“Understanding Social Research”

St. Philomena’s College (Autonomous), Mysuru

Department of Sociology and Economics

The Department of Sociology and Economics of St. Philomena’s College, Mysuru organized guest lecture on “Understanding Social Research” on 2^nd September 2024 at 10:30 AM in the College Auditorium.

Professor Rekha K Jadav, Department of Sociology, Maharaja’s College, University of Mysore,

Mysuru was the key speaker.

Ms. Syeda Ayesha, Final year BA student welcomed and introduced the guest to the audience. Prof Rekha has 23 years of teaching Experience and has presented many papers at National and International levels. She is BOS and BOE Members in many colleges. A total of nine students have received PhD and eight more perceiving doctoral degree under her guidance. She has completed minor project sanctioned by UGC.

Objectives of the session:

• To introduce students the concept of social research, its significance, and its role in understanding societal issues.
• To Familiarize with different methodologies used in social research
• To Outline the key components of research design

The speaker begin  the discussion on explaining  one of the most common thing found in human being is curiosity to know things,  to know social institutions, other planets etc. in order to understand all this immumerable questions arises and to answer  we try to search. She explained that Social research is a systematic inquiry that seeks to understand human behavior, social structures, and cultural phenomena. By utilizing various methodologies, social research aims to gather insights that can inform policy, drive social change, and enhance our comprehension of societal dynamics. Later she explained the main objectives of Social Research are exploration that is to investigate new phenomena and develop theories, Description means to provide detailed accounts of social behaviors and structures, Exploration means to identify causes and effects within social contexts and finally Evaluation that is to assess the effectiveness of programs and interventions. Prof Rekha focused on the Quantitative and qualitative Research methodologies. She gave detailed explanation on tools and techniques of data collection.

She explained on sampling methods which is a critical component of social research, she expressed that sampling determines how data is collected from a subset of a population. Choosing the right sampling method affects the reliability and validity of the research findings. She threw light on Probability and Non- Probability sampling methods with examples. The speaker explained the importance of formulating hypothesis which provide a focus for the research and determine the approach taken. Prof Rekha explained the key steps in conducting Social Research like how to articulate the issue or question to be investigated. LiteratureReview to examine existing research to build a foundation and identify gaps. Then Choose appropriate methods based on research objectives. Gather data systematically, ensuring ethical considerations are met and Analyze the data using suitable techniques, whether qualitative or quantitative. After data analysis Draw conclusions and relate findings back to the research question and finally Present results clearly, discussing implications and limitations. She also informed about the ethical considerations in Social Research and finally explained the applications of Social Research on Policy development, community development and Social justice. Later the session was open for interactions to raise queries and clarify their doubts.

Overall the session was very informative students were able to understand the importance of Social Research.

Outcome of the session:

The students were able to

• Have a solid understanding of what social research and its importance in addressing societal issues.
• Gained insights into different sampling methods and how to select the appropriate technique for their research needs.
•  outline the key components of research design, including setting objectives, formulating research questions, and planning data collection

A total of 160 students and faculties attended the session. The students expressed their satisfaction. The programme was compared by Ms Niranjana and Mr Leonard Tigga of second year BA rendered the Vote of Thanks.