SOAN 2120 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Content Analysis, Environmental Impact Statement, Social Impact Assessment
Document Summary
Chapter 1: doing social research page #1-22: Research is a way of going about finding answers to questions. People conduct social research to learn something new about the social world; or to carefully document guesses, hunches, or beliefs about it; or to refine their understanding of how the social world works. A researcher combines theories or ideas with facts in a careful, systematic way and uses creativity. He or she learns to organize and plan carefully and to select the appropriate technique to address a specific kind of question. A researcher also must treat the people in a study in ethical or moral ways. A researcher must fully and clearly communicate the results of a study to others. Social research is a process in which people combine a set of principles, outlooks, and ideas (i. e. , methodology) with a collection of specific practices, techniques, and strategies (i. e. , a method of inquiry) to produce knowledge.