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Introduction
After the finalization of the sample, the researcher
has to work out his/her strategies for data collection.
There are various methods and tools of data collection.
We use these methods as well as tools both in
theoretical study and empirical study. It is important
to note that the methods and tools will very depending
upon the nature of study. In some studies, we may
have to use more them one method or tool for data
collection. In this chapter you will be able to learn
about methods and tools of data collection in detail
along with methods of social research and research
design. These are very important concepts for a
social worker who is interested in conducting a
meaningful research.
Sources of Data
The two main sources of data in social research
are people and paper. The responses of questions
put to people constitute the major sources of data
in social research. This source is labeled as primary
source of data. A large amount of data is already
available in the form of paper sources. This includes
documents, historical records, diaries, biographies,
statistical records etc. The paper sources are
commonly known as secondary sources of data or
available data source.
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1)
1.
Graduate
2.
Intermediate
3.
High School
4.
Middle School
5.
Primary
6.
Illiterate
Name ......................................................................
2)
3)
Designation : ........................................................
4)
Establishment : ....................................................
6)
2. Unmarried
3. Widow
4. Divorcee
7)
Husbands Occupation
: ....................................
8)
9)
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10) Religion
: 1. Hindu ................................. (
2. Muslim ............................... (
3. Christian ............................ (
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2) No
Strongly agree
Agree
Indifferent
Disagree
Strongly disagree
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Response Format
In this section we will discuss some of the formats
of response categories of closed-ended questions.
The general format is to present all possible responses
and have the respondent check the appropriate
response. The respondent can either encircle his
or her answer or check a box or a blank as in the
following examples:
What is your marital status?
Married
Married
1. Married
Single
Single
2. Single
Divorced
Divorced
3. Divorced
Widowed
Widowed
4. Widowed
Rating Scales
One of the most common formats for questions asked
in social research is the rating scale. The rating
scale is used whenever respondents are asked to
make a judgment in terms of sets of ordered categories,
such as agree, favourable, or very often. For
example:
Attitude of the Employer
The employers prefer male employees because we
take more sick leaves and quit more readily.
1) Agree
3) Disagree (
2) Undecided
3) Disagree (
2) Undecided
)
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3) Disagree (
2) Undecided
2) Often (
Matrix Questions
The matrix question is a method for organising a
set of questions that have the same response patterns.
The following is an example of matrix questions.
In my work place the following welfare services
are provided.
Y e s No
No
1)
) (
2)
Maternity Benefits
) (
3)
Canteen (common)
) (
4)
Canteen (separate)
) (
5)
) (
6)
) (
7)
Toilet (separate)
) (
Sequence of Questions
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Threatening Questions
Threatening questions refer to behaviours that are
illegal or contra-normative or behaviours that are
socially deviant and are not discussed in public.
For example, questions that inquires about the
respondents gambling habits, about their drinking
habits, child abuse or sexual behaviours are referred
as threatening questions. Often it is necessary to
include such questions in studies, which the
respondent may find embarrassing and thus difficult
to answer.
Though it is suggested to avoid threatening questions
as far as possible, in cases where it is necessary
to include such questions it is advised to use a
long introduction to the question (or may be indirect
question) rather than asking short questions (or
direct questions); by an open-ended rather than a
closed-ended format; and, to a lesser extent, by
letting the respondents pick their own words to talk
about the sensitive issues. For example, to know
about respondents drinking behaviour the following
question may be asked:
In the past one year, how often you could not control
yourself to become intoxicated while drinking?
Respondents may be asked to classify their responses
into one of the following categories:
Once in three month
Once a month
Once a week
Several times a week
Daily
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Double-barreled Questions
When two or more than two questions are included
in one question it is termed as double-barreled
questions. The following question, included in a survey,
is an example:
Women should stay at home and take care of their
children and other family members and stop taking
up employment outside.
Agree
Depends
Disagree
The above statement includes two separate questions
that are joined by the conjunction and.
Such questions might confuse respondents who agree
with one aspect of the question stay at home and
take care of children and other family members
and not with the other stop taking employment
outside. Many questions that includes and is very
likely doubled-barreled, hence, it is suggested not
to include such questions.
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Research Design
A research design is the specification of methods
and procedures for acquiring the information needed
for a study.
Exploratory Design
Exploratory or formative studies are taken up in
order to achieve new insights or ideas about a
phenomenon. Exploratory studies are usually more
appropriate in the case of problems about which
little knowledge is a available.
Descriptive Diagnostic Design
Descriptive studies aims at portraying accurately
the characteristics of a particular group or situation.
A diagnostic study aims to find out the relevant
variables associated with a problem, which could
pave the way for finding a solution.
Experimental Design
The purpose of experimental studies is to test a
hypothesis and to study the causal relationship between
variables. For an experimental study two groups are
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Conclusion
There are two main sources of data in social research.
The responses of questions put to people constitute
the primary source of data. Documents, historical
records, diaries, biographies, statistical records etc.
are commonly known as secondary sources of data
or available data source.
Observation is the basic method of obtaining
information about social phenomena under
investigation. There are numerous situations where
this method is considered as most appropriate.
Observations serve variety of research objectives.
A researcher can explore some aspects of his main
research question or can gain insight into the research
problem and develop the basis for his hypothesis.
It is also used to collect supplementary information
that would help interpret findings obtained by other
methods.
There are several types of observations. One way
of differentiating among various types of observations
is to draw distinction on the basis of degree of
structuredness. Accordingly, we get two observational
procedures: (1) unstructured and (2) structured.
The other way of classifications is in terms of the
role played by the researcher. On this basis observation
procedures may be classified as (1) participant
observation and (2) non-participant observation.
In social research interview has been a widely used
method of data collection so far as, information about
the social background, opinion, attitudes, changes
in relations are concerned.
Interview has been classified in different ways. For
example, individual interview or group interviews.
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References
Bailey, Kenneth, D. (1978), Methods of Social Research,
The Free Press, London.
Baker, L. Therese (1988), Doing Social Research, McGraw
Hill, New York.
Black, James A. and Champion, Dean J. (1976),
Methods and Issues in Social Research, John Wiley,
New York.
Burgess (1949), Research Method in Sociology, in
Georges Gurvitch and W.E. Moore (Eds.) Twentieth
Century Sociology.
Festinger, L. and Katz., D. (Eds.) (1953), Research
Methods in the Behavioral Sciences, The Dryden Press,
New York.
Goode, W.J. and Hatt. P.K. (1952), Methods of Social
Research, McGraw Hill, New York.
Ruben, Allen & Babe E. (1989), Research Methodology
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Kerlinger, Fred R. (1964), Foundations of Behavioral
Research, Surjeet Publications, Delhi.
Kidder, Louise H. (1981), Research Methods in Social
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Kothari, L.R. (1985), Research Methodology, Vishwa
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Lal Das, D.K., (2000), Practice of Social Research : A
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Monette, Duane R. et. al. (1986), Applied Social
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