Basic Social Sciences Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Basic Social Sciences Research Methods - Essay Example Usually, your research depends upon what information you need to collect in order to make further decisions or to validate a previously taken decision. Obviously, in conducting research there are shortfalls too. The depth and breadth of the information are important variables. The more you get into the breadth of the information, the lesser you are able to penetrate into the depth. This might not happen if you have numerous resources to carry out the research. For those who are starting on research and are relatively new on these horizons, they can use a combination of research methods to help themselves in getting the right mix of breadth and depth of information that they require. There are five basic types of research methods used in the contemporary world today. They are primarily qualitative, descriptive, co-relational, casual-competitive and experimental research. Qualitative research is sometimes called ‘ethnographic’ research. It involves the collection of data a nd information in a natural setting so that valuable insight is gained on the variables of interest and how these variables affect the outcome. This research studies numerous variables over a vast period of time. Time and resources are spent to understand how and why things are the way they are, how and why they became the way they are, and what is the underlying meaning of all of them. The basic advantage is that qualitative researchers don’t want to control or lead anything. Instead, they focus on understanding the impact of the variables on the outcomes in the natural environment.