Your Guide to Research In Social Science
Ever wondered how we learn about societies, cultures, and human behaviour? It’s through research! This guide breaks down the entire research process into simple, manageable steps for anyone getting started. The examples used here are inspired by the field of geography.
So, What is Research?
At its core, research is a systematic and organised investigation to discover new facts, explore ideas, or solve problems. In social sciences, it helps us understand the complexities of human life and society. It’s not just about finding information; it’s about creating new knowledge.
In its simplest form, research is about searching for knowledge and truth.
Discover new facts and information
Verify existing knowledge
Solve problems
Build upon past work
Two Main Research Approaches
Social science research typically falls into one of two main categories. Understanding the difference is key to designing your study.
Quantitative Research
This approach focuses on gathering and analysing numerical data. It’s about counting, measuring, and using statistics to test theories or hypotheses. It provides objective, measurable results.
- Goal: To quantify, measure, and generalise from a sample to a larger population.
- Methods: Surveys, experiments, and structured observations.
- Example: A survey to measure how many people use a certain social media app.
Qualitative Research
This approach focuses on understanding human behaviour and experiences through non-numerical data like words, stories, and observations. It’s about exploring ideas and building rich, detailed insights.
- Goal: To explore ideas, develop a deep understanding of a phenomenon, or uncover hidden meanings.
- Methods: Interviews, focus groups, and participant observation.
- Example: Interviews with a group of people to understand their feelings about remote work.
The 7 Step Research Pathway
Follow these seven steps to navigate your research project from idea to conclusion. Click each step to learn more.
Step 1: Selecting a Topic
This is your starting point. Choose a subject that genuinely interests you and is relevant to your field. Your curiosity will fuel your research!
- Be curious: What questions do you have about the world?
- Be practical: Can you realistically study this topic with the resources you have?
- Be specific: Broad topics are hard to manage. Narrow it down. For example, instead of “urban planning,” try “the impact of traffic congestion on air pollution in a specific urban neighbourhood.”
Step 2: Review of Literature
What have other researchers already discovered about your topic? A literature review involves reading existing studies, articles, and books to understand the current scholarly conversation.
- Find sources: Use academic databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, or your university library.
- Identify gaps: Notice what questions *haven’t* been answered. This is where your research can make a unique contribution.
- Build your foundation: Understanding past research helps you shape your own questions and methods.
Step 3: Formulate Research Questions/Hypothesis
Based on your literature review, it’s time to form a clear, focused question that your research will aim to answer. You might also create a hypothesis—a testable prediction about the outcome.
- Research Question (Problem): An open-ended query. “How does the location of urban parks affect the mental well-being of residents?”
- Purpose Statement: “The purpose of this study is to analyse the relationship between park accessibility and reported mental health indicators in city residents.”
- Hypothesis: A specific statement to be tested. “Residents living within a 1-mile radius of a public park will report lower levels of stress and anxiety compared to those living further away.”
Step 4: Research Design
This is your blueprint or plan of action. How will you answer your research question? Your design outlines the methods and procedures you’ll use.
- Choose your approach: Will your research be qualitative (interviews, observations) or quantitative (surveys, statistics)? Or a mix of both?
- Plan your methods: Decide who you will study (your sample) and what tools you will use (e.g., a survey questionnaire, an interview guide).
- Create a timeline: Map out the schedule for your project.
Step 5: Data Collection
Now you put your plan into action and gather the information you need. This is often the most time-consuming part of the research process.
- Execute your plan: Conduct your interviews, send out your surveys, or make your observations as planned in your research design.
- Stay organised: Keep your data neat and secure. Document everything carefully.
- Be ethical: Always respect your participants. Ensure their privacy and get their informed consent.
Step 6: Data Analysis and Interpretation
Once you have your data, it’s time to make sense of it. This step involves looking for patterns, themes, and relationships in the information you’ve collected.
- Quantitative analysis: If you have numbers, you’ll use statistical tools to analyse them (e.g., finding averages, correlations).
- Qualitative analysis: If you have text or observations, you’ll look for recurring themes and ideas (e.g., coding interview transcripts).
- What does it mean? Interpretation is about connecting your findings back to your research question and the existing literature.
Step 7: Arriving at Conclusions
This is the final step where you summarise your findings, answer your research question, and discuss the implications of your work. You’ll also write your final report or paper.
- Summarise your results: What are the main takeaways from your analysis?
- Acknowledge limitations: No study is perfect. What were the weaknesses of your research?
- Suggest future research: What new questions did your work raise?
- Share your work: The goal of research is to contribute to knowledge, so share your findings with the world!
Start Simple, Start with PPS&Q
The foundation of any good research project is a clear and well-defined Problem, Purpose Statement, and Research Questions (PPS&Q). This framework helps you turn a broad idea into a focused, researchable topic. By starting here, you ensure your entire project has a clear direction. You can read a more detailed guide to PPS&Q here: Formulating PPS&Q
The Problem Statement is a concise description of the issue or concern you want to investigate. It pinpoints the specific gap in knowledge that your research will aim to fill. For example, a problem statement could be: “There is a lack of understanding about the impact of climate change on indigenous agricultural practices in the Himalayan region.”
The Purpose Statement is a single, clear sentence that defines the main objective of your study. It explains what you hope to achieve by conducting the research. Following the previous example, a purpose statement could be: “The purpose of this study is to analyse the relationship between park accessibility and reported mental health indicators in city residents.”
Your research questions are specific, focused questions that guide your entire study. They break down the broad purpose statement into smaller, manageable queries that your data collection and analysis will answer. Continuing with the example, research questions could be: “How has the timing of monsoons changed in the last 20 years?” and “What traditional farming methods are most vulnerable to these climate shifts?”
