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Methodology of Social Research

notes its subject-matter. Due to the so much sensitivity caused by the physical and social effect and along
with its innumerable cultural, psychological and mind tempered specialities human behaviour
seems to be so complex, abstruse that the human mind does not think of entering into the world of
complexity to find solutions to sequence of human groups, organizations and rules. Two examples
of the complexity of social phenomena can be presented here: A husband can become an obedient
servant for his wife but yet another husband may not be ready to accept anything lesser than that for
a “God”; it may also be that a third husband behaviourally considers their relationship as a kindred
one and accordingly behaves with his wife; but a fourth husband considers his wife as a mere object
for cooking and producing babies and have fun with his friends and peers whereas a immoral husband
who thrashes his wife may become a ‘good husband’ anyhow in one night; a husband is sad and
shameful about his dark-coloured wife whereas another husband may be playing love-games with
other women in clubs etc. leaving his beautiful wife crying at home; one husband lives for the love of
his wife while another may die craving for the love of his wife. Likewise this book can be filled with
such examples; yet the complexities of husbands would keep on increasing. Very few people will like
to get involved in such complexities.
From this example it is clear that social phenomena are quite complex. Human behaviour is influenced
by various factors such as physical, social, psychological, financial, etc. Therefore, which factor has how
much influence is difficult to understand. These factors are not only many but are also changing- we
don’t know which thing impacted that immoral husband and he changed to a good husband in one
night itself. Not only this, even if we find out all the factors affecting any social relation or behaviour
then also it would be difficult to find out the relative effect or importance of these.
But from such difficulties it does not mean that it is impossible to give a definite place to scientific
methods. Even in such difficulties it is possible to search for truth. This opinion is based on the
following principles of Lundberg-
(A) It is true that social phenomena are difficult. Some patterns, sequences and orders can be also
be seen in any difficulties relating to behaviour of social groups. Superficially these behaviours are
complex but this difficulty does not mean mismanagement, emergency or uncertainty and there cannot
be any future prediction about this. Opposite to this if we pay attention then we will find out that
there is no lack of certainty, management, sequence and similarity in the behaviour of social humans
or groups. Therefore, under a definite situation it is possible to do scientific study and predict future
of their behaviour. We can tell that a particular person will do particular definite works at a particular
time—He will eat dinner during the first phase of night not at mid-night; he will not sleep at daytime
but during night; he will pray in the morning, not in the afternoon; he will not marry in his closest
blood-relations, etc. This type of analysis can be done in certain social groups who behave in definite
manner under given conditions. therefore, the behaviour of social groups is unorganized, complex
and un-meaningful for only those who do this superficially. The more we study it and to the greater
depth we try to reach the more it becomes organized, certain and predictable.
(B) Lundberg has further written that in pessimistic complexity and un-organization in the social
behaviour disappears if we do more in-depth study. This fact also explains the real nature of difficulties.
In his words, “Any situation or behaviour is difficult till we do not understand it. Difficulty is always
relative: for a particular behaviour subject our information may be complete and fully mastered. in
other words, the difficulty in human society is a result of our unawareness.” Machinery of a radio
may be very complex for us because we do not know about them but the same may be not at all
difficult for a radio-mechanic because he has complete information about them. The same thing can
be said for social phenomena as well. for solving such complexities, scientists have devised two
ways—firstly to minimize the problems in a situation and second to devise newer techniques for
studying the greater numerical facts. the maturity of any science can be done on the basis of this that
how much successful it has been in adopting the above two methods. the secret behind the great
success in physical science is due to the fact that physical scientists have been satisfied studying the

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