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Social Research Method

Scientific inquiry uses methodologies and criteria to establish reality, unlike non-scientific inquiry. Scientific inquiry aims to avoid common errors in non-scientific inquiry like inaccurate observations, overgeneralization, selective observation, and illogical reasoning. There are two models of scientific inquiry - inductive reasoning develops general principles from specific observations, while deductive reasoning develops specific hypotheses from general principles. Research can have three purposes - exploration to familiarize with a topic, description to accurately describe situations, and explanation to understand reasons behind phenomena.

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Rika Rahma Putri
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109 views4 pages

Social Research Method

Scientific inquiry uses methodologies and criteria to establish reality, unlike non-scientific inquiry. Scientific inquiry aims to avoid common errors in non-scientific inquiry like inaccurate observations, overgeneralization, selective observation, and illogical reasoning. There are two models of scientific inquiry - inductive reasoning develops general principles from specific observations, while deductive reasoning develops specific hypotheses from general principles. Research can have three purposes - exploration to familiarize with a topic, description to accurately describe situations, and explanation to understand reasons behind phenomena.

Uploaded by

Rika Rahma Putri
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Social Research Method (Mid-

Term Examination)
Herewith a number of questions to be answered as a material for my
Mid-Term Examination, on the subject of Social Research Method.

***

Describe how scientific inquiry differs from non-scientific inquiry.


One of the most defining features of scientific inquiry is that scientific
inquiry uses certain criteria that must be met before the reality is
accepted. The assertion must be both logical and empirically supported,
not contradicting actual observation. It uses methodologies to find out
things.

Non-scientific inquiry, on the other hand, uses no methodologies, nor


have any criteria in defining the reality. It commonly falls into these
forms: [1] ordinary human inquiry (basic phenomenon that any human
beings may discover from daily life), or in the form of agreement reality
(those things we know as part of the culture that we share); [2]
tradition (inheritance of a culture); [3] authority (dependence on the
status of the discoverer)

Discuss how scientific inquiry tries to avoid the common pitfall that
produces error in non-scientific inquiry.
There are four errors in inquiry, each with its own solution(s):
1. Inaccurate observations, i.e. often observations are made casually,
without proper conscious planning to observe and record. Solution:
usage of measurement devices to ad the degree of precision which
beyond the capacity of unassisted human senses.
2. Overgeneralization, i.e. assuming that a few similar events provide
evidence of a general pattern, only on the basis of very limited
observations. Solution: using sufficiently large and representative
sample of observations, repeating the study.
3. Selective observation, i.e. prejudice, after creating overgeneralization,
observers tend to focus on those patterns replicating, ignoring those that
do not. Solution: deliberately finding for the deviation (something
outside the pattern), planning in advance the number and kind of
observations to be made as basis for reaching a conclusion.
4. Illogical reasoning, i.e. observations that happen to be in contradiction of
common understanding of the observer. Solution: usage of system of
logic, consciously and explicitly, keeping the scientists honesty.
Contrast in inductive model of theory construction with the
deductive model. Give example of researches that use each of these
models.
Inductive reasoning (induction method) is the logical model in which
general principles are developed from specific observations. E.g. the
believe that more Papuans watch the TV channel A, could lead to the
conclusion that the population outside Java are more likely to watch TV
channel A.
Deductive reasoning (deduction method) is the logical model in which
specific expectations of hypotheses are developed on the basis of general
principles. E.g. The believe that most students of the West Java province
enrolled in public schools, may lead to the expected hypothesis that most
students of the city of Bandung enrolled in public schools.

Discuss the three purposes for doing research. Describe a study that
illustrative each purpose.
There are three purposes of research. They are:

1. Exploration, i.e. to start familiarize a researcher to a certain topic, which


commonly a new interest or when the subject is relatively new.
Exploration is also useful to more persistent phenomena (what is
happening to a certain phenomenon, why it is happening, etc). It serves
the purpose of (1) to satisfy researchers curiosity, (2) to test the
feasibility of undertaking a more extensive study, (2) to develop the
methods to be employed in any subsequent study. E.g. a student in a
school wants to examine whether the education fair held annually in his
school gives direct impact when students are enrolling for university.
2. Description, i.e. to describe certain situations and events. Scientific
descriptions are typically more accurate and precise. E.g. the five-yearly
census in Indonesia gives the description of the composition of the
population, occupation, etc.
3. Explanation, i.e. explaining certain things. Commonly, explanation
answers the explanatory questions of why, i.e. the reasoning behind a
certain phenomenon. E.g. in the Tangerang Selatan election for mayor,
surveys try to answer why the Candidate no. 4 wins over Candidate no. 3
(which coincidentally a very popular public figure).

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