4. Nuances of Social Research
WHAT IS (not) RESEARCH?
Social Phenomenon
• Purpose problem solving, answer problem
“focus”
• Understanding relationship X and Y variables
relationship
• Find out what is TRUE generating new
knowledge, constructing new knowledge,
avoiding judgment call “observations”
5. WHAT IS (not) RESEARCH?
Social Phenomenon
• DATA MAY BE NEW, EXISTING, OLD BUT USED
FOR NEW PURPOSE, adding value to existing
data
• There is always “hypothesis” pre-conceived
notions of the phenomenon, explicit research
“quantitative”
6. WHAT IS (not) RESEARCH?
Social Phenomenon
• Good researcher: understand what the
researcher did not write
Read: chapter 1-------methodology-------------Analysis
• Opinion/critical inquiry vs research
editorial/opinionated rigor of
research, qualitative research---finding
meaning
7. WHAT IS (not) RESEARCH?
Social Phenomenon
• Objective interpretation of results, neutral
and impartial
• Useful, knowledge generation, knowledge
construction of prediction, public consumption
• Results should be written with care, precision
and concern
9. #Practice Task1
• RESEARCH TOPIC, broad subject matter addressed by
the study
• RESEARCH PROBLEM, general social issue, concern or
controversy addressed in research
• PURPOSE, major intent/objective of the study used to
address the problem
• RESEARCH QUESTION, specific questions that the
researcher would like to answer/address in the study
• DEFICIENCIES IN EVIDENCE, bridging-gap
• RELATING THE STUDY TO THE AUDIENCE,
importance of findings to…
10. #Practice Task1
• RESEARCH TOPIC: Democracy
• RESEARCH PROBLEM: Lack of interest among people to
participate beyond suffrage
• PURPOSE: To study why citizens in democratic states do not
participate in political spaces other than voting
• RESEARCH QUESTIONS: 1. Why democractic spaces not
interesting?a.) How can it be interesting?
2.) Who are the people who do not participate?
3.) When did the interest to participate decline?
• DEFICIENCIES IN EVIDENCE: related literature limited to suffrage
as prominent democratic space
• RELATING THE STUDY TO THE AUDIENCE: LGUs’ legislative
initiative to public information and provisional rights to
exercise participation
