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Methodology of Social Research

note gives the meaning of reality. e.g., the word group indicates to two or more people or leaders etc. in
reality. By concept of word ‘socialization’, we mean how any human accepts his surroundings for his
role in society. ‘Crime’ word gives the concept of any behaviour which is harmful socially, culturally
and civically. thus the concept gives an outline of any reality and helps us to understand it.
the utility of concept can be explained below-
1. Concepts are created by definitions. The defined word, when used as concept,it helps to
analyze the incidents. each individual understands that reality only which is expressed
by concept .e.g., when we form a concept by the word. We take the reality as one group
interfering with the goal achievements of the other group.
2. A common meaning is circulated by concept scientists take the meaning of one concept as
the same i.e., each scientist will accept the same meaning. But,the concepts are not always
neutral. e.g., in math, the fixed symbol has a fixed and neutral meaning , but in social sciences
the concepts are not neutral. so many scientists use units in place of concepts.
3. With the help of classifications, concepts is often classified. This helps to analyze properly.
4. the actual form of abstract reality is expressed by concepts. Concepts are of two types:-
(a) Referent Concepts—these concepts give the clear meaning of the situations or incidents. e.g.,
crime, violence,breakups, changes etc.
(b) Non- Referent Concepts—this group includes those concepts which talk about qualities or
things which are not visible. But these are used in the analysis of actual theory formation and have a
great impact on social life, situations and instances e.g., God, hell-heaven,social balance etc. are not
materialistic but their knowledge has a social background. the symbols of math are mere symbols
but help in analysis of the facts and concepts.
the indirect or abstract form of these concepts have created a problem. in this regular changeable world,
how can the concepts give important and necessary knowledge. to clarify this problem operational
definitions or concepts are formulated. The researcher or scientist changes or makes his own operational
definitions according to the situation. In his research work, the concept will disclose or open only to
the limit he wants to expose in the operational definitions: in any work if ‘criminal’ is defined as a
person sentenced punishment from court,patient is the one who has registered himself as a patient in
any hospital. “rural leader” is the one who is elected in any local election and holds a post.
Reality is defined and classified with the help of concepts .To give the truth a systematic from concepts
are used.
(ii) Variables—these are also concepts but they present two types of concepts . first, they just give
names to the incidents. Second, they differentiate the classifications e.g. : children of age 5-10 yrs.,
children of age 11-15 yrs. Joint families with more jointness and joint families with less jointness. such
types of concept differences is termed as variable concepts.
tallcut Paarrsons stresses on the process of theory building while discussing about theories, whereas
Mortain defines theory as the definitions of any formula. But both the sociologists accept that theory
originates from facts only. In Paarrsons definitions stress is laid upon these known facts as the basics
of origin of concepts. When these concepts co-relate and combine together in a planned way, they
present an important truth and give birth to a theory. In this way no specific difference is seen in both
these fact based definitions of theory. Mortain’s definitions is accepted by P.Loomis also.
According to Loomis—those concepts which have been put together in logical form after inspection,
make a theory.
In this way like Mortain, Loomis also accepts theory as the systematic unification of concepts.

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