Steps in Sociological Investigation - Report Example

Steps in Sociological Investigation Introduction Outlining the main steps that the researcher must stick to during the work of a sociological investigation is clearly done by answering the 10 basic questions that capture the entire process. In social sciences, the fundamental areas of research are targeted in order to ensure that the research question and problem is solved as thoroughly as possible. According to the established scientific research approaches, it must be demonstrated that the main study involved in the presentation is in touch with academic and scientific facts. To demonstrate coherence in terms of academic content and scientific processing, it is important that certain patterns are exhibited and conspicuously manifested in the paper. Conducting sociological research culminates in the research solution to a major problem that the world of sociology can identify with. In terms of ensuring that the academic studies are applied in solving the research question, different researchers employ different tools. However, the final presentation must depict the intended purpose in a flow that cannot be disputed. Conducting scientific research within sociology heavily relies on the type of data available to back up the progress. Facts are needed in the study and the method of collection is as important in the collection of the data. Investigating a case around which the scientific question surrounds is therefore a very important determinant of the success of the research. To ensure that the investigation is coherent with the rest of the research presentation, it must pass some quality in criteria on the content requirements of a standard paper. The following research questions as formulated by Macionis (2008) will assist researchers to include the best investigation approaches in their sociological research. A. What is the topic of the sociology research? Sociological research being backed by some data collection and analysis in order to formulate an argument in support or opposition of a position and offer a solution to a research problem must possess some defined scope. The scope of the scientific investigation in a particular research is captured in the study’s topic. The sociological field is a wide discipline with numerous specializations from where a sociological problem or research question may arise from. The specific topic adopted for a scientific research presentation must have a definite area in the wide spectrum of human life and interactions. Sociological topics may include a number of areas for consideration by the researcher, but the exact orientation taken by the researcher regarding the topic will determine the actual research question. According to Macionis (2008), the researcher devotes only a specified contribution in the vast area of sociological problems which require thorough contributions. In the event the researcher is not as specific as the standard research requires them to be, it will be difficult to make a considerable contribution. More specific topics enable the researcher to concentrate and deliver better input than wide research topics which may become difficult to manage. B. What information is already available from other learners? In order to demonstrate that the particular research question under consideration is relevant to the sociological field, it must be linked to some academic literature. This confirms that the researcher has performed wide reading of others’ academic work and accordingly acknowledges their contribution towards sociology in various ways. By including what is already known assists the researcher to make more informed inferences from approved scientific data. Usually in order for the researcher to be original and unique in sociological research as science requires, the best topics as outlined above are derived from others’ work. By identifying the missing links in scientific research, researchers make better contributions that solve research questions in a comprehensive way. Synergistic contributions in science make studies clearer and easy for the sociology scholars (Kendall, 2011). C. What are your specific research questions? In scientific research, scholars work towards finding a solution to a certain scientific problem that is defined through various data and information links gathered through the research processes. In order to direct the research process in a clear manner, research questions are formulated in advance to assist the researcher and other scholars understand the position of the researcher and the data available in solving the problem (Stoneham, 2003). Research questions are raised depending on the topic, available information, missing links and the researcher’s contribution in the provision of a solution. In some instances, the researcher may opt to highlight one or several research questions and attempt to solve them in the paper as insights are progressively offered. D. What is needed in carrying out the sociological research? Research requires an approach to cover all the relevant areas of academics and science, in demonstration of the relevance of the research topic. The researcher must find out what is needed to carry out the scientific research, which may include various empirical approaches. In determination of the requirements of conducting the research, the researcher weighs out the various methodology options available to determine which best fits in the study. When the academic study involves qualitative form of data analysis, the requirements are different from those employed in quantitative analysis. Needs are therefore determined by the nature of the question and the approach the researcher chooses in resolving the research question. In a simple sociological study, for instance, a researcher may need to employ data collection tools, data analysis tools and other resources to collect the data (Herstrom and Wittrock, 2009). Sources of information needed in making a connection to the available academic literature are also considered as important sources of research resources. E. Are there ethical concerns? The researcher is always guided by a code of scientific ethic which must be observed at all times. Dealing with human beings is a sensitive area due to the fact that there are human rights that must be complied to avoid a conflict between science and human dignity. By establishing areas of concerns which are likely to compromise scientific ethics may result in limitations during the study. Researcher should always avoid scientific topics that stand in the way of ethical compliance. In case the ethical concern only affects some elements of scientific ethics, inferences are made and the direct involvement into such areas is avoided (Thorne, 2004). F. What methodology will be employed in the scientific research? As mentioned above, science offers some standard approaches from where researchers can find useful techniques to employ in various studies. The wide spectrum of sociological topics implies that there is more than one way to conduct research. Methodology choices are made depending on the topic and the actual nature of the study. It must be clarified on the steps and processes involved in the study in a systematic way. Scientific principles defined by methodologies as well as rules in scientific processes are provided for in research and the researcher must be conversant with the type of methodology chosen (Anderon and Taylor, 2005). There is a close link with scientific formalities and research process that scientific research is supposed to demonstrate throughout the presentation. Methodology and methods used in science act as guides in research paper presentation and studies. G. What method of data recording will be employed? There are several ways of recording scientific data during the scientific investigation and the researcher must choose an appropriate method for a particular study. While the actual study acts as a determinant of the suitable method of data recording during data collection, it is important that the available resources are also considered in data recording. Some studies involve writing, other require audio recording while a few may necessitate video recording. H. What do the data tell you? Investigations are guided by the patterns of data collected and the researcher must be keen to grasp the expected results. Grave discrepancies may be an indicator of a poorly conducted research in the middle of the studies. When data cues are followed, the researcher is able to follow the study up to the last point without making mistakes that may prove to be costly n the end. In a case where the researcher follows the cues of the data, the rest of the processes are thought of in advance making it easy to follow the study in an original manner (Newman, 2008). I. What are your conclusions? Investigations in sociology must be accompanied by inferences that comply with tenets of scientific study expectations. The researcher must be able to link the results of the study with the topic and research questions to make inferences on whether the study was successful or not. If the expected data was not forthcoming in the study, appropriate assumptions are made and a conclusion given to close the case. Conclusions act as a summary of the generally available knowledge or a major shift from earlier held positions with proof inside the paper (Stoneham, 2005). J. How is research shared to other learners? After conducting scientific studies, it would be wasteful if the gathered knowledge is not made available to other sociology learners. According to Kornblum (2007), it is important to make the findings of such studies to other scholars to enlighten them in their studies which will make sociology a better discipline with a large knowledge base. Despite the fact that the study may be performed by a person who is not famous, it is through their work that they may become famous contributors to sociology. Publication of the work is perhaps one of the main sharing channels for academic work. Conclusion Behind every scientific or sociological research, there must be objectives and in some cases a hypothesis. The process of conducting a sociological research is relatively complex, encompassing 10 unique steps, and involves the collection and analysis of data using methods that are scientifically acceptable. The results obtained from such studies ought to be published so that other parties interested in similar areas of study can gain some insight or new knowledge. References Anderson, M. L. & Taylor, H. F. (2005) Sociology: understanding a diverse society. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning Herstrom, P. & Wittrock, B. (2009) Frontiers of sociology. Danvers, MA: BRILL Kendall, D. (2011) Sociology in our times. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning Kornblum, W. (2007) Sociology in a changing world. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning Macionis, J. (2008) Society: the basics (10th edn). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Newman, D. M. (2008) Sociology: exploring the architecture of everyday life. London, UK: Pine Forge Press Stoneham, L. M. (2003) Advances in sociology research, vol. 1. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Stoneham, L. M. (2005) Advances in sociology research, vol. 2. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Thorne, M. E. (2004) Women in society: achievements, risks and challenges. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Read More