Introduction
Objective research is more challenging for social scientists than for physical scientists. Consequently, people may fall into the trap of attempting to explain their hopes, views, or prejudices instead of working to uncover the truth. Due to these distinctions, research designs vary somewhat between the physical and social sciences. Even though there is no perfect framework, there are nine steps to a reasonable approach to a social science problem. Ultimately, the reasonable approach is the backbone of all social science that allows for mitigating bias and creating credible research.
Reasonable Approach Framework
The first step is observing – an ideal approach to learning about the actual world, which social scientists study. Consequently, it is crucial to define the problem of the research. Next, the scientists need to review the existing literature on the topic. Understanding what has already been written is crucial because it provides context and shows what has been already discussed to prevent the authors from repeating mistakes of the past. Next, one develops a theoretical framework and formulates a hypothesis. Having established a clear objective, choosing an appropriate research design and a data collection method is possible. Another crucial step involves analyzing the gathered information and discussing the results. Once this step is completed, the scientists can either verify or reject the initial hypothesis based on the acquired data. Lastly, the ultimate step is drawing a conclusion, which entails summarizing the main findings and discussing the potential implications of the research.
Political Science Example
A political scientist examines the effects of government policies and political trends on various populations. For instance, it might be possible to apply the reasonable approach framework to study the impact of these determinants on prisoners. Political scientists may decide to examine how these factors affect prisoners’ mental health and physical well-being. Moreover, this approach might reveal curious insights into the problem of systematic racism in prisons.
Conclusion
The reasonable approach is the foundation of academic research that enables scientists to examine various phenomena and understand social trends. The nine-step analysis is the common framework that incorporates all crucial stages of analysis, from formulating a hypothesis to drawing conclusions. Ultimately, the reasonable approach is an effective instrument of research, and it is highly advisable for aspiring scientists to implement it in their studies.