Page 56 - DLIS407_INFORMATION AND LITERATURE SURVEY IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

Unit 7: Social Science Research Trends

3. The unit identified for the case study has to be a cohesive and homogenous unit. Notes
4. The method is qualitative in character as it highlights the qualitative aspects of the case by
going deep into the issue of concern.
5. The case study method also provides knowledge of the behaviour pattern of the case.

Did u Know? What is the importance of case study in social science research?
Case studies are used in Social Sciences research for several reasons.
For example, a case study is appropriate when there is one or only a
few cases available to study, perhaps because a phenomenon occurs
very rarely.

7.2.4 Experimental Approach

There are various phenomena such as motivation, productivity, development, and operational
efficiency, which are influenced by various variables. It may become necessary to assess the effect
of one particular variable or one set of variables on a phenomenon. This need has given rise to
experimental research. Although experimental methods are generally used in Natural Sciences
research, Social Sciences research is also based on experimental methods. However, experimental
methods in Social Sciences research are mostly used in Sociological researches or in multi disciplinary
researches, where more than one aspect of the problem is being examined. Thus, research can be
multi disciplinary; examining the social, psychological and economic aspects of a problem, or it
could be un-disciplinary, restricting itself only to one aspect of the problem - the social, economic or
psychological aspect only.
Experimental research is designed to assess the effects of particular variables on a phenomenon by
keeping the other variables constant or controlled. It aims at determining whether and in what manner
variables are related to each other. The factor that is influenced by other factors is called a dependent
variable, and the other factors, which influence it, are known as independent variables. For example,
agricultural productivity, i.e., crop yield per hectare is a dependent variable and the factors such as
soil fertility, irrigation, quality of seed, manuring and cultural practices which influences the yield
are independent variable.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are True or False:
3. Historical study helps us in visualizing the society as a dynamic organism and its structures
and functions as evolving, steadily growing and undergoing change and transformation.
4. Descriptive research is designed to assess the effects of particular variables on a phenomenon
by keeping the other variables constant or controlled.
5. Experimental study is a fact-finding investigation with adequate interpretation.

7.3 Summary

y Social Science research is based on the behaviour of individuals in society. Both researches are
methods of enquiry to enhance knowledge about something.

y We all know that various approaches can be adopted for conducting Social Science research
- historical, descriptive, case study and experimental.

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