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Understanding Yourself, Your Circumstances, and Your World

19 October, 2015 - 14:58

Perhaps the most rewarding consequence of understanding social scientific research methods is the ability to gain a better understanding of yourself, your circumstances, and your world. Through the application of social scientific research methods, sociologists have asked—and answered—many of the world’s most pressing questions. Certainly those answers are not always complete, nor are they infallible, but the quest for knowledge and understanding is an ongoing process. As social scientists continue the process of asking questions and seeking answers, perhaps you will choose to participate in that quest now that you have gained some knowledge and skill in how to conduct research.

Having thought about what you know and how you know it, as well as what others claim to know and how they know it, I hope it will provide you with some clarity in an often-murky world. Whether you choose to adopt the particular ways of knowing described in this text as your preferred ways of knowing is totally up to you. I hope that you will find that the knowledge you’ve gained here is of use, perhaps in terms of your personal life and interests, in your relationships with others, or in your longer-range school or career goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Having a background in social science research methodology provides you with a number of transferable skills.
  • Having a background in social science research methodology gives you the opportunity to gain greater insight into yourself, your circumstances, and your world.

EXERCISES

  1. If you’re interested in gaining some more research experience, check out the National Science Foundation’s Research for Undergraduates (REU) program. The program provides opportunities for students to conduct research at a host institution along with a small group of undergraduate peers. To learn more about the program and search for current locations hosting REU programs, see the following: http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/.
  2. Review "Table 15.1". Are there transferable skills listed there that you’re not yet convinced you’ve attained? If so, take another look at the cited chapter(s). Are there transferable skills you feel you’ve gained that are not listed in the table? If so, what are they and in which chapter(s) are they featured?