Research Purposes

Goal:

Exploratory

Descriptive

Explanatory

Involves exploration of a problem or issue that has not yet been clearly defined

Helps lay groundwork for anticipated or future research. Often the first step before conducting descriptive research. 

May include forming a hypothesis or problem or clarifying a concept,  but not concerned with testing hypothesis

Seeks to describe characteristics of phenomena and characteristics of relationships between variables

Goes further than exploratory research by identifying characteristics of an issue 

Aims to explain why phenomena occur. Think “how” and “why” questions. 

Goes beyond defining characteristics of an issue to identify possible causal relations or patterns in relationships 

Methods:

Literature reviews, pilot studies, informal discussions

Surveys, case studies, ethnographies 

Experiments, focus groups, case analyses

Popular Social Science Research Designs

Definition:

Experimental Studies

Secondary Data Analysis

Focus Group Research

Ethnography

Aims to test cause-effect relationship between variables (independant and dependant) by introducing a treatment or program and observing the outcomes.

Data that has previously been collected

Research design where a group of people (usually 6-10) are brought together to discuss a particular phenomenon at the same time.

Researchers study a particular social group in that group’s environment. Includes observation and immersion.  

Emphasis is on examining nature of a social phenomena rather than testing hypothesis of phenomena

Observation can range from passive (no interaction with participants) to active (interacting with your participants). 

Strengths:

Offer high levels of control to researchers (ability to manipulate and isolate variables) and specific results. 

Effective design when collecting primary data may be too costly or otherwise unfeasible 

Allows observation of relationships between participants and questions and perspectives that otherwise may not have been gleaned in 1-1 interviews. 

Offers researcher the opportunity to gain rich insights and contextual knowledge on the experiences and perspectives of participants

Specific example: 

Conducting randomized control trial to X

Using employment statistics from U.S Bureau of Labor Services to investigate shifts in job loss after the COVID-19 pandemic

Observational study