Research is systematic and organized effort to investigate a specific problem that needs a solution. It contributes to the general body of knowledge. It also corrects human knowledge. Actually research is simply the process of arriving as dependable solution to a problem through the planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of a data. Research is the most important process for advancing knowledge for promoting progress and to enable man to relate more effectively to his environment to accomplish his purpose and to solve his conflicts. Although it is not the only way, it is one of the most effective ways of solving problems. The term research consist of two words,’ Re’+’Search’. “Re” means again and again and “Search” means to find out something.

Definition of Research

1. According to Black and Champion, “scientific research consist of obtaining information through empirical observation that can be used for systematic development of logically related propositions attempting to establish casual relations among variable”.
2. Emory defines research as “any organized inquiry designed and carried out to provide information for solving a problem”.
3. Kerlinger defines research as a” systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation of hypothetical relations among natural phenomena”.
4. L.V. Redman and A.V.H. Morry have defined “systematic effort to gain new knowledge we call research”.

Social research

Social sciences are not exact science like physical sciences. It deals with human beings. Human nature and mans environment are so complex, that it is more difficult to comprehend and predict human behavior than the physical phenomena. Social science research is a systematic method of exploring, analyzing and conceptualizing human life in order to extend, correct or verify knowledge of human behavior and social life. Social research seeks to find explanations to unexplained phenomena, to clarify the doubtful and correct the misconceived fact of social life. It involves the application of scientific method for understanding and analyzing of social life inorder to correct and verify the existing knowledge as a system. The main idea behind social research is to discover new inter relations, new knowledge, new facts and also to verify old ones. Human behavior may be involved by certain values and laws. The main purpose of social research is to discover those laws which can be proper guidelines for studying human contact and behavior.It is difficult see the underlying uniformities in the diversity of complex human behavior. Social research can be defined as the systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development of generalization, principles or theories resulting in prediction and possibly ultimate control of events in society. It attempts to answer or solve social problems.

According to C. A. Moser: “Social research is a systematized investigation to gain new knowledge about social phenomenon and problems.”

According to P.V. Young: “Social research is a scientific undertaking which by means of logical methods, aim to discover new facts or old facts and to analyze their sequences, interrelationships, casual explanations and natural laws which govern them.”