SOCIOLOGY OF SOCIAL RESEARCH (FROM THE ORGANIZATION, MANAGEMENT AND TACTICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH, 1971, BY RICHARD O'TOOLE - SEE NCJ-50700)

• NCJ Number: 50701
• Author(s): W H FORM
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 40 pages
• Corporate Author: Schenkman Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE SOCIOLOGY OF SOCIAL RESEARCH, WHICH EXAMINES THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS IN THE RESEARCH SYSTEM, IS STUDIED AS CHANGING SPONSORS, RESEARCHERS, AND HOSTS ALTER THE COMPOSITION OF THE PROBLEMS, METHODS, AND RESULTS.

Abstract

A SHIFT IN EMPHASIS IS TAKING PLACE IN SOCIAL RESEARCH AWAY FROM THE CRAFT RESEARCHER STUDYING INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS TO RESEARCH INSTITUTES STUDYING INTERORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONS. RESEARCH WILL BE DONE INCREASINGLY IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT, AND THE PRIMARY MANAGEMENT PROBLEM WILL BE EFFECTIVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH SPONSORS AND HOSTS. RESEARCH IS CONSIDERED AS A SOCIAL SYSTEM, AND THE SPONSORS, RESEARCHERS, AND HOSTS ARE ANALYZED FOR TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND INTERRELATIONSHIPS. SIX POSSIBLE RECIPROCAL ROLE SETS, DESCRIBING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE RESEARCHER AND HOST IN INTERPERSONAL SOCIAL SITUATIONS, ARE LISTED AND ILLUSTRATED. TRADITIONALLY, SOCIAL SCIENCE HAS BEEN A CRAFT IN WHICH RESEARCHERS TYPICALLY WORK IN TWO-PERSON SOCIAL SYSTEMS. THE STRUCTURE IS CHANGING TO ORGANIZATIONAL MODELS IN WHICH RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED BY BUREAUS OR INSTITUTES. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE NO HIERARCHICAL OR AUTHORITATIVE PATTERN WITHIN THESE ORGANIZATION MODELS, CONSENSUS SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMPLISH THE JOB IS NEEDED. THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS PORTRAYED, AND RESEARCH DONE IN A COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONAL MILIEU IS EXAMINED. THE EXCHANGE BARGAINING PROCESS IS COMMON TO THIS KIND OF RESEARCH, AND THE EXISTENCE OF THE COMPLEX ORGANIZATION REQUIRES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POLITICAL SUBSYSTEM. ETHICAL PROBLEMS WHICH ARISE FROM THESE POLITICAL SYSTEMS ARE CONSIDERED, ALONG WITH STATUS RELATIONS AMONG RESEARCHERS AND STRATEGIES OF ACCESS TO HIGHER STATUS GROUPS. FINALLY, THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTING OF RESEARCH IS DISCUSSED SINCE RESEARCH WORK, LIKE THE CONCEPTS BEING RESEARCHED, IS AFFECTED BY THE LARGER SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH IT IS CONDUCTED. METHODOLOGY IN RESEARCH SHOULD BE ALTERED TO ACCOMMODATE THE RESEARCH SOCIOLOGY. A SYSTEMATIC COLLECTION OF METHODOLOGY FOLKLORE SHOULD BE CONDUCTED, AND THE COLLECTION EVALUATED FOR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. RESEARCH LITERATURE SHOULD BE ANALYZED FOR EVIDENCE OF REFORMULATION OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM DUE TO EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE SOCIOLOGY OF RESEARCH SHOULD BE FURTHER STUDIED BY ENCOURAGING SOCIOLOGISTS TO MAKE PROTOCOLS OF THEIR RESEARCH EXPERIENCES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)