Meaning, Functions or Uses and Limitations of Social Science Research

MEANING OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH:

“Social science research is a systematic method o exploring, analysing and conceptualizing human life in order to extend, correct or verify knowledge of human behaviour and social life.” In other words, social science research seek to find explanations to unexplained social phenomena, to clarify the doubtful and correct the misconceived facts of social life.

FUNCTIONS OR USES OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH:

1 Discovery of facts and their Interpretation:

Research provides answer to questions of what, where, when, how and why of man, social life and institutions. They are half-truths pseudo truths and superstitions. Discovery of facts and their interpretation help us discard such distortions and thus enlighten us and contribute to our understanding of social reality research strengthens our desire for truth and opens up before our eyes, hidden social mysteries.

2 Diagnosis of problems and their analysis:

The developing courtiers have innumerable problems such as poverty, unemployment, economic imbalance, economic inequality, social tension, low productivity, technological backwardness, etc. The nature and dimensions of such problems have to be diagnosed and analysed; social science research plays a significant role in this respect. An analysis of problems leads to an identification of appropriate remedial actions.

3 Systematization of knowledge:

The facts discovered through research are systematized and the body of knowledge is developed. Thus research contributes to the growth of various social sciences and theory building.

4 Control over social phenomena:

Research in social science areas equips us with first-hand knowledge about the organizing and working of the society and its institutions. This knowledge gives us a greater power of control over the social phenomena.

5 Prediction:

Research aims at findings an order among social facts and their casual relation. This affords a sound basis for prediction in several cases. Although the predictions cannot be perfect because of the inherent limitations of social sciences, they will be fairly useful for better social planning and control.

6 Development planning:

Planning for socio-economic development calls for baseline data on the various aspects of our society and economy, resource endowment, peoples needs and aspirations, etc. systematic research can give us the required data base for planning and designing developmental schemes and programmes. Analytical studies can illuminate critical areas of policy and testing the validity of planning assumptions. Evaluation studies point the impact of plan, policies and programmes and throw out suggestions for their proper reformulation.

7 Social Welfare:

Social research can unfold and identify the causes of social evils problems. It can thus help in taking appropriate remedial actions. It can also give us sound guidelines for appropriate positive measures of reform and social welfare.

LIMITATIONS OF SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH

Research in social sciences has certain limitations and problems when compared with research in physical sciences. They are discussed below:

a)     Scientists a part of what is studied: The fact that social scientist is part of the human society which he studies gives rise to certain limitations. Man must have to be his won guinea pig. as pointed out by Jalian Huxley. This has a number of methodological consequences. For example, it restricts the scope for controlled experiments. It limits the scope for objectivity in social science research.

b)     Complexity of the subject matter: The subject matter of research in social science, viz. human society and human behaviour is too complex varied and changing to yield to the scientific categorization, measurement, analysis and prediction. The multiplicity and complexity of causation make it difficult to apply the technique of experimentation. Human behaviour can be studied only be other human beings, and this always distorts fundamentally the facts being studied so that there can be no objective procedure for achieving the truth.

c)     Human Problems: A social scientist faces certain human problems, which the natural scientist is sparred. These problems are varied and include refusal of respondents improper understanding of questions by them their loss of memory, their reluctance to furnish certain information, etc. All these problems cause biases and invalidate the

research findings and conclusions.

d)     Personal Values: Subjects and clients, as well as investigators, have personal values, which are apt to become involved in the research process. One should not assume that these are freely exploitable. The investigator must have respect for the client’s values.

e)     Anthropomorphization: Another hazard of social science research is the danger of the temptation to anthropomorphize about humans, it results in using observation obtained by sheer intuition or empathy in conceptualizing in anthropomorphic manner.

f)      Wrong Decisions: The quality of research findings depends upon the soundness of decisions made by the social scientist on such crucial stages of his research process as definition of the unit of study operationalization of concepts, selection of sampling techniques and statistical techniques. Any mistake in any of these decisions will vitiate the validity of his findings.

Reference :

Research Methodology by C R Kothari

Research Methodology  - Pondicherry University

Research Methodology  - Calicut University

Other Sources - Internet