research methodology in social sciences

• USC Libraries
• Research Guides

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper

• 6. The Methodology
• Purpose of Guide
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Independent and Dependent Variables
• Glossary of Research Terms
• Reading Research Effectively
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
• Academic Writing Style
• Applying Critical Thinking
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• Research Process Video Series
• Executive Summary
• The C.A.R.S. Model
• Background Information
• The Research Problem/Question
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Content Alert Services
• Evaluating Sources
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tiertiary Sources
• Scholarly vs. Popular Publications
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Insiderness
• Using Non-Textual Elements
• Limitations of the Study
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Writing Concisely
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Footnotes or Endnotes?
• Further Readings
• Generative AI and Writing
• USC Libraries Tutorials and Other Guides
• Bibliography

The methods section describes actions taken to investigate a research problem and the rationale for the application of specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze information applied to understanding the problem, thereby, allowing the reader to critically evaluate a study’s overall validity and reliability. The methodology section of a research paper answers two main questions: How was the data collected or generated? And, how was it analyzed? The writing should be direct and precise and always written in the past tense.

Kallet, Richard H. "How to Write the Methods Section of a Research Paper." Respiratory Care 49 (October 2004): 1229-1232.

Importance of a Good Methodology Section

You must explain how you obtained and analyzed your results for the following reasons:

• Readers need to know how the data was obtained because the method you chose affects the results and, by extension, how you interpreted their significance in the discussion section of your paper.
• Methodology is crucial for any branch of scholarship because an unreliable method produces unreliable results and, as a consequence, undermines the value of your analysis of the findings.
• In most cases, there are a variety of different methods you can choose to investigate a research problem. The methodology section of your paper should clearly articulate the reasons why you have chosen a particular procedure or technique.
• The reader wants to know that the data was collected or generated in a way that is consistent with accepted practice in the field of study. For example, if you are using a multiple choice questionnaire, readers need to know that it offered your respondents a reasonable range of answers to choose from.
• The method must be appropriate to fulfilling the overall aims of the study. For example, you need to ensure that you have a large enough sample size to be able to generalize and make recommendations based upon the findings.
• The methodology should discuss the problems that were anticipated and the steps you took to prevent them from occurring. For any problems that do arise, you must describe the ways in which they were minimized or why these problems do not impact in any meaningful way your interpretation of the findings.
• In the social and behavioral sciences, it is important to always provide sufficient information to allow other researchers to adopt or replicate your methodology. This information is particularly important when a new method has been developed or an innovative use of an existing method is utilized.

Bem, Daryl J. Writing the Empirical Journal Article. Psychology Writing Center. University of Washington; Denscombe, Martyn. The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects . 5th edition. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press, 2014; Lunenburg, Frederick C. Writing a Successful Thesis or Dissertation: Tips and Strategies for Students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2008.

Structure and Writing Style

I.  Groups of Research Methods

There are two main groups of research methods in the social sciences:

• The e mpirical-analytical group approaches the study of social sciences in a similar manner that researchers study the natural sciences . This type of research focuses on objective knowledge, research questions that can be answered yes or no, and operational definitions of variables to be measured. The empirical-analytical group employs deductive reasoning that uses existing theory as a foundation for formulating hypotheses that need to be tested. This approach is focused on explanation.
• The i nterpretative group of methods is focused on understanding phenomenon in a comprehensive, holistic way . Interpretive methods focus on analytically disclosing the meaning-making practices of human subjects [the why, how, or by what means people do what they do], while showing how those practices arrange so that it can be used to generate observable outcomes. Interpretive methods allow you to recognize your connection to the phenomena under investigation. However, the interpretative group requires careful examination of variables because it focuses more on subjective knowledge.

II.  Content

The introduction to your methodology section should begin by restating the research problem and underlying assumptions underpinning your study. This is followed by situating the methods you used to gather, analyze, and process information within the overall “tradition” of your field of study and within the particular research design you have chosen to study the problem. If the method you choose lies outside of the tradition of your field [i.e., your review of the literature demonstrates that the method is not commonly used], provide a justification for how your choice of methods specifically addresses the research problem in ways that have not been utilized in prior studies.

The remainder of your methodology section should describe the following:

• Decisions made in selecting the data you have analyzed or, in the case of qualitative research, the subjects and research setting you have examined,
• Tools and methods used to identify and collect information, and how you identified relevant variables,
• The ways in which you processed the data and the procedures you used to analyze that data, and
• The specific research tools or strategies that you utilized to study the underlying hypothesis and research questions.

In addition, an effectively written methodology section should:

• Introduce the overall methodological approach for investigating your research problem . Is your study qualitative or quantitative or a combination of both (mixed method)? Are you going to take a special approach, such as action research, or a more neutral stance?
• Indicate how the approach fits the overall research design . Your methods for gathering data should have a clear connection to your research problem. In other words, make sure that your methods will actually address the problem. One of the most common deficiencies found in research papers is that the proposed methodology is not suitable to achieving the stated objective of your paper.
• Describe the specific methods of data collection you are going to use , such as, surveys, interviews, questionnaires, observation, archival research. If you are analyzing existing data, such as a data set or archival documents, describe how it was originally created or gathered and by whom. Also be sure to explain how older data is still relevant to investigating the current research problem.
• Explain how you intend to analyze your results . Will you use statistical analysis? Will you use specific theoretical perspectives to help you analyze a text or explain observed behaviors? Describe how you plan to obtain an accurate assessment of relationships, patterns, trends, distributions, and possible contradictions found in the data.
• Provide background and a rationale for methodologies that are unfamiliar for your readers . Very often in the social sciences, research problems and the methods for investigating them require more explanation/rationale than widely accepted rules governing the natural and physical sciences. Be clear and concise in your explanation.
• Provide a justification for subject selection and sampling procedure . For instance, if you propose to conduct interviews, how do you intend to select the sample population? If you are analyzing texts, which texts have you chosen, and why? If you are using statistics, why is this set of data being used? If other data sources exist, explain why the data you chose is most appropriate to addressing the research problem.
• Provide a justification for case study selection . A common method of analyzing research problems in the social sciences is to analyze specific cases. These can be a person, place, event, phenomenon, or other type of subject of analysis that are either examined as a singular topic of in-depth investigation or multiple topics of investigation studied for the purpose of comparing or contrasting findings. In either method, you should explain why a case or cases were chosen and how they specifically relate to the research problem.
• Describe potential limitations . Are there any practical limitations that could affect your data collection? How will you attempt to control for potential confounding variables and errors? If your methodology may lead to problems you can anticipate, state this openly and show why pursuing this methodology outweighs the risk of these problems cropping up.

NOTE:   Once you have written all of the elements of the methods section, subsequent revisions should focus on how to present those elements as clearly and as logically as possibly. The description of how you prepared to study the research problem, how you gathered the data, and the protocol for analyzing the data should be organized chronologically. For clarity, when a large amount of detail must be presented, information should be presented in sub-sections according to topic. If necessary, consider using appendices for raw data.

ANOTHER NOTE: If you are conducting a qualitative analysis of a research problem , the methodology section generally requires a more elaborate description of the methods used as well as an explanation of the processes applied to gathering and analyzing of data than is generally required for studies using quantitative methods. Because you are the primary instrument for generating the data [e.g., through interviews or observations], the process for collecting that data has a significantly greater impact on producing the findings. Therefore, qualitative research requires a more detailed description of the methods used.

YET ANOTHER NOTE:   If your study involves interviews, observations, or other qualitative techniques involving human subjects , you may be required to obtain approval from the university's Office for the Protection of Research Subjects before beginning your research. This is not a common procedure for most undergraduate level student research assignments. However, i f your professor states you need approval, you must include a statement in your methods section that you received official endorsement and adequate informed consent from the office and that there was a clear assessment and minimization of risks to participants and to the university. This statement informs the reader that your study was conducted in an ethical and responsible manner. In some cases, the approval notice is included as an appendix to your paper.

III.  Problems to Avoid

Irrelevant Detail The methodology section of your paper should be thorough but concise. Do not provide any background information that does not directly help the reader understand why a particular method was chosen, how the data was gathered or obtained, and how the data was analyzed in relation to the research problem [note: analyzed, not interpreted! Save how you interpreted the findings for the discussion section]. With this in mind, the page length of your methods section will generally be less than any other section of your paper except the conclusion.

Unnecessary Explanation of Basic Procedures Remember that you are not writing a how-to guide about a particular method. You should make the assumption that readers possess a basic understanding of how to investigate the research problem on their own and, therefore, you do not have to go into great detail about specific methodological procedures. The focus should be on how you applied a method , not on the mechanics of doing a method. An exception to this rule is if you select an unconventional methodological approach; if this is the case, be sure to explain why this approach was chosen and how it enhances the overall process of discovery.

Problem Blindness It is almost a given that you will encounter problems when collecting or generating your data, or, gaps will exist in existing data or archival materials. Do not ignore these problems or pretend they did not occur. Often, documenting how you overcame obstacles can form an interesting part of the methodology. It demonstrates to the reader that you can provide a cogent rationale for the decisions you made to minimize the impact of any problems that arose.

Literature Review Just as the literature review section of your paper provides an overview of sources you have examined while researching a particular topic, the methodology section should cite any sources that informed your choice and application of a particular method [i.e., the choice of a survey should include any citations to the works you used to help construct the survey].

It’s More than Sources of Information! A description of a research study's method should not be confused with a description of the sources of information. Such a list of sources is useful in and of itself, especially if it is accompanied by an explanation about the selection and use of the sources. The description of the project's methodology complements a list of sources in that it sets forth the organization and interpretation of information emanating from those sources.

Azevedo, L.F. et al. "How to Write a Scientific Paper: Writing the Methods Section." Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia 17 (2011): 232-238; Blair Lorrie. “Choosing a Methodology.” In Writing a Graduate Thesis or Dissertation , Teaching Writing Series. (Rotterdam: Sense Publishers 2016), pp. 49-72; Butin, Dan W. The Education Dissertation A Guide for Practitioner Scholars . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2010; Carter, Susan. Structuring Your Research Thesis . New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012; Kallet, Richard H. “How to Write the Methods Section of a Research Paper.” Respiratory Care 49 (October 2004):1229-1232; Lunenburg, Frederick C. Writing a Successful Thesis or Dissertation: Tips and Strategies for Students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2008. Methods Section. The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Rudestam, Kjell Erik and Rae R. Newton. “The Method Chapter: Describing Your Research Plan.” In Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process . (Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications, 2015), pp. 87-115; What is Interpretive Research. Institute of Public and International Affairs, University of Utah; Writing the Experimental Report: Methods, Results, and Discussion. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Methods and Materials. The Structure, Format, Content, and Style of a Journal-Style Scientific Paper. Department of Biology. Bates College.

Writing Tip

Statistical Designs and Tests? Do Not Fear Them!

Don't avoid using a quantitative approach to analyzing your research problem just because you fear the idea of applying statistical designs and tests. A qualitative approach, such as conducting interviews or content analysis of archival texts, can yield exciting new insights about a research problem, but it should not be undertaken simply because you have a disdain for running a simple regression. A well designed quantitative research study can often be accomplished in very clear and direct ways, whereas, a similar study of a qualitative nature usually requires considerable time to analyze large volumes of data and a tremendous burden to create new paths for analysis where previously no path associated with your research problem had existed.

To locate data and statistics, GO HERE .

Another Writing Tip

Knowing the Relationship Between Theories and Methods

There can be multiple meaning associated with the term "theories" and the term "methods" in social sciences research. A helpful way to delineate between them is to understand "theories" as representing different ways of characterizing the social world when you research it and "methods" as representing different ways of generating and analyzing data about that social world. Framed in this way, all empirical social sciences research involves theories and methods, whether they are stated explicitly or not. However, while theories and methods are often related, it is important that, as a researcher, you deliberately separate them in order to avoid your theories playing a disproportionate role in shaping what outcomes your chosen methods produce.

Introspectively engage in an ongoing dialectic between the application of theories and methods to help enable you to use the outcomes from your methods to interrogate and develop new theories, or ways of framing conceptually the research problem. This is how scholarship grows and branches out into new intellectual territory.

Reynolds, R. Larry. Ways of Knowing. Alternative Microeconomics . Part 1, Chapter 3. Boise State University; The Theory-Method Relationship. S-Cool Revision. United Kingdom.

Login Alert

• < Back to search results
• Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences

Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences

A pluralist perspective.

• Get access Buy a print copy Check if you have access via personal or institutional login Log in Register
• Cited by 154

This Book has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by Crossref .

• Google Scholar
• Edited by Donatella Della Porta , European University Institute, Florence , Michael Keating , European University Institute, Florence
• Export citation
• Buy a print copy

Book description

A revolutionary textbook introducing masters and doctoral students to the major research approaches and methodologies in the social sciences. Written by an outstanding set of scholars, and derived from successful course teaching, this volume will empower students to choose their own approach to research, to justify this approach, and to situate it within the discipline. It addresses questions of ontology, epistemology and philosophy of social science, and proceeds to issues of methodology and research design essential for producing a good research proposal. It also introduces researchers to the main issues of debate and contention in the methodology of social sciences, identifying commonalities, historic continuities and genuine differences.

‘This volume makes a strong and persuasive case for a pluralistic approach to social science. A wide variety of approaches are explicated by their leading exponents so that the reader can judge in what ways, and to what extent, they might be enlisted in the study of markets, politics, and society. An immensely informative and intellectually stimulating journey.’

John Gerring - Boston University

‘This collection of essays on methods will be widely adopted for graduate programmes in the social sciences. The essays are clear, illuminating and thoughtful; the coverage is deliberately wide, admirably even-handed and current. Each has been tested in the classroom and it shows. An excellent volume!’

Joni Lovenduski FBA - Birkbeck College, University of London

‘An excellent volume which demonstrate that different epistemological and methodological approaches can fruitfully speak to each other in a logic of 'reasonable pluralism'. A book that should become compulsory reading for all researchers training in the social sciences.’

Maurizio Ferrera - University of Milan

• Aa Reduce text
• Aa Enlarge text

Refine List

Actions for selected content:.

• View selected items
• Save to my bookmarks
• Export citations
• Download PDF (zip)
• Save to Kindle
• Save to Dropbox
• Save to Google Drive

Save content to

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to .

To save content items to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle .

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service .

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Frontmatter pp i-vi

• Get access Check if you have access via personal or institutional login Log in Register

Contents pp vii-viii

List of figures pp ix-ix, list of tables pp x-x, contributors pp xi-xii, preface pp xiii-xvi.

• By Donatella Della Porta , European University Institute, Florence, Michael Keating , European University Institute, Florence

1 - Introduction pp 1-16

• By Donatella della Porta , Professor of Sociology at the European University Institute, and Professor of Political Science at the University of Florence, Michael Keating , Professor of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute, and Professor of Politics at the University of Aberdeen

Part I - Epistemology and philosophy of the social sciences pp 17-18

2 - how many approaches in the social sciences an epistemological introduction pp 19-39, 3 - normative political theory and empirical research pp 40-60.

• By Rainer Bauböck , Professor of Social and Political Theory at the European University Institute

4 - Causal explanation pp 61-79

• By Adrienne Héritier , Professor of Public Policy at the European University Institute

5 - Constructivism: what it is (not) and how it matters pp 80-98

• By Friedrich Kratochwil , Professor of International Relations at the European University Institute

6 - Culture and social science pp 99-117

• By Michael Keating , Professor of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute, and Professor of Politics at the University of Aberdeen

7 - Historical institutionalism pp 118-138

• By Sven Steinmo , Professor of Public Policy at the European University Institute

8 - Game theory pp 139-161

• By Christine Chwaszcza , Professor of Social and Political Theory at the European University Institute

9 - Rationality and recognition pp 162-174

• By Alessandro Pizzorno , Emeritus Professor and Professorial Fellow in Sociology at the European University Institute

Part II - Research design pp 175-176

10 - concepts and concept formation pp 177-197.

• By Peter Mair , Professor of Comparative Politics at the European University Institute

11 - Comparative analysis: case-oriented versus variable-oriented research pp 198-222

• By Donatella della Porta , Professor of Sociology at the European University Institute, and Professor of Political Science at the University of Florence

12 - Case studies and process tracing: theories and practices pp 223-239

• By Pascal Vennesson , Professor of International Relations and Security Policy at the European University Institute

13 - Quantitative analysis pp 240-262

• By Mark Franklin , Professor of Comparative Politics at the European University Institute

14 - The design of social and political research pp 263-295

• By Philippe Schmitter , Emeritus Professor and Professorial Fellow in Comparative Politics at the European University Institute

15 - Ethnographic approaches pp 296-315

• By Zoe Bray , Freelance artist and researcher and former doctoral and postdoctoral researcher at the European University Institute

16 - Comparing approaches, methodologies and methods. Some concluding remarks pp 316-322

References pp 323-347, glossary pp 348-356, index pp 357-365, altmetric attention score, full text views.

Full text views reflects the number of PDF downloads, PDFs sent to Google Drive, Dropbox and Kindle and HTML full text views for chapters in this book.

Book summary page views

Book summary views reflect the number of visits to the book and chapter landing pages.

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

Usage data cannot currently be displayed.

Basic Research Strategies for the Social Sciences: Research Methods

• Research Strategies
• Research Methods
• Systematic Reviews vs. Literature Reviews
• Background Information
• Evaluate Your Sources
• Scholarly vs. Non-scholarly Articles
• Finding Journals
• Journal Articles
• SU Libraries' Catalog
• Maps & Statistical Sources
• Videos/DVD's
• Links & Feeds
• Interlibrary Loan

Sage Research Methods Online (SRMO)

• SAGE Research Methods Online

Sage Research Methods Online (SRMO). SRMO provides access to information about research methods compiled from a variety of Sage publications, including books/handbooks, articles, and the “Little Green Book” series, Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences .  SRMO is searchable and browsable by author, and it includes a methods map, as well as video tutorials.  Results can be refined to focus on specific academic disciplines of interest.

Great resource for learning more about what comprises a specific research method, with a view into how that method was applied within actual published scholarly literature.

• analysis of variance (ANOVA)
• ethnography
• focus groups
• mixed methods
• narrative analysis
• qualitative research
• quantitative data analysis
• social network analysis
• structural equation modeling
• time-series analysis
• visual representations
• ... and more

Research Methodologies

There are a variety of methods you can adopt for your research strategy, depending on your subject area or the outcome of your research.  Research methodology will differ depending on whether:

• you are doing an empirical study, using quantitative data or qualitative information, or mixed methods approach
• If you are seeking very current sources, or
• historical research
• critical analysis

Your strategies will be different as will the type of information sources you will seek and find.

See some databases below that offer examples of research methods, datasets or cases:

• Sage Research Methods: Data Visualization Video, text, and datasets to teach researchers the fundamentals of data visualization and design.
• Sage Research Methods: Foundations Introductory information about research methods and design.
• SAGE Research Methods Cases Teaching cases in which a variety of research methods are used in a number of social sciences subject areas. Cases are incorporated into SAGE Research Methods Online.
• SAGE Research Methods Datasets Datasets for teaching qualitative and quantitative research methods. Datasets are incorporated into SAGE Research Methods Online, and include sample sets, with a description of the research project and instructions regarding the method.
• SAGE Research Methods Online Information about research methods and design; includes Sage Datasets and Sage Cases, and the qualitative and quantitative methods series, "Little Green Books" and “Little Blue Books.”

Research Integrity

• SU - Office of Research and Integrity The Office of Research and Integrity provides administrative services to university researchers to facilitate research and ensure regulatory compliance with applicable federal regulations, laws and University policies, including administrative support and regulatory advisement to the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Qualitative Data Repository

Research methods for social sciences.

• << Previous: Research Strategies
• Next: Systematic Reviews vs. Literature Reviews >>
• Last Updated: Jan 25, 2024 9:35 AM
• URL: https://researchguides.library.syr.edu/socresearch
• Print This Page

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Research Methods in the Social Sciences: An A-Z of key concepts

Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a comprehensive yet compact A-Z for undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking qualitative and quantitative research across the social sciences, featuring 71 entries that cover a wide range of concepts, methods, and theories.

Related Papers

Principal, Raja Shripatrao Bhagwantrao Mahavidyalaya, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, India

Namdev Telore

The Course Book contains abstracts of resource persons on different topics of Research Methodology in Social Sciences for MPhil, PhD, and PDF scholars. Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi sponsored Research Methodology Course was organised at Raja Shripatrao Bhagwantrao Mahavidyalaya, Aundh, Dist Satara, Maharashtra, India from 1st to 10th December 2022. Dr Namdev V Telore has worked as a Course Director of the Research Methodology Course. The book contains (1) Meaning, Objectives and Types of Research, Research Approaches, Problem identification and formulations of Research Question; (2) Research Design, Selection of research topic, Review of Literature; (3) Concept and history of fieldwork, Stages of fieldwork (4) Observation and Case Study, Concept and types of interview, Survey Method and Sampling, Basic Quantitative Analysis, (5) Qualitative and Quantitative Research, Ethics in Social Science Research, (6) Academic Writing, Papers for Journals, Preparation of Reports. (7) Methods for Avoiding Plagiarism, (8) Structure of Paper, Report and Book, Elements of writing, e-library training (9) Research Proposal, Writing a research proposal, field visit and data collection; (10) Analysis of data using excel and QGIS software. The researcher is thankful to ICSSR for providing Rs. 5,50,000/- funds to organise the Course and produce the Book.

Patrick Kyanda

Introduction In answering the question posed for my essay I will define key terms and concepts; discuss the relevant literature and debates within social science. This will be done by examining the two main schools of thought and a critical overview of the different research methods use. This will help to formulate a research question. According to Brewer & Miller (2003) Epistemology is concerned with the nature of knowledge and justification in how we know and what we know. It also explores how we know what we know when it comes to the nature of social reality. According to Bryman (2007), epistemology is about “what is or should be regarded” as acceptable knowledge in social science and whether the social world can be studied according to the same principles as natural science (2007:14). Practical consideration explores how social research should be carried out based on various dimensions such as choice of research strategies, design, or the method that best suits the particular research or question being enquired (Bryman, 2007:26). Methodology is a philosophical framework that is part of a research which determines the researcher’s epistemological stand. Marsh argues “methodology is the method used to carry out a piece of research” (2002:18). The choice of research is often based on how we view the world which reflects how the researcher intends to carry out their research and/or the choice of method. In the case of social research it has a diverse range of considerations which depend on how the social world should be studied. As Bryman (2007) points out “methods are not simply neutral tools, they are linked with the ways which social scientists envision the connection between different viewpoints about the nature of social reality and how it should be examined” (2007:4). Thus, the researcher’s questions determine the type of information the researcher wants to collect; whether opinions or statistical data, which then determines the method that will be chosen. The ultimate desire or expectation of a researcher is to achieve the core objectives of their specific study problem. Given that the very purpose and rationale of a research initiative is predetermined by the objectives of the study, a statement of the main objectives for a specific serve as the ultimate guiding map in shaping both the designing and ultimate execution of the research. There is no doubt that the success in achieving these objectives of the research is in turn dependent on the effectiveness of the researcher choosing a research method that best matches the unique requirement of the research problem. This will apply, given the presence of different research methods and the fact that the individual application in different subjects of research highlights prominent strengths and limitations according to Tashakorri & Teddlie (2003). Developing a research question is dependent on the methodology used. However, it can be argued should questions be developed first and then methods applied. In spite of the availability of literature and common consensus among scholars on the strengths and limitations of different research methods and their value for use in specific research problems; considerations on the choice of research method continues to be a common source of contention. This is in part due to a lack of consensus on whether the choice of research method should be based on epistemological or on practical consideration. Spencer, et al., (2003) argue for proponents of epistemological considerations, the effective meeting of research goals should be the priority However, their opponents assert that an effective research method choice cannot be without consideration into the practical constrains to specific research. Since the ultimate goal of the research method is to effectively meet the objectives of the research, the choice of research method for a successful research should be informed by both qualitative and quantitative methods. These two particular methods follow different positions in terms the way they link between ideas and evidence (Brewer & Miller, 2003). According to Bryman (2007) both methods form different strategies in research terms of their epistemological stance.

Paulo Ravecca

mathemstics

Raphael Sena

Andreas Warntjen

Xochitl Ortiz

The authors felt during their several years of teaching experience that students fail to understand the books written on Research Methodology because generally they are written in technical language. Since this course is not taught before the Master’s degree, the students are not familiar with its vocabulary, methodology and course contents. The authors have made an attempt to write it in very non- technical language. It has been attempted that students who try to understand the research methodology through self-learning may also find it easy. The chapters are written with that approach. Even those students who intend to attain high level of knowledge of the research methodology in social sciences will find this book very helpful in understanding the basic concepts before they read any book on research methodology. This book is useful those students who offer the Research Methodology at Post Graduation and M.Phil. Level. This book is also very useful for Ph.D. Course Work examinations.

Journal of General Education and Development

Moslehuddin Chowdhury Khaled

This is a method article focused on the different choices at the paradigmatic or philosophical level which actually leads to researcher's choice of research design and methods at subsequent stages. Research methodology is the section that distinguishes a research paper from a usual narrative or newspaper like essay. Researchers are often prone to jumping into particular methods of data collection instruments, data collection methods, and data analysis methods (questionnaire design, Likert scale, factor analysis etc.). Sometimes they are confused by their evaluators who themselves might not be aware of the implications of different top level choices of the research like research philosophy and paradigms. While it is a convention that researcher has to detail the paradigmatic position the research, many scholars put it in this way: 'management' or 'business' research is often a mixture of these philosophies and approaches. All the positions are appropriate or depending on what the research objectives are. Researchers do not have to make an extreme choice for the sake of making. Rather we need to see what the nature of the problem is and what philosophy would be best to detail the inquiry. And often, it is a mixed approach and multiple methods.

Dr.Larry Adams

This research explores the various types of methodology commonly employed in the field of research. Methodology plays a pivotal role in the research process, influencing the design, data collection, and analysis phases. This paper provides an overview of several key research methodologies, including quantitative research, qualitative research, mixed-methods research, experimental research, survey research, case study research, action research, grounded theory, ethnographic research, content analysis, historical research, longitudinal research, cross-sectional research, and correlational research. Each methodology is characterized by its unique features, advantages, and limitations, making it essential for researchers to select the most appropriate methodology based on their research objectives and the nature of the research topic. By understanding these methodologies, researchers can enhance the rigor and validity of their research studies, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge within their respective fields.

MD Ashikur Rahman

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED PAPERS

Serdar Kaya

George Dowdall

Teaching Public Administration

Liam Foster

Anna Rozwadowska

Nand Kishore Singh

Saeed Anwar

Anil Jharotia

Sidi Masuga

Fakhar Abbas

Thiru Moorthi

Sasmitha Pramudya Machmud Machmud

Dr Sunarsih

WILBERT M G A N G A MTESSIGWA

Yuanita Damayanti

Abla BENBELLAL

International Journal of Development and Sustainability Online ISSN: 2168-8662 – www.isdsnet.com/ijds Volume 2 Number 3 (2013): Pages 1907-1918

ROTIMI OMOSULU

Bobby Keyes

ASHRAFALSADAT HAKIM

Monika Jakubicz

Goparaju Sudhakar

Symeou, L. & Lamprianou, J.

Loizos Symeou , Iasonas Lamprianou

Rekha Mudkanna

Safar Ali Paiam

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Breadcrumbs Section. Click here to navigate to respective pages.

Research Methodology for Social Sciences

DOI link for Research Methodology for Social Sciences

Get Citation

Research Methodology for Social Sciences provides guidelines for designing and conducting evidence-based research in social sciences and interdisciplinary studies using both qualitative and quantitative data. Blending the particularity of different sub-disciplines and interdisciplinary nature of social sciences, this volume:

• Provides insights on epistemological issues and deliberates on debates over qualitative research methods;
• Covers different aspects of qualitative research techniques and evidence-based research techniques, including survey design, choice of sample, construction of indices, statistical inferences and data analysis;
• Discusses concepts, techniques and tools at different stages of research, beginning with the design of field surveys to collect raw data and then analyse it using statistical and econometric methods.

With illustrations, examples and a reader-friendly approach, this volume will serve as a key reference material for compulsory research methodology courses at doctoral levels across different disciplines, such as economics, sociology, women’s studies, education, anthropology, political science, international relations, philosophy, history and business management. This volume will also be indispensable for postgraduate courses dealing with quantitative techniques and data analysis.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter | 5  pages, introduction, part i | 17  pages, epistemological issues, chapter 1 | 15  pages, methodological or epistemological issues in social research, part ii | 64  pages, debates in research methods, chapter 2 | 17  pages, towards a pragmatic centre, chapter 3 | 13  pages, ethnographic fieldwork, chapter 4 | 32  pages, diversity in economics, part iii | 76  pages, methods of conflict analysis and policy evaluation, chapter 5 | 20  pages, game theory, chapter 6 | 11  pages, impact evaluation, chapter 7 | 43  pages, construction of different types of indices in social science research, part iv | 104  pages, quantitative research methods and predictive analysis, chapter 8 | 14  pages, designing a primary survey-based research, chapter 9 | 25  pages, sampling methods, chapter 10 | 12  pages, an introduction to statistical inference, chapter 11 | 35  pages, problems of endogeneity in social science research, chapter 12 | 16  pages, quantitative methods for qualitative variables in social science.

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Taylor & Francis Online
• Taylor & Francis Group
• Students/Researchers
• Librarians/Institutions

Connect with us

Registered in England & Wales No. 3099067 5 Howick Place | London | SW1P 1WG © 2024 Informa UK Limited

Principles of Social Research Methodology

• © 2022
• M. Rezaul Islam 0 ,
• Niaz Ahmed Khan 1 ,
• Rajendra Baikady 2

Centre for Family and Child Studies, Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Department of social work, school of humanities, university of johannesburg, johannesburg, south africa.

• Emphasizes the essentials and fundamentals of research methodologies
• Covers the entire research process, beginning with the conception of the research problem
• Combines theory and practical application to familiarize the reader with the logic of research design

93k Accesses

37 Citations

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info
• Durable hardcover edition

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

About this book

This book is a definitive, comprehensive understanding to social science research methodology. It covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The book covers the entire research process, beginning with the conception of the research problem to publication of findings. The text combines theory and practical application to familiarize the reader with the logic of research design, the logic and techniques of data analysis, and the fundamentals and implications of various data collection techniques. Organized in seven sections and easy to read chapters, the text emphasizes the importance of clearly defined research questions and well-constructed practical explanations and illustrations. A key contribution to the methodology literature, the book is an authoritative resource for policymakers, practitioners, graduate and advanced research students, and educators in all social science disciplines.

Similar content being viewed by others

Introduction

The potential of working hypotheses for deductive exploratory research

Research Design and Methodology

• Social Science Research
• Social Research Methods
• Qualitative Research
• Quantitative Research
• Mixed Method Research
• Research Design

Table of contents (35 chapters)

Front matter, introduction to social research, inquiry: a fundamental concept for scientific investigation.

M. Rezaul Islam

Research: Meaning and Purpose

• Kazi Abusaleh, Akib Bin Anwar

Social Research: Definitions, Types, Nature, and Characteristics

• Kanamik Kani Khan, Md. Mohsin Reza

Theory in Social Research

• Mumtaz Ali, Maya Khemlani David, Kuang Ching Hei

Philosophy of Social Science and Research Paradigms

Inductive and/or deductive research designs.

• Md. Shahidul Haque
• Premalatha Karupiah

Critical Theory in Social Research: A Theoretical and Methodological Outlook

• Ashek Mahmud, Farhana Zaman

Narrative Inquiry, Phenomenology, and Grounded Theory in Qualitative Research

• Rabiul Islam, Md. Sayeed Akhter
• Md. Rafiqul Islam

Quantitative Research Approach

Designing research proposal in quantitative approach.

• Md. Rezaul Karim

Experimental Method

• Syed Tanveer Rahman, Md. Rabiul Islam

Social Survey Method

• Isahaque Ali, Azlinda Azman, Shahid Mallick, Tahmina Sultana, Zulkarnain A. Hatta

Survey Questionnaire

• Shofiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Mohammad Ali Oakkas, Faisal Ahmmed

Interview Method

• Hazreena Hussein

Sampling Techniques for Quantitative Research

• Moniruzzaman Sarker, Mohammed Abdulmalek AL-Muaalemi

Data Analysis Techniques for Quantitative Study

Editors and affiliations.

Niaz Ahmed Khan

Rajendra Baikady

About the editors

Bibliographic information.

Book Title : Principles of Social Research Methodology

Editors : M. Rezaul Islam, Niaz Ahmed Khan, Rajendra Baikady

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5441-2

Publisher : Springer Singapore

eBook Packages : Social Sciences

Copyright Information : The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022

Hardcover ISBN : 978-981-19-5219-7 Published: 27 October 2022

Softcover ISBN : 978-981-19-5524-2 Published: 28 October 2023

eBook ISBN : 978-981-19-5441-2 Published: 26 October 2022

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XXXI, 508

Number of Illustrations : 24 b/w illustrations, 45 illustrations in colour

Topics : Social Work , Education, general

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Book Title: Research Methods for the Social Sciences: An Introduction

Author: Valerie Sheppard

Download this book

• Digital PDF

Book Description: This textbook provides a broad overview of research methods utilized in sociology. It will be of particular value for students who are new to research methods.

Book Information

Research Methods for the Social Sciences: An Introduction Copyright © 2020 by Valerie Sheppard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Research methods: general

• Harvard Library
• Research Guides
• Faculty of Arts & Sciences Libraries

ALM Research Guide: Social Sciences Edition

Methodology sources.

• Ways To Set Yourself Up For Success
• Finding a Researchable Question
• Cross-Disciplinary Databases
• Subject Databases

Faculty Recommended Core Resources

Sage research methods collection, fieldwork/methods in pandemic times.

• Next Steps: Experts and Expert Guidance

Social scientists use a variety of methods to operationalize their hypotheses, test their questions, and generate primary data.

Your challenge is figure out a methodology that is appropriate to the research question you want to ask.

It may be that, as you were doing the background reading to find your question, you noticed the methods that were used by other researchers in your area. These models can be an excellent place to start. If you're not sure that the methods you have seen are a good fit for your question or don't fully understand what a particular method will involve, the items listed below might give you some guidance.  And as always, consult with your instructor or project advisor whenever you have methodological uncertainties.

These methodology texts are recommended by the research advisors in the Social Sciences. Not all texts will necessarily work for all questions, but many will have valuable suggestions.

• The ultimate methods library, it has more than 1000 books, reference works, journal articles, case studies, and instructional videos by world-leading academics from across the social sciences.
• Users can browse content by topic, discipline, or format type (reference works, book chapters, definitions, etc.). SRM offers several research tools as well, including a  methods map , a project planner , and  video discussions of data collection and research methods.

Digital Methods Primers

• This crowd-sourced Google document was initially intended to help researchers adapt their face-to-face fieldwork to something more "hands off" and appropriately distanced in the age of COVID-19. However, people have added useful material about "born digital" research (i.e, content already generated on the internet by online interactions). The document, no longer open for edits, identifies methods that researchers can use to generate social science data by alternative paths.
• Jowett, D. (April 20, 2020).  Carrying out qualitative research under lockdown: practical and ethical considerations.
• Remote Research: Library Support for Qualitative Research  (Harvard Library Research Guide)
• COVID-19 Resources for Sociologists  (Spring 2020). Harvard University Contemporary Ethnography and Inequality Workshop.
• << Previous: Subject Databases
• Next: Next Steps: Experts and Expert Guidance >>

Except where otherwise noted, this work is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , which allows anyone to share and adapt our material as long as proper attribution is given. For details and exceptions, see the Harvard Library Copyright Policy ©2021 Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College.

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons

Margin Size

• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

Social Science Research - Principles, Methods, and Practices (Bhattacherjee)

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 26203

• Anol Bhattacherjee
• University of South Florida via Global Text Project

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

This book is designed to introduce doctoral and graduate students to the process of scientific research in the social sciences, business, education, public health, and related disciplines. It is a one-stop, comprehensive, and compact source for foundational concepts in behavioral research, and can serve as a stand-alone text or as a supplement to research readings in any course on research methods. The contents and examples are designed for anyone interested in behavioral research (not just information systems people), and so, the book should appeal to most business programs, social sciences, education, public health, and related disciplines.

Thumbnail: www.pexels.com/photo/business-charts-data-document-259006/

Home » Research Methods » Methodology in the Social Sciences Series

Methodology in the Social Sciences Series Edited by Todd D. Little , PhD

Most titles in the series include extensive downloadable files and online resources .

New Titles:

All Titles:

Free Shipping on Online Orders!

• Applies only to prepaid online orders from U.S. customers.
• Packages sent via USPS Media Mail. You may choose to pay for rush shipping instead.
• Shipping charges to Canada are a flat $10.00 per order via CanPar.
• You may return Guilford books (undamaged) within 30 days of receipt for a full refund.

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: The Methodology

• Purpose of Guide
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Independent and Dependent Variables
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• The Research Problem/Question
• Academic Writing Style
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• The C.A.R.S. Model
• Background Information
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Evaluating Sources
• Reading Research Effectively
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
• Is it Peer-Reviewed?
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Writing Concisely
• Avoiding Plagiarism [linked guide]
• Annotated Bibliography
• Grading Someone Else's Paper

The methods section describes actions to be taken to investigate a research problem and the rationale for the application of specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze information applied to understanding the problem, thereby, allowing the reader to critically evaluate a study’s overall validity and reliability. The methodology section of a research paper answers two main questions: How was the data collected or generated? And, how was it analyzed? The writing should be direct and precise and always written in the past tense.

Kallet, Richard H. "How to Write the Methods Section of a Research Paper." Respiratory Care 49 (October 2004): 1229-1232.

Importance of a Good Methodology Section

You must explain how you obtained and analyzed your results for the following reasons:

• Readers need to know how the data was obtained because the method you chose affects the results and, by extension, how you interpreted their significance.
• Methodology is crucial for any branch of scholarship because an unreliable method produces unreliable results and, as a consequence, undermines the value of your interpretations of the findings.
• In most cases, there are a variety of different methods you can choose to investigate a research problem. The methodology section of your paper should clearly articulate the reasons why you chose a particular procedure or technique.
• The reader wants to know that the data was collected or generated in a way that is consistent with accepted practice in the field of study. For example, if you are using a multiple choice questionnaire, readers need to know that it offered your respondents a reasonable range of answers to choose from.
• The method must be appropriate to fulfilling the overall aims of the study. For example, you need to ensure that you have a large enough sample size to be able to generalize and make recommendations based upon the findings.
• The methodology should discuss the problems that were anticipated and the steps you took to prevent them from occurring. For any problems that do arise, you must describe the ways in which they were minimized or why these problems do not impact in any meaningful way your interpretation of the findings.
• In the social and behavioral sciences, it is important to always provide sufficient information to allow other researchers to adopt or replicate your methodology. This information is particularly important when a new method has been developed or an innovative use of an existing method is utilized.

Bem, Daryl J. Writing the Empirical Journal Article . Psychology Writing Center. University of Washington; Denscombe, Martyn. The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects . 5th edition. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press, 2014; Lunenburg, Frederick C. Writing a Successful Thesis or Dissertation: Tips and Strategies for Students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2008.

Structure and Writing Style

The introduction to your methodology section should begin by restating the research problem and underlying assumptions underpinning your study. This is followed by situating the methods you will use to gather, analyze, and process information within the overall “tradition” of your field of study and within the particular research design you have chosen to study the problem. If the method you choose lies outside of the tradition of your field [i.e., your review of the literature demonstrates that the method is not commonly used], provide a justification for how your choice of methods specifically addresses the research problem in ways that have not been utilized in prior studies.

The remainder of your methodology section should describe the following:

• Decisions made in selecting the data you have analyzed or, in the case of qualitative research, the subjects and research setting you have examined,
• Tools and methods used to identify and collect information, and how you identified relevant variables,
• The ways in which you processed the data and the procedures you used to analyze that data, and
• The specific research tools or strategies that you utilized to study the underlying hypothesis and research questions.

In addition, an effectively written methodology section should:

• Introduce the overall methodological approach for investigating your research problem . Is your study qualitative or quantitative or a combination of both (mixed method)? Are you going to take a special approach, such as action research, or a more neutral stance?
• Indicate how the approach fits the overall research design . Your methods for gathering data should have a clear connection to your research problem. In other words, make sure that your methods will actually address the problem. One of the most common deficiencies found in research papers is that the proposed methodology is not suitable to achieving the stated objective of your paper.
• Describe the specific methods of data collection you are going to use , such as, surveys, interviews, questionnaires, observation, archival research. If you are analyzing existing data, such as a data set or archival documents, describe how it was originally created or gathered and by whom. Also be sure to explain how older data is still relevant to investigating the current research problem.
• Explain how you intend to analyze your results . Will you use statistical analysis? Will you use specific theoretical perspectives to help you analyze a text or explain observed behaviors? Describe how you plan to obtain an accurate assessment of relationships, patterns, trends, distributions, and possible contradictions found in the data.
• Provide background and a rationale for methodologies that are unfamiliar for your readers . Very often in the social sciences, research problems and the methods for investigating them require more explanation/rationale than widely accepted rules governing the natural and physical sciences. Be clear and concise in your explanation.
• Provide a justification for subject selection and sampling procedure . For instance, if you propose to conduct interviews, how do you intend to select the sample population? If you are analyzing texts, which texts have you chosen, and why? If you are using statistics, why is this set of data being used? If other data sources exist, explain why the data you chose is most appropriate to addressing the research problem.
• Describe potential limitations . Are there any practical limitations that could affect your data collection? How will you attempt to control for potential confounding variables and errors? If your methodology may lead to problems you can anticipate, state this openly and show why pursuing this methodology outweighs the risk of these problems cropping up.

NOTE :  Once you have written all of the elements of the methods section, subsequent revisions should focus on how to present those elements as clearly and as logically as possibly. The description of how you prepared to study the research problem, how you gathered the data, and the protocol for analyzing the data should be organized chronologically. For clarity, when a large amount of detail must be presented, information should be presented in sub-sections according to topic.

ANOTHER NOTE : If you are conducting a qualitative analysis of a research problem , the methodology section generally requires a more elaborate description of the methods used as well as an explanation of the processes applied to gathering and analyzing of data than is generally required for studies using quantitative methods. Because you are the primary instrument for generating the data, the process for collecting that data has a significantly greater impact on producing the findings. Therefore, qualitative research requires a more detailed description of the methods used.

III.  Problems to Avoid

Irrelevant Detail The methodology section of your paper should be thorough but to the point. Do not provide any background information that does not directly help the reader understand why a particular method was chosen, how the data was gathered or obtained, and how the data was analyzed in relation to the research problem [note: analyzed, not interpreted! Save how you interpreted the findings for the discussion section]. With this in mind, the page length of your methods section will generally be less than any other section of your paper except the conclusion.

Unnecessary Explanation of Basic Procedures Remember that you are not writing a how-to guide about a particular method. You should make the assumption that readers possess a basic understanding of how to investigate the research problem on their own and, therefore, you do not have to go into great detail about specific methodological procedures. The focus should be on how you applied a method , not on the mechanics of doing a method. An exception to this rule is if you select an unconventional methodological approach; if this is the case, be sure to explain why this approach was chosen and how it enhances the overall process of discovery.

Problem Blindness It is almost a given that you will encounter problems when collecting or generating your data, or, gaps will exist in existing data or archival materials. Do not ignore these problems or pretend they did not occur. Often, documenting how you overcame obstacles can form an interesting part of the methodology. It demonstrates to the reader that you can provide a cogent rationale for the decisions you made to minimize the impact of any problems that arose.

Literature Review Just as the literature review section of your paper provides an overview of sources you have examined while researching a particular topic, the methodology section should cite any sources that informed your choice and application of a particular method [i.e., the choice of a survey should include any citations to the works you used to help construct the survey].

It’s More than Sources of Information! A description of a research study's method should not be confused with a description of the sources of information. Such a list of sources is useful in and of itself, especially if it is accompanied by an explanation about the selection and use of the sources. The description of the project's methodology complements a list of sources in that it sets forth the organization and interpretation of information emanating from those sources.

Azevedo, L.F. et al. "How to Write a Scientific Paper: Writing the Methods Section." Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia 17 (2011): 232-238; Blair Lorrie. “Choosing a Methodology.” In Writing a Graduate Thesis or Dissertation , Teaching Writing Series. (Rotterdam: Sense Publishers 2016), pp. 49-72; Butin, Dan W. The Education Dissertation A Guide for Practitioner Scholars . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2010; Carter, Susan. Structuring Your Research Thesis . New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012; Kallet, Richard H. “How to Write the Methods Section of a Research Paper.” Respiratory Care 49 (October 2004):1229-1232; Lunenburg, Frederick C. Writing a Successful Thesis or Dissertation: Tips and Strategies for Students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2008. Methods Section . The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Rudestam, Kjell Erik and Rae R. Newton. “The Method Chapter: Describing Your Research Plan.” In Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process . (Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications, 2015), pp. 87-115; What is Interpretive Research . Institute of Public and International Affairs, University of Utah; Writing the Experimental Report: Methods, Results, and Discussion . The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Methods and Materials . The Structure, Format, Content, and Style of a Journal-Style Scientific Paper. Department of Biology. Bates College.

Writing Tip

Statistical designs and tests do not fear them.

Don't avoid using a quantitative approach to analyzing your research problem just because you fear the idea of applying statistical designs and tests. A qualitative approach, such as conducting interviews or content analysis of archival texts, can yield exciting new insights about a research problem, but it should not be undertaken simply because you have a disdain for running a simple regression. A well designed quantitative research study can often be accomplished in very clear and direct ways, whereas, a similar study of a qualitative nature usually requires considerable time to analyze large volumes of data and a tremendous burden to create new paths for analysis where previously no path associated with your research problem had existed.

To locate data and statistics, GO HERE .

Another Writing Tip

Knowing the relationship between theories and methods.

There can be multiple meaning associated with the term "theories" and the term "methods" in social sciences research. A helpful way to delineate between them is to understand "theories" as representing different ways of characterizing the social world when you research it and "methods" as representing different ways of generating and analyzing data about that social world. Framed in this way, all empirical social sciences research involves theories and methods, whether they are stated explicitly or not. However, while theories and methods are often related, it is important that, as a researcher, you deliberately separate them in order to avoid your theories playing a disproportionate role in shaping what outcomes your chosen methods produce.

Introspectively engage in an ongoing dialectic between the application of theories and methods to help enable you to use the outcomes from your methods to interrogate and develop new theories, or ways of framing conceptually the research problem. This is how scholarship grows and branches out into new intellectual territory.

Reynolds, R. Larry. Ways of Knowing . Alternative Microeconomics . Part 1, Chapter 3. Boise State University; The Theory-Method Relationship . S-Cool Revision. United Kingdom.

• << Previous: Is it Peer-Reviewed?
• Next: Qualitative Methods >>
• Last Updated: Sep 8, 2023 12:19 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.txstate.edu/socialscienceresearch

• Technical Support
• Find My Rep

You are here

The SAGE Handbook of Social Science Methodology

• William Outhwaite - University of Newcastle, UK
• Stephen Turner - University of South Florida, USA
• Description

"This timely collection maps developments and explores new territories to meet the challenges and bring about possibilities for social science inquiries." — CHOICE

• Overviews of methodological approaches in the social sciences
• Cases, comparisons, and theory
• Quantification and experiment
• Rationality, complexity and collectivity
• Interpretation, critique and postmodernity
• Discourse construction

See what’s new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email [email protected] . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html .

For assistance with your order: Please email us at [email protected] or connect with your SAGE representative.

SAGE 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 www.sagepub.com

"This timely collection maps developments and explores new territories to meet the challenges and bring about possibilities for social science inquiries."

Preview this book

Sample materials & chapters.

Introduction PDF

Chapter One PDF

Select a Purchasing Option

Related products.

This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge , the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial .

This title is also available on SAGE Research Methods , the ultimate digital methods library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial .

• DOI: 10.1080/10705511.2023.2260564
• Corpus ID: 270479901

Review of Machine Learning for Social and Behavioral Research (Methodology in the Social Sciences)

• Aszani Aszani , Ruslan Anwar
• Published in Structural Equation Modeling… 9 November 2023
• Computer Science, Psychology
• Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal

13 References

An application of a supervised machine learning model for predicting life expectancy, a comprehensive survey on pandemic patient monitoring system: enabling technologies, opportunities, and research challenges, machine learning for feeling analysis in twitter communications: a case study in heydru, perú, leveraging machine learning and semi-structured information to identify political views from social media posts, identifying the extent of need in the different concepts under disciplines and ideas in social sciences: a basis in developing mobile based e-learning application, explainable machine learning in materials science, modeling social network of professional sports athletes based on machine learning algorithms, epistemological aspect of topic modelling in the social sciences: latent dirichlet allocation, data collection and quality challenges in deep learning: a data-centric ai perspective, machine learning: algorithms, real-world applications and research directions, related papers.

Showing 1 through 3 of 0 Related Papers