There are many different concepts in the world that are not so easy to deal with. In this article, we will talk about what social research is, how they differ from sociological research, and what basic methods are used.
About terminology
In this case, the question of terms is quite acute. Indeed, many even professional companies often do not distinguish between concepts such as sociological and social research. And this is wrong. After all, there are differences. And they are very significant.
First of all, you need to understand that sociology itself, as a science, studies the whole society as a whole, its various connections and nuances. The social sphere is a certain part of the activities of society. That is, if you make a preliminary simple conclusion, then a sociological study can be directed completely not to the social sphere.
What is the difference?
What exactly distinguishes sociological and social research?
- Social research is aimed exclusively at a clear, limited social sphere.
- Sociological research has many specific methods, while social research most often does not. Although it must be said that the category of research considered by us mainly uses sociological methods.
- Social research can be carried out not only by sociologists, but also by doctors, lawyers, personnel officers, journalists, etc.
However, it is worth clarifying that the question of more precise differences between social and sociological research has not yet been completely resolved. Modern scientists are still arguing about a number of secondary, but still fundamental points.
Object and subject
The subject of social research can be completely different. And it depends on the chosen topic. Most often they become objects (according to the scientist V. A. Lukov):
- Social processes and institutions.
- Social communities.
- Social values, concepts and ideas.
- Normative acts that in one way or another affect social change.
- Social projects, etc.
Social Research Functions
Social research performs the following functions:
- Diagnostics. That is, social research is aimed at understanding the state of the object at the time of research.
- The accuracy of the information. That is, all the information that is collected in the research process must be reliable. In case of its distortion, corrections must be made.
- Forecasting. The research results make it possible to create short and long-term forecasts and outline possible prospects.
- Design. That is, according to the results of the study, you can also give various recommendations regarding possible changes in the selected study area.
- Informing. Social research results must be made public. They are also required to provide some information to people, to explain certain points.
- Activation. Thanks to the results of social research, it is possible to activate or provoke a more active work of various social services, as well as public organizations, regarding the solution of various problems of the object of study.
Main types
What are the main types of social research?
- Academic studies.
- Applied research.
If we talk about the first type, then this study is aimed at replenishing the theoretical base, that is, enhancing knowledge in a particular, chosen field. Applied research is aimed at analyzing a specific section of the social sphere of society.
Applied research
It is worth noting that there is such a thing as applied social research. This is a complex of various methods and theories that help analyze social problems. Their main goal in this case is to obtain the desired results for their subsequent use for the benefit of society. Moreover, these methods originated on the territory of our state for a long time. The first attempts at social research in Russia are population censuses. They have been held quite regularly since the 18th century. The initial boom of these studies began in the post-revolutionary period (this is a study by P. Sorokin of family-marriage relations, D. Lass - the sexual sphere of youth life, etc.). Today, these social studies occupy a significant place among various other types of social studies.
Main methods
What are the main methods of social research? So, it is worth noting that they should not be confused with sociological methods. Although in some aspects there are still certain coincidences. The most commonly used methods are:
- Modeling.
- Rating.
- Diagnostics.
- Expertise.
There is also the concept of participatory and actionist social research. Let's consider each method in more detail.
Modeling
Modern social studies often use a method such as modeling. What is he like? So, this is a special design tool. It is important to note that this method was widely used in ancient times and is still used. The model itself is a certain object, which, according to the ideas, replaces the real object, the original. The study of this particular object makes it possible to more accurately and deeply understand the main problems of the real object. That is, in this case, the study is conducted from the opposite. The model itself performs the following three functions:
- Predictive. In this case, we are talking about a certain prediction of what may happen in the future with the object of social research.
- Imitation. In this case, the focus is precisely on the created new model, which makes it possible to better understand the original study itself.
- Projective. In this case, certain functions or predefined properties are designed into the object of study, which improves the quality of the results obtained further.
It is also important to note that the modeling process itself necessarily includes the construction of the necessary abstractions, the creation of inferences, and the construction of various kinds of scientific hypotheses.
Diagnostics
Further we consider various methods of social research. What is a diagnosis? So, this is the method by which it is possible to establish the correspondence of various parameters of social reality to existing norms and indicators. That is, this method is designed to measure various characteristics of the selected social object of study. For this, a special system of social indicators is used (these are special characteristics of individual properties, as well as the states of social objects).
It is worth noting that the most common method of social diagnosis is found in the study of people's quality of life or social inequality. The following stages of the diagnostic method are distinguished:
- Comparison It can be carried out with previous studies, obtained results, set goals.
- Analysis of all changes received.
- Interpretation.
Social Examination
If socio-economic studies are carried out, often their main method is precisely examination. It includes the following critical steps and steps:
- Diagnostics of the state of a social object.
- Obtaining information about the object of study, as well as its surroundings.
- Prediction of subsequent changes.
- Development of recommendations for subsequent decision making.
Action research
Research in social work can also be actionist. What does this mean? To understand the essence, you need to understand that this word is Anglicism. In the original, this term sounds like action research, that is, “research-action” (from English). The term itself was proposed for use in the distant 1944 by the scientist Kurt Levin. In this case, the study involves a real change in the social reality of the investigated object. And already on the basis of this, certain conclusions are made, recommendations are made.
Participatory study
This term is also Anglicism. Participant in translation means "participant". That is, this is a special reflective method of research, during which the object of research is endowed with the ability and power to make decisions necessary for itself. In this case, the research objects themselves perform the main work. The role of the researcher is reduced to observing and recording various results. Based on this, certain conclusions are made, recommendations are made.
Psychological research
There is also psychological social research. In this case, the same methods described above are used. But others may apply. So, various managerial and educational research methods are often used.
- In this case, polls are widely used (a person must answer a number of questions asked to him). In social psychology, the most commonly used questionnaire or interview method.
- Psychological social research also often uses such a method of obtaining information from an object as a test. It can be both personal and group. However, it is worth noting that this research method is not strictly social or psychological. It can be used in sociological research.
- Another major research method in social psychology is experiment. In the course of this method, the necessary situation is artificially created in which certain behavioral reactions or other important nuances of the personality are studied.
Socio-economic research
Separately, it is also necessary to consider and understand what are the socio-economic studies. Their goal is to:
- The study of economic processes.
- Identification of the most important laws for the social sphere.
- The influence of economic processes on the life of the object of study.
- Identification of the causes of social change in connection with certain economic processes.
- Well and, of course, forecasting.
The study of socio-economic processes can be carried out by any of the above methods. They are used extremely widely, because the social sphere of life is very closely connected with the economic.
Socio-Political Studies
Often, social policy research is also conducted. Their main goal is to:
- Assessment of the work of local and central authorities.
- Assessment of the electoral mood of people.
- Identification of the needs of various population groups.
- Forecasting.
- The definition of socio-political and socio-economic problems of the object of study.
- Studying the level of social tension of the object of study.
It is worth noting that these studies are most often carried out in the period before the election. Moreover, they use all the above methods. But at the same time, analysis and comparative analysis (another method of social research) are also widely used.
Research organization
Research on social processes is a very laborious activity. After all, for this you need to prepare a program where all the basic information will be spelled out. So, this document should contain:
- Information about the object and subject of research.
- It is very important to pre-select a research method.
- Alleged hypotheses are also spelled out initially. That is, what according to preliminary data should be the result.
Research strategy
Any study of a social problem involves a stage such as a research strategy. Previously, it must also be said that any research can be a continuation of the previous one or suggest the parallel conduct of other actions aimed at obtaining information or changing the social reality of the selected object. This strategy includes the following critical points:
- Setting goals and questions (why this research is needed, what you want to get in the end, etc.).
- Consideration of various theoretical models and approaches.
- Be sure to study the resources (funds and time for the implementation of the plan).
- Data collection.
- The choice of place of study, i.e., data identification.
- The choice of the management process of the study itself
Types of research in this case can be completely different. So, it can be a pilot study, when the subject is poorly understood and almost incomprehensible. There is a one-time study (when they no longer return to the object) or repeated. A longitudinal, or monitoring, study suggests that an object is studied periodically, at set intervals.
Field research is carried out in the usual conditions for the object. Laboratory - in artificially created. Empirical research relies on the actions or actions of the object, theoretical - involves the study of the alleged actions or behavioral reactions of the object of social research.
The following is the choice of research method (most of them are described above). It is worth noting that these are the most important forms of collecting primary information, so you can get certain results and draw some conclusions. It is important to first determine the method of processing the information received. This can be statistical, genetic, historical or experimental analysis, social modeling, etc.