DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH

Book Details:

• Author: Paramjit S. Judge

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9788131612071

• Pages: 218

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.3 x 0.8 inches

About the Book:
This insightful volume by Prof. Paramjit S. Judge provides an in-depth exploration of how social research is conducted within the Indian context. Moving beyond the rigidity of standardized methodologies, the book makes a strong case for authentic data collection as the foundation of meaningful social science inquiry. It highlights the disjunction between theoretical idealism and ground realities, urging researchers to critically engage with their field rather than passively follow textbook methods.

The book delves into epistemological issues, challenging the illusion of objectivity and value neutrality in social research. Notably, it outlines three distinct modes of fieldwork, each essential to the research process and instrumental in breaking conventional myths about academic detachment. This work is a vital guide for budding sociologists, research scholars, and academicians who are grappling with the real-world complexities of conducting social research in India.

Contents Include:

1. Why Social Research?

2. The Matthew Affect

3. Social Science Research and the Institution

4. Researcher and the Research

5. Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and Functions of Research

6. Nightmare of Values

7. Taking the First Step as a Researcher

8. Formulation of the Problem

9. Designing the Research

10. Fieldwork: Part I

11. Fieldwork: Part II

12. Fieldwork: Part III

13. Method and Doing Social Research: Conclusion

About the Author:
Paramjit S. Judge, former Professor of Sociology at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, is a veteran scholar with over four decades of experience in social research. His areas of specialization include political sociology, social movements, Dalit studies, and social theory. A recipient of the prestigious Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Fellowship by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, he currently serves as the President of the Indian Sociological Society.