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Methodology of Social Research

note Definition of Concept
according to sociology world bank— “A particular set of terminology or words are used to express
scientific base for any problems or situation in general views, may be called a concept. Any concept
is actually a set of words presented to express any responses related to things, people, situations,
relations etc. of a specific group or class”. In social research we create ‘concepts ’ on the basis of
experience creating facts which point out towards a particular meaning or response. pollin young
has accepted the concepts as ‘process indicators ’ in place of ‘word indicators’. thus any concept not
only indicates towards any specific features or characteristics of any fact but also indicates towards the
nature changes and processes of facts in a systematic and logical manner. these ‘concepts’ generalize
all the changes and processes of the facts that have been studied and analyzed in systematic and
logical methods. In short, Pollin Young has defined concept as, “A short or summarized definition of
a class or group of facts is a concept”.

Did You Know? russell l. ackoff is of the view that concepts are needed for the creation of
a problem and finding solution to the problem. The definition of concept-
encompasses words and variety based meaning of the problem or situation
of sociology/society.

3.5 Characteristics of Concept

On the basis of various definition we can list the main characteristics of concept as below :-
1. Concept may be defined as a summarized definition in very few words.
2. Concept is just an indicator of behavioral standard and not complete analysis.
3. Concept is formulated on the basis of scientific thought fullness.
4. Concept has a logical base and it is formed by direct knowledge, original observation and
actual experiences which give it power.
5. Concept is not the short form of theory but it tells us about qualities of a class or category
in short as a fact.
6. Changes can be made in concepts according to need of times.
7. Concept is a short and systematic statement it depicts a particular behaviour standard.
8. the nature of concept is dynamic or changeable because many times changes become a
necessity according to particular time, place, instruments used and also to obtain new
facts.
9. Concept is not the summary but represents a class of facts in short.
10. Concept is the only main base, on the basis of which useful hypothesis may be formulated
for further studies and researches.

3.6 Importance of Concept

The ultimate goal of scientific discovery is to make laws which are actually the planning of indirect
concepts. Any researcher who has the aim to observe the experienced responses and analyze them,
has to take help and support of conceptual composition. in sociology, where the terminology used
is that of common man, many words like family, marriage, caste, class etc, have a different meaning.
the concepts aim to be very clear and to the point so that the researchers do not get misguided.

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