IRD 213: Introduction to Social Research

ACADEMIC STAFF:

DR. BASIRU MUSA

Course Information/Objectives

• The course aims to familiarize students with fundamental concepts and element

of social research. Starting with the basic questions of social research, the

course guides students through major steps in conducting research in social

sciences and especially, in Political Sciences. In an introductory manner, the

course addresses question around ontology and epistemology.

• The role of theory in social research along with major tasks such as methods of

data collection and data analysis will be given in this course.

• As an introductory course, the course assists student in building a solid

foundation to be improved later in more advanced courses in the coming years

of their study.

Introduction: Meaning of Research

• Research is a search for knowledge. The term ‘research’

consists of two syllables, re and search. Re is a prefix that

means again, anew or over again. Search is a verb,

meaning to examine closely and carefully, to test and try,

or to probe. Together, the term connotes a careful,

systematic study and investigation in some field of

knowledge, to discover and establish new facts, reach new

conclusions or revise facts, theories and applications.

Cont…

• “Research is a studious inquiry or examination, especially investigation

or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts,

revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or

practical application of such new or revised theories or laws” (The

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

• Research is a systematic, formal rigorous and precise process

employed to gain solutions to problems or to discover new facts and

relationships (Waltz & Bausell, 1981).

Cont…

• “Research is the pursuit of truth through objective and

systematic method of finding solutions to a problem” (Kothari,

2004).

Types of Research/Social Research

• 1. Basic or Applied research – based on purpose of the research.

• 2. Qualitative or Quantitative research – based on nature of

data.

• 3. Idiographic or nomothetic or deductive or inductive research –

based on process/approach of research.

• 4. Theoretical or empirical research – based on focus of

research.

• Others include exploratory research, descriptive research,

explanatory research, etc.

Cont…

• Basic research is also called fundamental research and is undertaken for

the sole purpose of adding to the existing stock or body of knowledge.

• Applied research is undertaken in response to a social problem, which

requires a solution. Its main purpose is to answer practical and useful

questions.

• The results of applied research are applied practically to solve

immediate problems and involve normative prescription.

• Applied Research is also called decisional research, and is concerned

with knowledge that has immediate application.

Why do we conduct research? Reasons for Research or its Importance

• Research is used to:

• Establish or confirm facts,

• Reaffirm the results of previous work,

• To answer some practical question,

• Solve new or existing problems,

• To gather information that will enable people to make better decisions,

• To change society in some way (Newman, 2000, in Mc Nabb, 2004:14),

• To acquire additional qualification, satisfy our curiosity and self-fulfillment or be

motivated by financial consideration

• Support theorems, or develop new theories,

• Expand the past work in the field or add to the body of knowledge,

• Test the validity of instruments, procedures, or experiments,

• Replicate elements of prior projects, or the project as a whole.