Chapter 7 Suggestions For Project Work

Variety Of Methods

Practical research experience is invaluable for understanding sociological concepts. This chapter provides project suggestions to offer a feel for research, emphasizing the importance of choosing appropriate methods for specific research questions. It's crucial to consider practical constraints like time, resources, and context alongside technical compatibility when selecting a method.

Recalling research methods from Class XI is recommended. The chapter outlines several methods:

Survey Method

Surveys involve asking a fixed set of questions to a relatively large number of people. They can be conducted in person or via questionnaires. Advantages include reaching a large, representative sample, but disadvantages include inflexibility (no on-the-spot adjustments for misunderstood questions) and inability to capture changes over time or pursue interesting tangents.

Interviews

Interviews are in-person interactions with a smaller number of people. They can be structured (following a set pattern) or unstructured (exploring topics conversationally). Interviews offer flexibility, allowing for in-depth exploration, question refinement, and clarifications, but are limited in the number of people they can cover.

Observation

Observation involves systematically watching and recording behaviors and events in a chosen context. It requires careful attention to detail, avoiding pre-judgment, and considering what is *not* happening as well as what is. Both naturalistic (observing in natural settings) and participant observation (observer actively participates) are discussed.

Combinations Of More Than One Method

Combining methods (e.g., surveys with archival research) is often recommended to approach a research question from multiple angles and gain a richer understanding.

Possible Themes And Subjects For Small Research Projects

The chapter suggests several research topics to guide students in developing their projects, encouraging a focus on questions not explicitly covered in textbooks and allowing for combinations of methods.

Public Transport

Investigate the role of public transport in people's lives, who depends on it, associated problems, changes over time, and attitudes towards it. Projects could also focus on the history of specific modes of transport (tonga, rickshaw, train) or create future scenarios (e.g., Delhi Metro in 2050).

Role Of Communication Media In Social Life

Explore the changing place of mass media (print, TV, internet) and personal communication media (phones, email) in social life. Projects could involve analyzing media content, studying user preferences across different groups, or observing the actual use of new media versus stated views.

Household Appliances And Domestic Work

Examine how domestic appliances have changed household work and the division of labor within families. Research could focus on usage patterns, user attitudes, and changes in age-related tasks. It also suggests looking at how domestic tasks are distributed and whether this has changed.

The Use Of Public Space

Investigate the various uses of public spaces (fields, roadsides, empty plots) by different social classes, including commercial activities, social gatherings, homeless populations, and potential conflicts arising from these uses. Research could also track changes in space usage over time.

Changing Aspirations Of Different Age Groups

Explore how ambitions and goals change across different age groups (e.g., students in different grades) and social backgrounds. This could involve comparing current aspirations with adults' memories of their past aspirations to identify patterns.

The ‘Biography’ Of A Commodity

Trace the "life history" of a consumer item (e.g., TV, motorcycle, furniture) from production to purchase, examining the social relations involved and its symbolic significance for owners and the community. This project encourages imagining the commodity's perspective on the people it encounters.

A table is provided that maps potential research topics to suitable research methods (observation, survey, interviews, archival) and offers comments or suggestions for each.