical and systematic techniques, the aim of which is
1. To discover new information or verify old information;
2. To explain their interaction, interrelationship, and functional relationship following an appropriate theoretical framework;
3. To develop new scientific tools, beliefs and information for the benefit of the human behavior chapter with reliability and accuracy.
The Encyclopedia of Social Research mentions social research; that social research deals with social phenomena. It tries to understand the behavior of people as members of society, their emotional processes, and perspectives in various ways.
On the other hand, Wilkinson and Bandarkar (1984:15) noted that “Social research is nothing more than the application of scientific procedures of manipulation (purposeful control), of observation, of analysis, and of synthesis at a higher level, generally to social human phenomena, with a view to testing, modifying, and enlarging the systematic knowledge about social facts and social life, generally.”
Therefore, social research is a scientific process through which new social phenomena can be established in a rational and orderly manner, the truth of past events can be determined and tested, and their mutual relationships can be discovered, explained, and new scientific methods, concepts, theories and methods can be invented through which the behavior and relationships of social people can be determined.
Social research as a scientific method:
Social science is claimed to follow the scientific method. In fact, it is quite difficult to accept this claim in general in terms of the various methods of inquiry and analysis in social sciences. Because among the methods, only the experimental method follows the essential features of the scientific method to a large extent. Considering the experimental method as one of the forms of social research, the features of the scientific method can be discussed. However, other methods try to follow the scientific method to a large extent, if not completely, or even covertly. For good reason, all these methods are not called ‘unscientific’ but ‘less scientific’. Thus, the adherence to the scientific method of social research can be judged as follows:
1. Reality-oriented data dependence: Science is completely dependent on real experimental data to establish its truth. Social research also reaches the necessary conclusions by collecting data from the social environment through real experiments.
2. Use of relevant concepts: Science considers and uses various concepts related to the subject under analysis in its research work. And in this way, the relationship between thought and truth is maintained. While conducting research on any subject related to society, social research tries to consider the impact of the relevant studies.
3. Objective-oriented: Science always moves forward with a specific objective in mind. Social research is committed to uncovering social truth.
4. Value neutrality: Science is impartial. The position of any value other than scientific values is absent and undesirable in science. Social research cannot be completely free from the influence of different types of values. But in the field of research, social research strives to maintain neutrality in principle.
5. Universal: The conclusions of science are universal. The conclusions of social science obtained through social research are not as certain as the conclusions given by natural science. Because social matters are very variable. Therefore, it can be said that all the conclusions obtained from social research are not universally accepted. However, even in limited cases, social research tries to generalize its conclusions relatively. As a result, it has been possible to generalize the nature of various general conditions in some cases. The weakness of measurement makes social researchers flexible in generalizing their conclusions.
6. Control: Science believes in uncovering the truth in a well-controlled environment. Social research cannot confine social issues to the laboratory. However, in this case, various techniques are resorted to to maintain control as much as possible. The successful application of all these techniques makes the social researcher relatively in control.
7. Measurement: An essential feature of science is the measurability of the data it obtains. Social research, like natural science, cannot measure its conclusions accurately. However, even if it cannot make precise measurements, it is possible for the social researcher to make comparative measurements. In fact, the primary and main weakness of social research is the inability to measure in terms of magnitude. That is, the social researcher can measure how much poverty and crime will increase.
8. Repetition: Science declares the repetition of similar results about the accuracy of the truth obtained. Social research is only able to highlight the possibility of repetition of its truth in this case. That is, since the social researcher does not have full control over the test vessel or social elements, it is possible to repeat the research conditionally.
9. Prediction: Science makes certain predictions based on the information or truth obtained. Social researchers make possible predictions in terms of decisions related to social issues. For example, if other conditions remain unchanged, if poverty increases, crime will also increase.
Based on appropriate discussion, it can be said that social research tries to follow all the characteristics of the scientific method. But in the case of ever-changing and qualitative social analysis, it is not possible to maintain some of the characteristics completely. For example, due to the influence of various values, due to social variability, it is not possible for social researchers to properly maintain the necessary scientific characteristics such as correct measurement, repetition, prediction, etc. in the context of universal and controlled and social qualitative issues. Because of this, the results obtained from social research cannot be completely accurate and cannot be accepted and established as the results provided by natural science research. However, in the present day, as a result of the invention and application of various techniques, the conclusions provided by social research have become more measurable and predictive. Due to such progressive enrichment of social research, it is considered to follow the scientific method. And for that reason, social sciences are recognized by everyone as a scientific term today.
