Understanding the Elements of Research

Abstract

This book advances a plan, a process, and approaches for understanding Social investigation in the human and social world, a comprehensive approach for understanding qualitative, descriptive, and triangulation as well as basic terminologies in social research. The continued usage of these approaches and the terminologies in Social Research by students and researchers necessitated the production and need for this book. The explanations of the very important approaches begin with a preliminary consideration of philosophical and theoretical understanding of the core and conceptual issues in social research. The review of literature, an assessment of the linkage between theory and conceptual framework in social research designs and proposal writings are very important in scholarly research. The book addresses a general introduction, the purpose of social research, an understanding of some key basic terms, a literature review and a theoretical framework. It also addresses proposal writing essentials in both qualitative, descriptive, and triangulation approaches to social research. At each step in the process, the reader is taken through the basic understanding of key terminologies and purposes of social research, literature review, proposal writings and understanding of approaches in social research. The book is intended to guide Social Researchers and Students, especially, postgraduate students who seek assistance in preparing a plan or proposal for a scholarly journal, thesis and dissertations. At a broader level, the book may be useful as a reference, a guidebook for graduate courses in research methods. Examples in the book are drawn from the life experiences of researchers and research tutors in the Universities. The book is not a detailed research methods text it only highlights the essential ideas, elements, and features of research methods. The coverage of research methods in social investigations is limited to the frequently used forms of research, theory and terminologies which are very useful in social research approaches. Consistent with the accepted convention of scholarly writing in research, discriminatory words are eliminated in all chapters. Readers should note that in many examples cited in the book, references are made.