How Is Research Applied in Social Science?

• Qualitative Research in Social Science

  According to the article "Qualitative Research in Information Systems" published by the Association for Information Systems, qualitative research methods were developed in the social sciences in order to study social phenomena. These research methods aim at understanding society and the meaning people attribute to social phenomena, instead of recording and interpreting numbers. For example, qualitative research allows knowledge of the degree to which solidarity and cohesion in a neighborhood have been affected by foreclosures. In order to accomplish this, social researchers would observe the phenomena, conduct interviews and record people's interpretation and feelings. This type of research could be used to provide knowledge about society or contribute to the improvement of social policies.

• Basic Research in Social Science

  According to the text "Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement", basic research in social sciences seeks knowledge about social phenomena in order to establish principles and social theories. In basic research, social scientists choose a theory (e.g., "poverty has an effect on school performance"), then come up with a hypothesis based on that theory (e.g., children of low socioeconomic level have low grades in school). They define variables, such as socioeconomic levels (high, middle low class) and low grades (C and under). Through data collection, observation, interpretation and statistical analysis, researchers validate or reject their hypothesis, creating a new body of knowledge or reinforcing existing knowledge.

• Applied Research in Social Science

  According to the text "Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement", applied research seeks to understand how basic research could help solve social problems. Social researchers chose a theory. With a theory such as "Poverty has an effect on school performance," they would identify specific ways in which poverty influences school performance, such as ways in which lack of supplies at home affect homework completion or lack of adequate transportation affects school attendance. Through data collection, observation, interpretation and statistical analysis, researchers come up with specific information about the problem and practical solutions. Policymakers can use the body of research social scientists produce through applied research as guidance in order to improve policies and social programs.

• Evaluative Research in Social Science

  According to the text "Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement", evaluative research assesses the outcomes of treatments applied in order to overcome social problems; for example, a social researcher evaluates a program which aims at improving school performance of at risk high-school students by providing daily tutoring to these children. In order to determine whether the program is accomplishing its purpose, the social researcher uses different techniques such as interviews, tests, analysis of documents, analysis of grades, analysis of attendance records and observations. If the evaluation determines that the program is successful, the program might continue and even grow. If the evaluation determines that the program has flaws, it will identify them in order to correct them.

• Considerations

  Quantitative and qualitative research methods are not exclusive; they can be applied simultaneously in order to produce accurate knowledge or give effective solutions to social problems. Social researchers may not infer causation when there is no causal relationship between two variables; two variables, such as socioeconomic level and weight, may be correlated, but that does not mean that one causes the other to change.

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References & Resources

• Sportscience: Quantitative Research Design
• Association for Information Systems: Qualitative Research in Information Systems
• "Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement"; Delbert C. Miller, Neil J Salkland; 1991