Social Research

Social Research

Social research refers to research conducted by social scientists primarily within sociology and social psychology. But also within other disciplines such as social policy, human geography, political science, social anthropology and education. Sociologists and other social scientists study diverse things from census data (on hundreds thousands of human beings, through the in-depth analysis of a life of a single important person) to monitoring what is happening in a streets today or what was happening few hundred years ago.

Social scientists use many different methods in order to describe, explore and understand social life. Social methods can generally be subdivided into two broad categories. Quantitative methods are concerned with attempts to quantify social phenomena and collect and analyze numerical data and focus on the links among a smaller number of attributes across many cases. Qualitative methods in the other hand, emphasize personal experiences and interpretation over quantification, are more concerned with understanding the meaning of social phenomena and focus on links among a larger number of attributes across relatively few cases. While very different in many aspects, both qualitative and quantitative approaches involve a systematic interaction between theories and data.

The Nature of Social Research:

            The general procedures of research do not differ much from one discipline to another. Some basic procedures and techniques are universally applicable in most social sciences. However, in scientific cases, the procedures vary considerably. Since social science is the study of all human activities, research in it is very complex as one is concerned here with human aspect. In natural science, a researcher has to handle a certain problem, which exists in nature. Tests and experiments are carried out in close door laboratories. The effect of external forces in minimum and changes in situation within given set of phenomena do not take place so abruptly as in case of social phenomena. Social scientists have to deal with human beings. Therefore, it is very difficult to predict out how people behave under different situations. The social scientists should be very careful in handling any research problem in each step and stage.

Objectives of Social Research:

1)      The goal of research method is to design the framework of research work (proposal), guide and steer the research, develop tools and techniques (data collection and analysis) to achieve the stated objectives of the study.

2)      Social research aims to understand the human behavior and its interaction with the social institution.

3)      The purpose of social research may be to acquire new knowledge in order to gain insights into existing problem or social problems.

4)      To gain a greater measure of control over social behavior.

5)      To evaluate the existing theories and principles.

Utility or Importance of Social Science Research:

Utility or importance of social science research can be briefly stated here:

1)      Research is essential to diffuse knowledge and to expand its horizon.

2)      Research helps us to verify or disprove, confirm or reject, modify and re-assert the existing theories and to establish new ones.

3)      Research helps us to know the nature and the magnitude of the problems of the day.

4)      Research provides practical clues, to undertake measures that lead to social improvement, social change and social problem.

5)      Industries, business firm and commercial establishments can get lot of information and clues about their endeavors (job) in society.

6)      Research has educational importance. It is mainly an intellectual activity. Information obtained through research may have educational importance.

7)      Research can provide all the required data and facts to the administrators to adopt and under take appropriate policies, plans and programs.

8)      Research strengthens the “interdisciplinary approach” which is emerging out these days.

9)      Those working in the academic field can obtain a new degree known as P.H.D (Doctor of Philosophy).

10)  Professional researchers have made research their profession and obtained handsome salary for their service.

William Shakespeare and his poem “Not Marble Nor the Gilded Monument”.

William Shakespeare and his poem “Not Marble Nor the Gilded Monument”.

William Shakespeare is well known figure of English literature. He is generally considered as great because his effort on drama and poem especially sonnet brought a radical change in the history of English literature. During the period of 1593 and 1599 he composed most of his 154 sonnets. His sonnets are basically dedicated to, a dark lady, a handsome young man, and rival poets.

“Not Marble Nor the Gilded Monument” is one of the Shakespeare’s great sonnets. This poem is in a satirical form which aims at demonstrating the value of poetry. The speaker is addressing a lady who seems to be quiet unsatisfied with the task of composing poem of her man. The speaker persuades her that nothing in this world could be eternal like poetry. The high social status falls down, the crown of the king falls down, the state itself falls down but in the contrary the art of poetry never dies. It remains in the heart of generations and generations until the whole human race becomes extinct.  Not the death, the sword of god or the sluttish time, can go against the art of poetry because poem is filled with emotions and feelings that is in every human being. Poetry carries the voice of humanity and every lover and beloved dwell in it.

This poem speaks the reality of art. The art of poetry is the best among the arts. Art is not time bonded rather it goes beyond every limitations. Art  is never destroyed by any force but it gets stronger in the passage of time.

Psychoanalysis of literature

Psychoanalysis of literature

In general, psychoanalysis in not a literary practice. It is a clinical therapeutic methodology. But in the course of time; psychoanalysis has become a standard frame for understanding literature. It has helped the literary analyst to evaluate the text and present their views. Psychoanalysis of literature deals with the author, readers and the text itself, thus, its scope is huge.

Authors play an important role in creating a text. He is overall responsible for each and every events and activities that happens. But we must be clear in psychoanalysis in literature that the author is not the sole creator of the text. Human beings from their birth struggle with the environment he/she is living in. In this process many unfulfilled desires are repressed in their mind and forms unconscious stage of mind. So, in the writing process the author unknowingly or unconsciously fulfills his longing from the text he/she creates.

The text is meant for the readers. Before readers read the text it is in passive form. As readers start reading it then it becomes active. The readers do not passively consume the text. While going through the written word, the readers start dealing with their own unconscious mind. They try to fulfill their desires through it. And if they are successful in it, they get full satisfaction otherwise; they do not consider it as a good one.

Not only authors and readers but the elements such as characters are also included in the periphery of psychoanalysis. They have different roles and they share different attitudes. No single person is same as another. As we know that literature is the reflection of society thus, we can analyze character as a psychological being.

Psychoanalysis of literature is important because it provide clear picture of mental status of human beings in the society. But there are limitations which are ought not to be broken otherwise, the aesthetic pleasure we receive from literature would collapse.