A Discussion of Social Science Research as Systematic Inquiry

Abstract

In the social sciences, research has three key considerations: systematicity, data that lead to facts, and a useful conclusion. Many newcomers to English Language Teaching, English Education, and other social science research need to understand the differences between anecdotal and scientific evidence. The latter has requirements related to design, data, and conclusions that allow for meaningful conclusions to be drawn about the relationships among the elements in the researched setting. This paper presents an easy-to-read introduction to the nature of social sciences research for the newcomer to doing and consuming research.