There are many different concepts in the world, which are not so easy to deal with. In this article, we will talk about what social research is, how it differs from sociological research, and what are the main methods used in this.
About terminology
In this case, the question of terms is quite acute. Indeed, many even professional companies often do not distinguish between such concepts as sociological and social research. And this is wrong. After all, there are differences. And they are quite 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 activity of society. That is, if we make a preliminary simple conclusion, then sociological research may be directed not at all to the social sphere.
What's the difference?
What exactly is the difference between sociological and social research?
- Social research focuses exclusively on a clear, limited social sphere.
- Sociological research has a lot of specific methods, while social research most often does not. Although it must be said that the category of research we are considering 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 still worth clarifying that the question of more precise differences between social and sociological research has not yet been finally resolved. Modern scientists are still arguing about a number of minor, but still fundamental points.
Object and subject
The subject of social research can be completely different. And it depends on the chosen topic. Objects most often become (according to the scientist V. A. Lukov):
- Social processes and institutions.
- Social communities.
- Social values, concepts and ideas.
- Regulatory acts that in one way or another affect social change.
- Social projects, etc.
Social Research Functions
Social research performs the following functions:
- Diagnosis. That is, social research is aimed at understanding the state of the object at the time of research.
- Reliability of information. That is, all the information that is collected in the process of research must be reliable. If it is distorted, corrections must be made.
- Forecasting. resultsresearch provides an opportunity to create short and long-term forecasts and outline possible prospects.
- Design. That is, according to the results of the study, it is also possible to give various recommendations regarding possible changes in the selected area of study.
- Information. The results of social research should be made public. They are also obliged 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 more active work of various social services, as well as public organizations regarding the solution of certain problems of the object of study.
Basic types
What are the main types of social research?
- Academic research.
- Applied research.
If we talk about the first type, then this study is aimed at replenishing the theoretical base, that is, strengthening knowledge in a certain, selected area. Applied research is aimed at analyzing a certain area 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 to analyze social problems. Their main goal in this case is to obtain the desired results for their subsequent use for the benefit of society. WhereinThese 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 in research data began in the post-revolutionary period (this is a study by P. Sorokin of family and marriage relations, D. Lass - the sexual sphere of youth life, etc.). Today, these social studies occupy a significant place among other various types of study of society.
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:
- Simulation.
- Evaluation.
- Diagnosis.
- Expertise.
There is also the notion of participatory and actionist social research. Let's take a closer look at each method.
Simulation
Modern social research often uses a method such as modeling. What does he represent? 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 today. The model itself is a kind of object, which, according to 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 a real object. That is, in this case, the study is conducted from the opposite. The model itself performs threethe following functions:
- Prognostic. In this case, we are talking about some kind of prediction of what may happen in the future with the object of social research.
- Imitation. In this case, attention is focused 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 projected into the object of study, which improves the quality of further obtained results.
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.
Diagnosis
Next, we consider various methods of social research. What is diagnostics? So, this is a 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 features 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 diagnostics is found in the study of the quality of life of people or social inequality. The following stages of the diagnostic method are distinguished:
- Comparison. It can be performed with previously heldresearch, results, goals.
- Analysis of all received changes.
- Interpretation.
Social expertise
If socio-economic studies are carried out, often their main method is the examination. It includes the following critical steps and milestones:
- Diagnostics of the state of a social object.
- Getting information about the object of study, as well as its environment.
- Predict future changes.
- Develop recommendations for subsequent decision-making.
Actionist 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, i.e. "research-action" (from English). The term itself was proposed for use back in 1944 by scientist Kurt Lewin. In this case, the study involves a real change in the social reality of the object under study. And already on the basis of this, certain conclusions are made, recommendations are given.
Participatory research
This term is also an Anglicism. Participant in translation means "participant". That is, this is a special reflexive method of research, during which the object of research is endowed with the ability and power to make the decisions necessary for itself. In this case, the objects of study themselves perform the main work. Roleresearcher is reduced to the observation and recording of various results. Based on this, certain conclusions are drawn, recommendations are given.
Psychological research
There is also a psychological social study. In this case, all the same methods described above are used. But others may apply. So, various managerial and educational research methods are often used.
- Polls are widely used in this case (a person must answer a series 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 should be noted that this research method is not strictly social or psychological. It can also be used in sociological research.
- Another important research method in social psychology is the experiment. During 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 socio-economic research is. Their purpose is:
- Study of economic processes.
- Identification of the most important patterns for the social sphere.
- Influenceeconomic processes on the life of the object of study.
- Revealing the causes of social change due to certain economic processes.
- And, of course, forecasting.
The study of socio-economic processes can be carried out by any of the methods described above. They are used extremely widely, because the social sphere of life is very closely connected with the economic one.
Socio-Political Studies
Often social political research is also carried out. Their main goal is:
- Assessing the work of local and central authorities.
- Evaluation of people's electoral attitudes.
- Identifying the needs of different populations.
- Forecasting.
- Determining the socio-political and socio-economic problems of the object of study.
- Studies of 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 elections. In doing so, they use all of the above methods. But analysis and comparative analysis (another method of social research) is also widely used.
Organization of the study
Research of social processes is a very laborious activity. After all, for this you need to prepare a program where all the basic information will be written. So, this document should contain:
- Information about the object and subject of research.
- It is very important to preselect a methodresearch.
- Initially, hypotheses are also written. That is, what, according to preliminary data, should be the result.
Research strategy
Any study of a social problem includes such a stage as a research strategy. Beforehand, it must also be said that any study may be a continuation of the previous one or it may involve the parallel conduct of other actions aimed at obtaining information or changing the social reality of the selected object. This strategy includes the following key points:
- Setting goals and questions (why is this research needed, what do you want to get as a result, etc.).
- Exploring various theoretical models and approaches.
- Be sure to research resources (funds and time to implement the plan).
- Data collection.
- Choosing the study site, i.e. data identification.
- Selecting the process of managing the study itself.
Types of research in this case can be completely different. So, it can be a pilot study, when the subject turns out to be little studied and practically incomprehensible. There is a one-time study (when the object is no longer returned) or repeated. A longitudinal, or monitoring, study assumes that the 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 is based on the actions or actions of the object, theoretical - involves the study of the intended actions or behavioral reactions of the object of social research.
Followed by the choice of research method (most of them are described above). It should be noted that these are the most important forms of collecting primary information, thanks to which it is possible to obtain certain results and draw some conclusions. It is important to first determine the method of processing the information received. It can be statistical, genetic, historical or experimental analysis, social modeling, etc.
