Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

Alternatives to Social Science Research

What Research Involves—A Scientific

Approach

Varieties of Social Research

Steps in the Research Process

Why Learn How to Conduct Social

Research?

Conclusion

Why Do Research?

The sociologist, then, is someone concerned with understanding society

in a disciplined way. The nature of this discipline is scientific. This means that

what the sociologist finds and says about the social phenomena he studies

occurs within a certain rather strictly defined frame of reference.

—Peter Berger,An Invitation to Sociology,p. 16

I wrote this text to help you learn about how social
scientists do research and so you can conduct your
own studies. I consider two main issues in this chap-
ter: why you should learn about doing social re-
search and the basics of what social science research
is all about.
Social science research is pervasive, and it af-
fects your daily life as well as that of your family,
friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Findings from
social science studies appear on broadcast news pro-
grams, in magazines and newspapers, and on many
Web sites and blogs. They cover dozens of topics
and fields: law and public safety, schooling, health
care, personal and family relations, political issues,
and business activities as well as international and
social trends. We use the knowledge and principles
of social science research, directly or indirectly, as
we engage in relationships with family, friends, and
co-workers, participate in community life or public
policy, and make daily decisions in business, pro-
fessional life, and health care. Social research is not
just for college classrooms and professors; high
school teachers, parents, business owners, advertis-

ers, managers, administrators, officials, service

providers, health care professionals, and others use

its findings and principles. They use them to raise

children, reduce crime, manage health concerns,

sell products or services, digest news events, and so

forth. There is little doubt about the importance and

centrality of social science research. Despite scat-

tered criticism to the contrary, research is highly rel-

evant for understanding social life generally and to

the decisions you make each day.

To see the practical relevance of social research,

let us consider a couple raising a three-year-old

child. One study (Wrigley and Derby, 2005) found

that paid child care is quite safe but also discovered

striking differences in fatality rates across various

types of care. Center-based care is far safer than

care provided in private homes. Another study

(Bridges et al., 2007) showed that center-based

care significantly raises a child’s reading and

math scores, but it has a negative effect on socio-

behavioral measures (e.g., the child exhibits less

cooperation, more aggression). Children who start

at ages two to three get the largest benefit rather

From Chapter 1 ofSocial Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches,7/e. W. Lawrence Neuman.
Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education. Published by Allyn & Bacon. All rights reserved.