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and fraud and the quality of research in social sciences will reach a deplorable level. Through this kind of research neither academics nor society will be benefited. Research should be conducted to supplement wisdom, not to replace it. Today, wisdom is being lost in the jungle of data. Give Meaning to Research:
In order to give a meaning to researches in social sciences at least following questions must be asked to himself by the researcher at various stages of research.
(i) Is there really a research problem? (ii) Has the problem been formulated well?
(iii) Are the population, sample and data collection methods seriously thought over?
(iv) What statistical tool, the data requires for analysis?
(v) Does data fulfill necessary conditions for the application of identified statistical technique?
(vi) Do the result automatically flow as an outcome of analysis? (vii) Is neutrality maintained while arriving at the conclusion? (viii) Is it not the repetition of something already done?
Here is again a caution, at grown up stage every body is unique, every body is complex and every body is capable of concealing and manipulating his behavior. Had people been complex only, there would not have been much problem in studying them. Rockets and computers are very complex machines, but if you study one of them, others of the similar kind need not be studied. Serious problem is posed by his being unique and capable of concealing and manipulating his responses. A researcher must be cautious and careful about it while drawing the conclusions. The Universe and the Sample:
Ancient Indian philosopher has said Yad Brahamande Tat Pindey (;& age 7 foue). Whatever is there in the universe is also there in a minute particle. Every particle is a miniature universe, so to study the universe; study of one particle could suffice. This might seem to be an extreme view, but nonetheless, has deep message for the researchers. Even the study of small sample gives exact idea of the universe but the sample is required to be true representative of the universe, irrespective of the size. Studying a large sized sample does not guarantee the accuracy of results. It should be true representation rather than large representation. Even a small sample gives true idea of universe if carefully chosen.
Jean Piaget who is regarded as father of child psychology studied only his son. The span of study extended up to 16 years. In the language of research methodology you may call it case study or a study where universe was very big but the sample size was one only, which is the smallest possible sample size. The conclusions drawn can be universally
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Arhat Vacana, 19 (3), 2007
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