Page 42 - DSOC404_METHODOLOGY_OF_SOCIAL_RESEARCH_ENGLISH

Methodology of Social Research

notes 4.1 Physical and Personal Qualities
social research is an academic work. it does not have any concern with the physical qualities of a
research scholar—this is a belief of many people. But this is wrong. the success of research work
depends on physical qualities too, which will be clear by the following explanations-
1. attractive personality: A smiling face, good habits and attractive personality and behavior
can be instrumental in getting correct and trust worthy facts from an informer. An attractive
personality leaves a natural impact on people and a scholar can get benefitted by it and can get
solid true and important facts. His success depends on exact information facts and data.
2. Health: Good health is very important for a successful scholar. He cannot work sitting on
a comfortable chair. He needs to work hard and run around a lot which can be done by a
person who maintains good health. A weak and sick person will spend maximum time in
his own treatment. in india a scholar has to work even harder because of lack of facilities of
transport and communication, low standards of education and lack of facilities for research.
thus a good health is very important. Apart from this good health a part of an attractive
personality and help collecting facts.
3. persistence: A successful scholar should be persistent. it is important that he does not lose
heart in any situation. one has to face lots of ups and down during research. one has to face
so many disappointing situations. so many unnatural incidents create hindrance. During all
this a patience and persistence only direct a scholar. Many a times it is seen that one informer
cannot take out time to answer questions and sometimes he does not even meet. even if he
gives time he tries to avoid a researcher giving incomplete answers. it is very important to
have patience, so persistence is one of the most important qualities of a scholar.
4. tolerance: tolerance is one of the most required quality in a scholar. A scholar can be
successful only after going through many difficulties. Sometimes people misbehave with the
scholar, comment him and announce in a very clear tone not to be co-operative. if a scholar
does not have the tolerance to bear all this, he will have to stop his work midway.

Task What are physical and personal qualities? Explain.

4.2 intellectual Qualities

Physical and individual qualities are not enough for a scholar unless he has good intellectual qualities
which are as follows:
1. creative imagination: imagination of a scholar should be extremely strong. Being intelligent
is not enough, unless he has the ability to project the future conditions involved in a research.
Without preplanning a successful research is not possible. A person cannot get into the depth
of social problems without power of imagination nor he can be practical. Vision and insight
both are very important.
2. Ability to Take Prompt Decision: A scholar should have the ability to take prompt decision
in every situation and problem. He has to work in unknown conditions and if he does not
have the ability to take beneficial decisions according to the situations, he cannot succeed.
so the decision taking power in any situation without any confusion should be an important
quality of scholar.
3. statistical ability: A social researcher has to play with numbers and categorize facts and
make chronological graphs. this is quiet a dull work but is very important for exactness of
facts. thus a researcher should have statistical ability.

36 loVely professional uniVersity