There is no any fixed boundary of sociological research. Any issue can be studied by deploying sociological methods and methodologies and by using sociological lens in order to make our argument more rational, holistic and contemplative. Even then we do have:
1. Basic/Pure/Fundamental Research:
It is a type of research basically aims to find out the root causes of the problems. Researcher explores the fundamental features of the phenomena by encompassing broader knowledge that fosters the human knowledge and civilization. It explores the internal and external enablers or social forces of a particular social issue. It aims to formulate theories or principles and laws through cosmological view points. It is conducted for the sake of knowledge which is used to diagnose the social problems from every aspect. It aims to find out the root causes of the problems. Very holistic, contemplative and platonic ideas are explored for academic discourses. All the theories and principles developed in the domain of sociological research are the product of pure research. There is a provision of explosion of knowledge in fundamental research. It is the formal and systematic process where the researcher aims to develop a theory or a model by identifying all the important variables in a situation and by discovering broad generalization and principles about the variables.
2. Applied/ Action Research:
After the investigation of issue is over, then the researcher shifts into the social engineering. After the root causes of the problems are identified then the sustainable solutions are sought out. It may also aid in conceptual clarification. It can put theory to the test. Created knowledge is used in solving the social problems. Here, researcher with the help of donor agencies, financial corporate agencies, government and non government agencies may also help in solving the financial problems as a facilitator. Going back to the world history, Cochrane, an American action anthropologist has developed this branch of knowledge in order to solve the problems with the help of local people. Here researcher comes into action for sustainable solutions. Basic research diagnoses the problems and applied research cures the problems hence they are the two sides of same coin.
3. Exploratory Research:
This research is carried out in order to explore the social phenomena or problems. This research is preliminary study of an unfamiliar problem about which the researcher has little or no knowledge. It aims to dig out new knowledge regarding its internal and external enablers of the phenomena. If the researcher has conducted the research on ‘peasantry transformation’ then he can explore internal and external factors of land selling. He can measure the variables in order to find out the root causes of fertile land selling. In the domain of qualitative research enterprises exploratory research design is applied and carried out the findings.
4. Descriptive Research:
In order to describe the phenomena such research is accomplished. It revolves around the collection of data in order to test hypothesis or to answer of the questions concerning the current status of the subject of the study. Often in quantitative research enterprises, descriptive research design is designed and studied accordingly. It aims to describe the causal factors sociologically. The much explored information is described academically.
5. Research on Trade, Commerce, Business and Industry:
Under this domain of research, researcher conducts the research in trade, commerce, business and industry in order to know about its recent trends in regard with its production, distribution and consumption patterns, nature and system of demands and supply of goods and services, consumers’ behavior, production of commodities, images of commodities, relationship between industrialists and workers, its positive and negative impacts in society and so forth. How economic relationships exist in society and work and how the economic- political structures are operated in society is studied in detail.
6. Historical Research:
It is a branch of knowledge that basically deals with historical happenings. It aims to generate historical data in connecting with pre-history, proto-history and modern history. Here, researcher supplies the past evidences to the present. In order to compare the present social issues with the past such study is very helpful. In order to know the present we must know about the past historical happenings. Synchronic approach is used in order to study the contents in a fixed particular historical period and Diachronic perspective is deployed in order to familiarize with the historical facts in comparing with the present.
7. Longitudinal Research:
It is a very important research carried out in the domain of anthropological research. Under this process different historical trends are compared in order to know the fluidity of the phenomena. David Holmberg a renowned anthropologist conducted the research on Tamang in Nuwakot on the issue of ‘chhenchu’, a ritual of Tamang community. In this chhenchu ritual, Tamangs display their suffocation and marginalization of the state particularly of during Rana regime. He has compared ‘chhenchu’ followed during Rana regime, panchayat regime, democratic regime and also in the republican regime as well. Under this process one particular issue is studied again and again in order to know about its diametrical changes. It aims to know about the changes mediated through temporal and spatial basis.
8.Cross-Sectional Research:
Most sociological research takes a snapshot approach to the social world. In cross- sectional research researcher observes at one point of time. It can be exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory according to time and context. It is a method of examining a varied population at one point of time in order to gather data about different life stage or different circumstances. In order to confirm whether that revealed data is relevant or not such research design is deployed for. It is a type of research in which different cohorts are compared at the same point of time. Cohorts may be different age group, different ethnic groups or even different countries. A cross-sectional survey collects data to make inferences about a population of interest (universe) at one point of time. Cross-sectional surveys have been described as snapshots of the populations about which they gather data. It may be repeated periodically in order to update with the information. Respondents to the survey at one point in time are not intentionally sampled again, although a respondent to one administration of the survey could be randomly selected for a subsequent one that helps to check the reliability of the data. Cross-sectional surveys can thus be contrasted with panel surveys for which the individual respondents are followed over time. Panel surveys usually are conducted to measure change in the population being studied. Cross-sectional surveys can be conducted by using any mode of data collection including telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, mailed questionnaires, other self-administered questionnaires, electronic mail and Web data according to the needs and requirements of the research issue.
Besides these there can be other types of research domain as well carried out according to the contexts and situation. Ex-post-facto research, empirical research, conceptual research, qualitative and quantitative research, research on current issues, research on social problems and social changes, social stratification and any other social phenomena are the major domains of sociological research. Sociologists concentrate on social structure, social stratification, social system and social changes in particular and the rest of the social issues in general.
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