Community Development

Methodologies in Sociology

Knowledge
Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study. OR Information and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

Types of Knowledge
Explicit Knowledge This type of knowledge is formalized and codified. Embodied Knowledge It refers to intuitive, hard to define knowledge that is largely experience based. Embedded Knowledge Embedded knowledge refers to the knowledge that is locked in processes, products, culture, routines, or structures.

Learning
Acquiring new, or modifying existing, knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. Types:
Auditory learning Visual learning Kinesthetic learning

Research
Research is creative work undertaken systematically to increase the store of knowledge and information, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.

Sociological Methods
Comparative method Historical method Statistical method Case Study method Functional method Scientific method

Comparative Method
The method of comparing different societies, groups or communities within the same society to show whether and why they are similar or different in certain respects. With the help of this study, the clues to mans behavior and their results can be judged.

Historical Method
Historical method refers to study of events, processes, and institutions of past civilizations, for the purpose of finding the origins of contemporary social life and thus finding out its nature and working. It is further divided into 2 major forms
i) Biological theory of evolution ii) Economic interpretation

Statistical Method
It refers to method used for measuring social phenomenon mathematically. It is regarded as method of collecting, analyzing and interpreting numerical information about social aggregates.
It may be numerical data of community Or it may be application of statistical methods on community

Case Study Method

Case refers to an event or set of events involving actions. This is an in-depth qualitative study of an individual, group, community, or an organization.
Generalization of findings may be inappropriate.

Functional Method
It refers to study of social phenomena from the point of view of the functions that a particular institution or social structure serves in a society.
Every institution may possess entire different characteristics of individuals or groups.

Scientific Method
Scientific method consists of certain steps/procedures. a) Formulation of problem b) Formulation of hypothesis c) Observation and collection of data d) Analysis and synthesis e) Generalization f) Formulation of theory and law

SMALL DEFINITIONS Problem = gap between desired knowledge and current knowledge. Hypothesis = formulation of problem needs a statement, that is written before facts are observed. A proposition made as a basis for reasoning, without any assumption of its truth. Theory = a tested hypothesis, that deals with wide range of facts. OR System of ideas intended to explain something. Law = When theory is well established, and found to be correct invariably, it is regarded as Law.

Research Again.
Research is attempt to know new things, facts, information in scientific manner. Its main function is to diffuse knowledge and establish theories on the basis of believable facts.

Social Research
Social research is a systematic method of exploring, analyzing, and conceptualizing social life in order to extend, correct or verify knowledge; whether that knowledge helps in construction of a theory or in practice.

Why Research???
It is necessary to expand horizon of knowledge It is helpful to verify/rectify or confirm/reject or modify or re-assist the existing theories and to establish new ones.

Importance of Social Research

To diffuse knowledge and to expand its horizon. To verify/disprove, confirm/reject, modify/reassert existing theories and to establish new ones. To provide practical clues and take measures to social improvement. To provide new insight of perplexing problems. It also has commercial importance.

 Research helps administrators to improve plans, policies and /or procedures. Research has educational importance too.

Difficulties & Problems in Sociological Research

The act of investigating social behavior may alter the very behavior that is being observed. People unlike static objects, have emotions, motives and personalities. For ethical reasons it becomes difficult to perform certain kind of experiments on human beings. Social behaviors are generally very complex and difficult.

Tools of Social Research

1. 2. 3. 4. Observation Questionnaire Interviews Social survey method

Tools of Social Research:

Observation
Observation is a systematic, direct, definite and deliberate examination of the spontaneous occurrences at the time of occurrence.
Observation is just like experiment, except one. In Experiment scientists arranges for something to happen in order to observe what follows. In Observation scientists observes something which happens, or has already happened.

 Types of Observation:
Non-controlled, participant observation Non-controlled, Non-participant observation Systematic controlled observation

Non-controlled, Participant observation

It is practiced when observer can disguise himself as to be accepted as a member of group under-study. Observer has to participate in all the activities of the group.

Example William White (1943) joined an Italian gang to find slum communitys organized way. Erving Goffman (1961) went to mental asylum to find out how the organization systematically depersonalizes patients and aggravate their problems. Leo Festinger (1966) went to a cult who believed end of world was near, to find their believing.

Limitations
Researcher has no control over what happens Data may be lost due to not writing it on time Observer as participant, may get involved emotionally and lose objectivity. Observers age, experience, gender, race, caste, ethnicity or personal biases may affect the data. Ethically social scientists question whether it is justifiable to deceive others to search data.

Non-controlled, Non-Participant Observation (Quasi-Participant)

It is practiced when observer doesnt participate in group as a member, rather observe as outsider. Example: - Leplay (1910) researched on European working families

Limitations
It provides limited information, participants being aware of the fact that they are observed can provide misleading information. When observer is non-participant, he may not understand the insight behavior of observed objects.

Systematic Controlled Observation

It is a systematic approach with standardized instruments like camera, tape recorders, logs. Example: Nat-Geo films the activities of animals to research their behaviors.

Limitation
Private/secret behavior of individuals can not be observed. Time of occurrence, if missed can give misleading information. Overall problem of observation is that not all observed data can be quantified.
Eg. Anger, Happiness, Faith etc.

Tools of Social Research: Questionnaire

Questionnaire is a tool for data collection which consists of a number of questions printed in a definite order on a form or set of forms. Definition: The questionnaire is a set of stimuli to which literate people are exposed in order to observe their verbal behavior under these stimuli.

Types of Questionnaire
Structured Questionnaire
Definite, concrete and prepared questions. It either can be
Closed form/poll type Open end/interview type

Structure can be Funnel, Inverse Funnel, Tunnel

Unstructured Questionnaire
Flexible, extempore (not mechanic in nature)

Questionnaire Formation
Physical format Question content (unambiguous, clear & specific) Question wording (simple, familiar words) Question sequence (or Organization)
Chronological Patterns Sequential Patterns Spatial Patterns Compare-Contrast Patterns Advantages- Disadvantages Patterns Cause-Effect Patterns Problem-Solution Patterns Topical Patterns

Tools of Social Research:

Interview
Interview is a conversation with a purpose; conducted to know mutual views of each others. Sociological interviews are conducted to Recollect past Interpret present Predict future course of actions.

Interview is a face to face conversation attempts to elicit information or expression of opinion from one person to another, on a specific or general issue.

 Interview is not only a conversation, rather it can be interrogation of gestures, glances, facial expressions, pauses, or other feelings. Voice, intonation, diction can also give meaningful interpretation of an answer. Reactions can also be judged by attitudes during interview from a blush, nervous laugh, squinting eyes, unexpected embarrassment.

 Process of Interview at a glance:

Introduction of interviewer and interviewee. Introduction and clear understanding of the topic Questions should be designed NOT to hesitate interviewee. Interview must be closed in a proper manner; abrupt closing must be avoided. Interviewer makes the report after interpreting all verbal and non-verbal clues.

Types of Interview
Non-Directive (Unstructured) Interview Directive (Structured) Interview Focused (Semi-Structured) Interview Repeated Interview Depth Interview Other Types
Stress interview, behavioral, situational interviews.

Tools of Social Research:

Survey
Social survey is a systematic collection of facts about people living in specific geographic, cultural or administrative area.

Procedure of Social Survey

Enunciating the object of survey Definition of problem Generalization of study Examination of available evidences Preparing questionnaire schedule Field work to collect data Arrangement, tabulation, & statistical analysis of data Interpretation of results Recommendations