Social Science Research in India and the World
This book brings together experiences of different nations in the field of social science research. Analysing case studies from India and other parts of the world, it examines trends, initiatives and developments in the area. The essays engage with the current status of social science research in varied regions, methodological issues, strategic interventions, performance orientation, funding dynamics, and quality aspects alongside constraints and challenges. The contributors also discuss the connection between social science research and public and development policies.
Bringing international perspectives, this volume will be significant reading for scholars and students concerned with social science research. It will also be a useful guide to policy-makers, think tanks and government departments.
R. K. Mishra is Director, and Senior Professor, at the Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad.
Jayasree Raveendran is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad.
K. N. Jehangir is currently associated with the faculty of the Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad.
Social Science Research in India and the World
Edited by
R. K. Mishra, Jayasree Raveendran and K. N. Jehangir
First published 2015
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2015 Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE), Hyderabad
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ISBN: 978-1-138-89845-5 (hbk)
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Contents
R. K. Mishra and Jayasree Raveendran
Alexandra Stam
Kowit Kangsanan
Vo Xuan Vinh
P. K. Chaubey
Manoj Kumar Sanyal
Barkat-e-Khuda, Samiha Barkat and Dipankar Roy
Charas Suwanmala
R esearch as a classified field of profession has always taken a position of pride in any society. The field remains well respected owing to the facts that research represents the top stratum of higher education and is responsible for creation, integration and dissemination of knowledge. Two broad realms of research viz. the Sciences and the Social sciences exist here, each assuming different roles, processes and responsibilities. It is not unusual to compare the performance of the two branches and when so compared, there is a collective agreement and a concern among social scientists generally, that, compared to the Science stream, Social Science Research has not fared adequately with respect to the following:
(1) Impact in terms of Publications and Incorporation of findings in Policies
(2) Infrastructure in terms of funding, updated databases and capacity building
(3) Research esteem per se in SSR and especially compared to natural sciences
Needless to mention, these points are neither recent developments nor unknown. They are reflected in many ways in research reports and there have been extensive discussions on the issues and strategies in various conferences at national and international levels. What clearly comes out of these deliberations generally across geographies is that funding, structural constraints and lack of quality are the central issues in Social Science Research.
This book is a development in this backdrop. As a sequel to the International Conference on Social Science Research: Issues, Challenges and Strategies, organized by the Institute of Public Enterprise during January, 2013, this edited volume presents experiences in social science research as well as certain perspectives with respect to the geographies of India, Switzerland, Thailand, Vietnam and Bangladesh. The eight papers in this volume bring together the ideas and outlook on the various pertinent issues of the field and strategies thereof to meet challenges. We take this opportunity to thank all the contributors to this volume and the participants at the conference for sharing their helpful thoughts.
A well thought approach to improve performance in social science research with clarity on the strategy implementation parameter and a collective commitment to quality among social scientists seem to be the need of the hour. We believe that this book is timely in its production and it is our hope that the discussions of the papers would stimulate research in social sciences with a focus on the aspect of effectiveness, creating an environment of rigor and utility, with implications for policy makers and researchers.
R.K. MISHRA
JAYASREE RAVEENDRAN
K.N. JEHANGIR
R.K. MISHRA AND JAYASREE RAVEENDRAN
A mongst all the other research disciplines, Social Science Research (SSR) possesses an intriguing feature. The social system in reality comprises manifold components in the, styles of behaviour in each component and most importantly numerous interactions amongst the constituents, creating a complex setting in which research in the discipline dwells. While it is important for research to enhance general understanding about the world, society and human behaviour, it is equally important to utilize such knowledge as an aid to effective policies and decisions.
Contrary to the perception of decline of social sciences in recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in research and a deeper engagement with social sciences across the world. Exciting subjects in Social Science Research are being pursued, innovative methodologies adopted and disciplinary barriers dismantled. Though modern SSR as a discipline came to India relatively late in the colonial period, the growth of universities and research institutions in the postcolonial period gave the field a hard push in the country. However, while assessing the status of SSR today, we observe that India has not kept pace either with the West or with other developing countries, in terms of both quantity and quality.
In essence, social science research findings ought to be reflected not only in various governmental policies and required reforms but also in studying the effectiveness of the design and implementation of such programmes given the contextual realities and psyche of the society. To promote effective social science research, the requisites constitute not only institutions and infrastructure but also cultivating researchers who can bring the element of innovation in research.
