Social sciences refer to business, commerce, demography, psychology, sociology, etc. Social sciences directly involve people. Research in social sciences arena deals with the behavior of people in their different roles, such consumers, competitors, producers, executives, salespersons, leaders, workers, followers, teachers, students, opinion-makers, etc. Research in social sciences deals with the systematic method of discovering new facts or of verifying old facts, their sequence, inter-relationship, casual explanations and the natural laws which cover them. The importance that social science research wields today is immeasurable and enlarging. As social, business and economic problems abound, the significance of social research gets enhanced as it provides workable solutions. We know the objectives of social research are elaborate. From these emanate the significance of research. The following points bring out the significance of research in social sciences. Problems solving is the thrust of most researches. Social problems are felt directly by people and that research Continue reading
Business Research Concepts
Documentary Sources of Information in Research
The documentary source is an important source of information for a researcher. A document is anything in writing a record, files or diaries, published or unpublished which can be extracted and used in research. It is a very valuable source of information for a research either in management or in social sciences. It may comprise office files, business and legal papers, biographies, official and unofficial records, letters, proceedings of any courts, committees, societies, Assemblies, and Parliaments, enactments, constitution, reports of surveys, or research of commissions, official statistics, newspaper editorials, special articles, company news, cases or company directors’ reports, etc. Documentation is the process of collecting and extracting the documents which are relevant to research. Documents may be classified into: Personal documents; Company documents; Consultants’ report and published materials; and Public documents. Personal documents are those that are written by or on behalf of individuals. They may include autobiographies, biographies, diaries, Continue reading
Social Research – Definition, Steps and Objectives
Definitions of Social Research The term ‘social research’ has been defined by different scholars differently. The few definitions are as follows: Prof. C.A. Moser defined it as “systematized investigation to give new knowledge about social phenomena and surveys, we call social research”. Rummel defined it as “it is devoted to a study to mankind in his social environment and is concerned with improving his understanding of social orders, groups, institutes and ethics”. M.H. Gopal defined it as “it is scientific analysis of the nature and trends of social phenomena of groups or in general of human behavior so as to formulate broad principles and scientific concepts”. Mary Stevenson defined it as “social research is a systematic method of exploring, analyzing and conceptualizing social life in order to extend, correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge aid in the construction of a theory or in the practice of an art. A Continue reading
Schedule as a Data Collection Technique in Research
Schedule is the tool or instrument used to collect data from the respondents while interview is conducted. Schedule contains questions, statements (on which opinions are elicited) and blank spaces/tables for filling up the respondents. The features of schedules are : The schedule is presented by the interviewer. The questions are asked and the answers are noted down by him. The list of questions is a more formal document, it need not be attractive. The schedule can be used in a very narrow sphere of social research. The main purposes of schedule are three fold : To provide a standardized tool for observation or interview in order to attain objectivity, To act as memory tickler i.e., the schedule keeps the memory of the interviewer/ observer refreshed and keeps him reminded of the different aspects that are to be particularly observed, and To facilitate the work of tabulation and analysis. Types Continue reading
Guide to the Development of Research Questionnaires
The process of questionnaire development is divided into three phases, (1) Designing or making (2) Issuing (3) Returning. While designing a research questionnaire, attention should be paid to three important matters; Appearance of the questionnaire, Contents of questionnaire, and Subject-matter. Design of Questionnaire To design a good research questionnaire certain steps are needed. These are : Consult colleagues, friends & acquaintances to get their thinking on the problem. Formulation of such a list of areas and questions. Submit this list to experts both in the field of problem and related fields. Drafting the questionnaire (first stage). Pre-testing the questionnaire. Re-examination and revising the questionnaire (second stage). Physical Appearance of the Questionnaire Special attention should be paid in order to give a good physical appearance to the research questionnaire so as to get good response from the respondent. Matters requiring special attention include quality and size of paper, type of Continue reading
The Purpose of Research
Research is the process of a systematic and in-depth study or search of any particular topic, subject or area of investigation, involving collection, compilation, presentation and interpretation of relevant details or data. It is a careful search or inquiry into any subject matter, which is an endeavor to discover to find out valuable facts which would be useful for solving problems or improving existing solutions to problems. The research that involves scientific analysis would result in the formulation of new theories, the discovery of new techniques, modification of old concepts or a knocking-off an existing theory, concept or technique. Research has proved to be a powerful tool in driving the mankind towards development. That is why, the terms Research and Development (R and D) are now used as twins as Research & Development (R&D). John W.Best observes that, “the secret of our development has been research pushing back the areas Continue reading