What is Research ?

Research is a systematic inquiry to

describe, explain, predict, and
control the observed phenomenon”.

(Earl Babbie)
 What is Methods?
A procedure, technique, or way of doing
something, especially in accordance with a
definite plan

A manner or mode of procedure,

especially an orderly, logical, or systematic
way of instruction, inquiry, investigation,
experiment, presentation, etc.

Order or system in doing anything

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/method
 Finding Reality
 The science approach to finding reality is
through experience. Epistemology is the science
to know (nature and scope of knowledge) while
methodology (methods and principles about the
body of knowledge) is the science to know about
something
 In the process of inquiry questions like “what”
and “why” need to be answered.
 Tradition

Tradition means we accept something as

the truth because society accepts it as the
truth. Traditional knowledge maybe be
relevant at a particular time but may not
be so at another time or at the current
moment.
 Authority

We accept knowledge from authority.

Knowledge from authority is deemed the
truth but this knowledge also has it
weakness.
Errors in the process of inquiry
 Inaccurate observation
 Inaccurate observation can be made when
we do not pay full attention to a particular
subject. To reduce this, equipment and
measurement tools can be used to record
our observation.
 Over Generalization
 Over generalization can be made with
limited observation. To reduce this, we
need to conduct more observations or
increase the sample size. We can also
replicate the observation to reduce over
generalizing.
 Selective observation
 Over generalization can result in selective
observation. We maybe focusing our
observation to a particular subject that we
think is important and ignoring other
important events or behaviors.
 Thinking and consideration
that are not logical
 Social scientist use logical considerations
on purpose to reduce the probability of
thinking from not a logical point when we
are trying to understand something.
What is true ?
 Pre-modern view
 Accept a view without questioning it. Only
when society evolves they accepted
diverse or differing views.
 Modern view
 Modern view accepts diversity. Modern
society accepts subjective views and does
not make a decision on who what is true
and false.
 Post-modern view
 According to this view there is no truth and
objective reality. There are only different
subjective views.
 This is the critical dilemma faced by scientists.
While scientists attempt to find the truth they
are often influenced by their experiences and
own views.
 The foundation of Social
Sciences
 Two main pillars of science are logic and
observation.

 Scientific understanding must be based on

logic and must be similar or the same to
what is being observed.
 Theory
 Systematic explanation about an observation
which is about something e.g. about life
 The dilemma faced in social science is to study a
phenomena or social life that involves subjective
issues. A set of agreed criteria is needed to be
able to understand this in an objective way.
e.g the issue of freedom.
 Social regularity
 Aggregate not individual
 Scientific theory aims to understand social living
patterns by studying the a particular groups
behavior and not studying a particular individual
in the group.
 Social regularity represents probability trends
that are general and not necessarily represents
all or 100% of the observed or studies cases.
 Attributes
 Characteristics of a person or subject
 Variables – Collecting logical attributes.
example:

Variables Attributes
Age Young, old
Gender Male, female
Ethnicity Malay, Chinese, Indian
Social class High, medium, low
 Theory explains logical relationships
between variables.

 Independent variable – It is a variable

that stands alone and isn't changed by the
other variables you are trying to measure.
E.g age
 Dependent variable - It is something that
depends on other factors.
 example: income is based or dependent
on your level of education (income is a
dependent variable)
 example: If religiosity is based on gender
– than women are more religious than
men (Gender is a independent
variable and religiosity is a
dependent variable)
 Inductive
observation

theory, concepts, principals, hypothesis

 Logical model where general principals are

formed from specific observations.
 Deductive

theory, concept, principals, hypothesis

Observation
 Quantitative data - Numerical data.
Quantifiable analysis.

 Qualitative data - non-numerical data.

Statistical analysis cannot be made.
Types of Research (Basic research)

 Defined as data collected to enhance

knowledge.
 The main motivation is knowledge expansion.
 It is a non-commercial research that doesn’t
facilitate in creating or inventing anything.
Types of Research (Applied Research)

 Focuses on analyzing and solving real-life

problems.
 This type refers to the study that helps solve
practical problems using scientific methods.
 Studies play an important role in solving
issues that impact the overall well-being of
humans. For example: finding a specific cure
for a disease.
Types of Research (Qualitative
Research)
 is a process that is about inquiry. It helps
create in-depth understanding of problems or
issues in their natural settings.
 This is a non-statistical method.
Types of Research (Quantitative
Research)
 Is a structured way of collecting data and
analyzing it to draw conclusions.
 Uses computational and statistical process to
collect and analyze data. Quantitative data is
all about numbers.