L e s s o n 2.

D o i n g
Re s e a rc h in t h e
Social S c i e n c e s
ICEBREAKER
CENSMTRIROEU
P E N O METSSY
SITIPOVISM
TAVETILIQUA H O D T M E
TAVETIANTIQU T M E H O D
FLEVITYXIRE
CIENSFICIT DOTHME
ALSOCI RCESEHRA
SCIENCE AND
COMMON SENSE
 Science and C o m m o n Sense

● Common sense is considered to be the bedrock of science. Science starts with common
sense, but goes beyond common sense.
● Philosophers of science point out that in order to observe scientifically one has to learn
the culture of science (Chalmers 1997, p.27)
● In most cases, the scientific method debunks common sense. One of the examples is the
geocentric or Ptolemaic theory (named after the famous Alexandrian astronomer
Claudius Ptolemy (c. AD 90 - c. 168). Later, Galileo Galilei and other astronomers showed
the falsity of this theory by substituting it with the heliocentric theory.
● This trend applies equally to the social sciences. For instance, it was generally believed
that women are incapable of higher education because of their weak intellectual and
physical nature. Today, however, such claim is considered as discriminatory against
women.
THE EMANCIPATORY
POTENTIAL O F THE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
T h e E m a n c i p a t o r y Pote ntial of t h e Social
Sciences

● By using scientific method, the social sciences can contribute to the elimination of
prejudices against certain groups of people such as racism, sexism, and cultural
ethnocentrism.
● By studying events scientifically, people may come to realize that society can be
controlled to a certain degree.
● It is transformative insofar as it allows the social scientists to imagine an alternative way
of life or direction for the future.
● In this sense, social sciences like the natural sciences are revolutionary. They challenge
the common sense beliefs and refuse to follow unexamined traditions and claims based
on authority (Bhaskar 2002)
THE O PE N SYSTEM OF
THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
T h e O p e n S y s t e m of t h e Social S c i e n c e s
What constitutes the scientific method?

● Scientific method does not mean the rigid application of the methods of physical sciences
such as physics and chemistry.
● Unlike the natural sciences, social sciences are confronted with an open system- that
applies to society, politics, culture, and the world.
● Open systems refer to systems that interact with other systems or the outside
environment.
● Closed systems refer to systems having relatively little interaction with other systems or
the outsideenvironment.
T h e O p e n S y s t e m of t h e Social S c i e n c e s
● The diversity of culture and social structures that define human meanings make it
challenging for social scientists to study culture, society, and politics.
● They prefer the more humanistic tradition that sees society, culture, and politics as
unique in their own right.
● Today, social scientists recognize that social sciences cannot be as hard and rigorous as
the naturalsciences.
● The humanistic side of the social sciences are shown in their capacity to emphasize the
particular, the admission of probabilistic generalization, the acknowledgement of the role
of values and ethical considerations as well as the power in formulating and interpreting
social scientificfindings.
T W O B A S I C M E T H O D S IN
THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
T w o B a s i c M e t h o d s in t h e Social S c i e n c e s

Quantitative Method

According to Jeanette Garwood (2006), quantitative method refers to

“research involving the collection of data in numerical form of
quantitative analysis. The numerical data can be durations, scores, counts
of incidents, ratings, or scales. Quantitative data can be collected in either
controlled or naturalistic environments, in laboratories or field studies,
from special populations or from samples of the general population. The
defining factor is the numbers result from the process, whether the initial
data collection produced numerical values, or whether
non-numerical values were subsequently converted to numbers as part of
the analysis process, as in content analysis” (Jupp 2006, p. 251).
 Two B a s ic Methods in the Social Sciences
● Quantitative research allows the researcher to
familiarize herself with the problem or
concept to be studied, and perhaps generate
hypotheses to be tested.
● A quantitative researcher attempts to delimit
phenomena into measurable or common
categories that can be applied to all of the
subjects or wider and similar situations.
T w o B a s i c M e t h o d s in t h e Social S c i e n c e s
Qualitative Method

According to Maggie Sumner (2006), a qualitative research method

refers to “Research that investigates aspects of social life which are not
amenable to quantitative measurement. Associated with a variety of
theoretical perspectives, qualitative research uses a range of method to
focus on the meanings amd interpretation of social phenomena and social
processes in the particular contexts in which they occur”.

● The goals of qualitative research are to understand processes,

experiences and meanings people assign tothings.
● There are a variety of methods that include interviews, participant
observations, focused group discussion, textual and discourse
analysis, oral history, biographies, and other forms of humanistic
techniques.
ETHICS A ND POLITICS
OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
RESEARCH