Social research traditionally implies the study of societies and individuals in order to identify social patterns that regularly and systematically occur in social life for the understanding of social phenomena. By gathering information about the social world, social research helps develop new knowledge or come up with solutions for particular social issues. At the same time, in order to contribute to societal welfare through various methods, social research should be ethical as well. This paper is dedicated to the importance of social research and how Christian principles may contribute to social science researchers’ ethical conduct.
Social research is used in sociology, social work, and justice studies. Through exploratory or descriptive studies, social researchers contribute to a nation’s growth and the development of human society in general. The use of social research in identified fields has multiple benefits as it allows to expand current knowledge for a better understanding of social patterns for the common welfare, predict social behaviors and structural changes, formulate new theories, precipitate social progress, and develop methodologies for the efficient solution of social problems. The basic methods of social research include surveys, interviews, observations, ethnography, experiments, case studies, and secondary data analysis. They allow for gathering reliable data related to social trends and people’s behavioral patterns in order to define or test existing hypotheses, answering research questions. In turn, received results enrich sociological knowledge, and they may be applied into practice in order to prevent or solve social issues or used as a basis of further research to examine other areas or provide a more in-depth insight into a studied one.
At the same time, it is important to control the ethical conduct of social research. First of all, ethical principles correspond to the nature and aims of every research, including knowledge, reliability, and the absence of mistakes. Thus, the promotion of truth requires from social science researchers the avoidance of falsifying, fabricating, and misrepresenting research data. In addition, as social research is closely connected with people, some of its methods presuppose the involvement of participants who should be treated on the basis of ethical principles as well. In other words, ethical research norms include openness, honesty, respect, freedom, carefulness, legality, confidentiality, competence, and social responsibility (Salwén, 2021). At the same time, a considerable number of the ethical principles of social research correspond to biblical principles related to goodness and justice (Ottuh & Idjakpo, 2021). Thus, researchers may apply Christian principles as universal guidance for ethical conduct that exists regardless of individual values and beliefs or cultural norms characterized by different perceptions of ethical standards. With respect to people as God’s creation and their welfare, researchers receive an opportunity to demonstrate responsibility and accountability in their actions, avoiding moral misconduct.
To conclude, social research used in sociology, social work, and justice studies may be regarded as a highly significant study that allows to gather information about individuals and societies to understand social phenomena, enrich existing knowledge, contribute to the improvement of research methodologies, and develop practical solutions of social problems. The methods of social research include the gathering of primary data through surveys, experiments, and observations, and secondary data analysis. In turn, similar to research in other spheres, social research should be conducted ethically. Moreover, as research and biblical principles generally correspond to each other, researchers may be guided by general goodness, respect, and justice in order to avoid moral misconduct and errors.
References
Ottuh, P. O., & Idjakpo, O. G. (2021). Imperativeness of ethics in Christianity: Perspectives and praxis. KIU Journal of Social Sciences, 7(1), 129-135.
Salwén, H. (2021). Research ethical norms, guidance and the internet. Science and Engineering Ethics, 27(6), 1-14. Web.