RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

EXERCISE
MEANING AND DEFINITION
FUNCTIONS
LIMITATIONS
SCOPE OF SOCIALWORK RESEARCH
IN INDIA
ACTIVITY


Research is a scientific and systematic search
for pertinent information on specific topic.it
is an art of scientific investigation. Research
of any kind is a careful investigation through
search for new facts.

We may define social research as the
systematic method of discovering new facts
or verifying old facts, their sequences, inter-
relationships, casual explanations and the
natural laws which govern them P.V.Young

Functions of Social research
Social Control
The leaders of society must guide its
path for an orderly march towards pre-
planned goals.
A control over society is possible only
when we have a complete knowledge
of the organisation and working of
society and its various institutions.
All this can be achieved only through a
scientific study of society.

Social Cohesion

The study of society crates better
understanding between different social
groups.
If such understanding is created, a
large part of national and international
problems would be solved without
much difficulty.

Social Welfare
Social welfare or removal of social evils
can be achieved through social
research.
Social research helps us to judge the
magnitude of social evils and thus take
necessary steps to remove them.
Social research helps us to find out not
only the magnitude but also the real
causes of evils and thus helps us to
devise ways to hit at the root of these
evils.

Social Prediction
Social research helps us to formulate social
laws which show relationship between social
facts and their causes.
Once the existence of causative factors and
their magnitude is known we can predict the
result.
For example, we can predict with sufficient
accuracy the population of the town or even a
country by calculating the growth rate.
The prediction gives the better control over the
social phenomena and helps in social
planning.

Social Growth
Social research helps in the growth lines.
Every society is subjected to growth, the
direction of which is influenced by its own
structure, institutions, social values and
motivations etc.
But it is equally affected by our knowledge of
our own society as well as other societies.
Social research thus helps in guiding the trend
of social growth on more proper lines and
towards more cherished goals

Perfection of Tool of Research
As social research progress the tools of
analysis and methods of research
become more perfect with use.
New tools are devised to give more
accurate and precise results.
As the tools of research become more
perfect, the science of Sociology itself
moves towards greater perfection.

Limitations of Social Research
Constantly guard against bias, subjectivity
and inaccuracy.
It is replete with instance of problematic
situation where some errors cannot be
possibly avoided.
Data collected from some people will not
reveal business secrets.
No proper record for the expenses and
receipts of the respondents.
Data provided from the memory of the
respondents is not reliable.

Social Research in India
In a developing countries like India with
the help of social research it was possible
to provide increasingly more funds in our
plans for the development of scheduled
caste, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes.
With the help of social research priorities
could be identified and the problems faced
by the agriculturists could be taken care of.

India has decided to be a welfare state.
The welfare can be possible when the
people have basic minimum requirements
such as food, clothing and shelter.
These requirements can be found with the
help of social science research.
In India social research will have to face
the gigantic task of identifying boldly as to
what is going wrong with the society and
suggested remedies.

The Hindus and the Muslims are the two major Indian
communities.
Through social research one can find out if both the
communities have emotionally come together to the
desired extent.
Then comes serious social and economic problem of
utilization of available man power.
A question that a social researcher is to answer in India
is how to utilise the available man power in the
collective interest of the society.
Today the man power is not being properly utilised
with the result that there are violent incidents,
demonstrations, student unrest and similar other
problems.

Planning is important for a country
like India and social researcher is to
find out the possibility and
acceptability of the programme of the
planners.
Lastly social research in India helps
to find out how far bureaucracy has
changed with changing times and
what more is needed to make it
responsive to social needs.

Conclusion

Social research has wide field and scope
which becomes more important in a
developing country like India.