FUNCTIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF

SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

AGENDA FOR THE SESSION EXERCISE MEANING AND DEFINITION FUNCTIONS LIMITATIONS SCOPE OF SOCIALWORK

RESEARCH IN INDIA ACTIVITY

MEANING AND DEFINITION Research is a scientific and systematic

search for pertinent information on specific topic.it is an art of scientific investigation. Research of any kind is a careful investigation through search for new facts.

“We may define social research as the systematic method of discovering new facts or verifying old facts, their sequences, inter-relationships, casual explanations and the natural laws which govern them” – P.V.Young

Functions of Social researchSocial Control The leaders of society must guide its

path for an orderly march towards pre-planned goals.

A control over society is possible only when we have a complete knowledge of the organisation and working of society and its various institutions.

All this can be achieved only through a scientific study of society.

Social Cohesion

The study of society crates better understanding between different social groups.

If such understanding is created, a large part of national and international problems would be solved without much difficulty.

Social Welfare Social welfare or removal of social evils

can be achieved through social research.

Social research helps us to judge the magnitude of social evils and thus take necessary steps to remove them.

Social research helps us to find out not only the magnitude but also the real causes of evils and thus helps us to devise ways to hit at the root of these evils.

Social Prediction Social research helps us to formulate social

laws which show relationship between social facts and their causes.

Once the existence of causative factors and their magnitude is known we can predict the result.

For example, we can predict with sufficient accuracy the population of the town or even a country by calculating the growth rate.

The prediction gives the better control over the social phenomena and helps in social planning.

Social Growth Social research helps in the growth lines. Every society is subjected to growth, the

direction of which is influenced by its own structure, institutions, social values and motivations etc.

But it is equally affected by our knowledge of our own society as well as other societies.

Social research thus helps in guiding the trend of social growth on more proper lines and towards more cherished goals

Perfection of Tool of Research As social research progress the tools of

analysis and methods of research become more perfect with use.

New tools are devised to give more accurate and precise results.

As the tools of research become more perfect, the science of Sociology itself moves towards greater perfection.

Limitations of Social Research Constantly guard against bias, subjectivity

and inaccuracy. It is replete with instance of problematic

situation where some errors cannot be possibly avoided.

Data collected from some people will not reveal business secrets.

No proper record for the expenses and receipts of the respondents.

Data provided from the memory of the respondents is not reliable.

Social Research in India In a developing countries like India with

the help of social research it was possible to provide increasingly more funds in our plans for the development of scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

With the help of social research priorities could be identified and the problems faced by the agriculturists could be taken care of.

India has decided to be a welfare state. The welfare can be possible when the

people have basic minimum requirements such as food, clothing and shelter.

These requirements can be found with the help of social science research.

In India social research will have to face the gigantic task of identifying boldly as to what is going wrong with the society and suggested remedies.

The Hindus and the Muslims are the two major Indian communities.

Through social research one can find out if both the communities have emotionally come together to the desired extent.

Then comes serious social and economic problem of utilization of available man power.

A question that a social researcher is to answer in India is how to utilise the available man power in the collective interest of the society.

Today the man power is not being properly utilised with the result that there are violent incidents, demonstrations, student unrest and similar other problems.

Planning is important for a country like India and social researcher is to find out the possibility and acceptability of the programme of the planners.

Lastly social research in India helps to find out how far bureaucracy has changed with changing times and what more is needed to make it responsive to social needs.

Conclusion

Social research has wide field and scope which becomes more important in a developing country like India.

Thank You

BYMAGESHWARAN