Social Research: Definitions, Types, Nature, and Characteristics

Social research is often defined as a study of mankind that helps to identify the relations between social life and social systems. This kind of research usually creates new knowledge and theories or tests and verifies existing theories. However, social research is a broad spectrum that requires a discursive understanding of its varied nature and definitions. This chapter aims to explain the multifarious definitions of social research given by different scholars. The information used in this chapter is solely based on existing literature regarding social research. There are various stages discussed regarding how social research can be effectively conducted. The types and characteristics of social research are further analysed in this chapter. Social research plays a substantial role in investigating knowledge and theories relevant to social problems. Additionally, social research is important for its contribution to national and international policymaking, which explains the importance of social research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime

Buy Now

eBook EUR 117.69 Price includes VAT (France)

Softcover Book EUR 158.24 Price includes VAT (France)

Hardcover Book EUR 158.24 Price includes VAT (France)

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Similar content being viewed by others

Methodological Issues in Social Research: Experience from the Twenty-First Century

Social sciences, social reality and the false division between theory and method: some implications for social research

Positivism: to what extent does it aid our understanding of the contemporary social world?

References

• Adcock, R., & Collier, D. (2001). Measurement validity: A shared standard for qualitative and quantitative research. American Political Science Review,95(3), 529–548. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Adelman, C. (1993). Kurt Lewin and the origins of action research. Educational Action Research,1(1), 7–24. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Babin, B. J., & Svensson, G. (2012). Structural equation modeling in social science research: Issues of validity and reliability in the research process. European Business Review,24(4), 320–330. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Barker, R. L. (Ed.). (2013). The Social Work Dictionary (6th ed.). NASW Press. Google Scholar
• Bernard, H. R. (2013). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Sage. Google Scholar
• Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press. Google Scholar
• Burns, D. (2007). Systemic action research: A strategy for whole system change. Policy Press. BookGoogle Scholar
• Carroll, W. K. (Ed.). (2004). Critical strategies for social research. Canadian Scholars’ Press. Google Scholar
• Coghlan, D. (2019). Doing action research in your own organization (5th ed.). Sage. Google Scholar
• Corbetta, P. (2011). Social research: Theory, methods and techniques. Sage. Google Scholar
• Correa, C., & Larrinaga, C. (2015). Engagement research in social and environmental accounting. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal,6(1), 5–28. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Crano, W. D., Brewer, M. B., & Lac, A. (2014). Principles and methods of social research. Routledge. BookGoogle Scholar
• Creswell, J. W. (2018). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (6th ed.). Pearson. Google Scholar
• Crothers, C., & Platt, J. (2010). The history and development of sociological social research methods. In C. Crothers (Ed.), Historical Developments and Theoretical Approaches in Sociology (Vol. 1). UK: EOLSS Publishers. Google Scholar
• De Vaus, D. (2013). Surveys in social research (6th ed.). Routledge. BookGoogle Scholar
• Dictionary.cambridge. (n.d.). Research. Retrieved 09 May 2020 from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/research
• Golovushkina, E., & Milligan, C. (2012). Developing early stage researchers: Employability perceptions of social science doctoral candidates. International Journal for Researcher Development,3(1), 64–78. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Green, A. G., & Gutmann, M. P. (2007). Building partnerships among social science researchers, institution-based repositories and domain specific data archives. OCLC Systems & Services: International Digital Library Perspectives,23(1), 35–53. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Gupta, V. (2012). Research methodology in social science. Enkay Publication. Google Scholar
• Hall, R. (2008). Applied social research: Planning, designing and conducting real-world research. Victoria: Macmillan Education Australia. Google Scholar
• Henn, M., Weinstein, M., & Foard, N. (2009). A critical introduction to social research (2nd ed.). Sage. Google Scholar
• Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Leavy, P. L. (2006). Emergent methods in social research. Sage. BookGoogle Scholar
• Jie, Z., Xinning, S., & Sanhong, D. (2008). The academic impact of Chinese humanities and social science research. Aslib Proceedings,60(1), 55–74. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Kalof, L., Dan, A., & Dietz, T. (2008). Essentials of social research. Open University Press. Google Scholar
• Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (2005). Participatory action research: Communicative action and the public sphere. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed., pp. 559–603). Sage. Google Scholar
• Kumar, A. (2002). Research methodology in social science. New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. Google Scholar
• May, T. (2011). Social research: Issues, methods and process (4th ed.). Open University Press. Google Scholar
• Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Basics of social research: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (4th ed.). Pearson Canada Inc. Google Scholar
• Penz, E. (2006). Researching the socio-cultural context: Putting social representations theory into action. International Marketing Review,23(4), 418–437. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Ragin, C. C., & Amoroso, L. M. (2019). Constructing social research: The unity and diversity of method (3rd ed.). Sage. BookGoogle Scholar
• Robson, C. (2011). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers (3rd ed.). Blackwell. Google Scholar
• Sarantakos, S. (2013). Social Research (4th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. BookGoogle Scholar
• Saunders, M., Lewis, L., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson. Google Scholar
• Tracy, S. J. (2010). Qualitative quality: Eight “big-tent” criteria for excellent qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry,16(10), 837–851. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Walliman, N. (2016). Social research methods the essentials (2nd ed.). Sage. Google Scholar
• Weller, K. (2015). Accepting the challenges of social media research. Online Information Review,39(3), 281–289. ArticleGoogle Scholar
• Whyte, W. F. (Ed.). (1991). Participatory action research. Sage. Google Scholar

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Colchester, England Kanamik Kani Khan
2. Department of Social Work, Jagannath University, Dhaka, 1100, Bangladesh Md. Mohsin Reza

1. Kanamik Kani Khan