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Chapter 2: Dimensions of Research
II. Dimensions of Social Research
a. The Purpose of the Study
i. Exploration
1. Exploratory research is often the first step in a sequence of studies
analyzing a social phenomenon that is largely unknown. Exploratory
research most often addresses the “what” question. Exploratory
researchers frequently use qualitative techniques to keenly observe and
collect data for analysis.
ii. Descriptive
1. Descriptive research requires a more developed idea about a social
phenomenon. Here, researchers engage in clearly describing or detailing a
social setting or relationship. Descriptive research focuses on “how” and
“who” questions.
iii. Explanation
1. When researchers engage in explanation, they are actively attempting to
explain and answer the “why” question. Thus, explanation builds on
already existing knowledge collected about a social phenomenon as a
result of more basic exploratory and descriptive studies.
b. Idiographic and Nomothetic Explanations
i. Idiographic
1. “Idio-” in this context means unique, separate, peculiar, or distinct, as in
the word “idiosyncrasy.” When we have completed an idiographic
explanation, we feel that we fully understand the many causes of what
happened in a particular instance. At the same time our scope of
explanation is limited to the case at hand. While parts of the idiographic
explanation might apply to other situations, our intention is to explain
fully one case.
ii. Nomothetic
1. Seeks to explain a class of situations or events rather than a single one.
Moreover, it seeks to explain “efficiently,” using only one or just a few
explanatory factors. Finally, it settles for partial rather than full
explanation of a type of situation.
c. The Use of Research
i. Basic Research
1. Basic research advances fundamental knowledge about the social world. It
attempts to address the fundamental questions surrounding a discipline.
Occasionally, researchers make significant findings that have great impact
on the direction or development of existing schools of thought. Basic
research is often criticized as wasteful and useless despite the fact that it is
the source of most new scientific ideas and ways of thinking about the
world.
ii. Applied Research
1. In contrast to basic research, applied researchers argue that funding
should only be spent on scientific projects that aim to solve a specific
policy, social or environmental issue. Applied researchers are numerous in
type and number.
a. Types of Applied Research
i. Action Research
1. Is applied research that treats knowledge as a
form of power and attempts to abolish the
line between research and social action. In
