Why is social research important?
Challenges assumptions, supports marginalised voices, informs policies, understanding society.
What is social research?
An evidence-based, structure and critical systematic investigation of social life.
What are the four main traditions in social research?
Normative, empirical, comparative and critical
Explain each of the four traditions
Normative: Values, ethics, government as it ought to be. Philosophy, theory and debate.
Empirical: Facts, behaviour, outcomes. Government as it is. Stats, surveys.
Comparative: Cross-system analysis. Case studies.
Critical: Power, inequality, voices from below. Interviews and storytelling.
Basic format of research
Question, Evidence, Conclusion
What is the meta-cognitive approach in research?
Spending more time thinking about the question then trying to solve it
