Course Outline
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF BALOCHISTAN
SOC 606 (CORE)
SOCIAL RESEARCH
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course will acquaint with the knowledge of basic concepts of social research
CREDIT HOURS: 3
COURSE CONTENTS/OUTLINES
1. Introduction
a) Characteristics of scientific social research
b) Theory and research
c) Types of social research
d) Qualitative and quantitative approaches in social research
e) Difficulties in social research
2. Selection and formulation of research problem
a) Choosing the problem and its significance
b) Review of relevant literature
c) Theoretical framework
d) Formulating research questions
e) Concepts, conceptualization, operationalization, reliability and validity
3. Research design
a) Definition of research design
b) Characteristics of research design
c) Components of research design
4. Scientific hypothesis in social research
a) Meaning and forms of hypothesis
b) Variables and its types
c) Characteristics of usable hypothesis
d) Statistical testing of hypothesis
5. Sampling
a) Nature and importance
b) Papulation and sampling
c) Probability and non-probability sampling
6. Tools of data collection
a) Observation, participant and non-participant
b) Questionnaire
c) Interview
d) Focus group discussion (FGD)
7. Report writing and presentation of data
a) Analysis of data (qualitative and quantitative)
b) Likert and Thurstone scales
c) Format of report
d) Graphical and pictorial presentation
e) Report writing
f) Bibliography, foot notes and references
Recommended books
1. W. Lawrance Neuman (1982) research methods qualitative and quantitative
2. Kenneth D Balley (1985) methods of social research
3. Ranjit Kumar (2002) research methodology, a step by step guide for beginners
4. Scott W Vanderstoep and Deirdre D. Johnston (2011) Research methods for everyday life, Blending qualitative and quantitative approach
5. Fredric Graveter (2005) research methods for behavioral sciences
6. Nicholas Wlliman (2006) Social research methods
Mohammad Rahim Nasar lecturer