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Career Profiles

Social Science Research

According to the Oxford English Dictionary social science is ‘the scientific study of human society and social relationships.’ Typical areas for research include ethnicity and gender, employment and leisure, recreation & tourism, population health, lifestyle & well-being. Social science research is the gathering and analysis of this social data using scientific methods. Research methods can be classified in various ways and one of the most common, although increasingly blurred, distinctions is between qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Quantitative research methods are distinguished from qualitative research methods by their emphasis upon the use of mathematical and statistical techniques in gathering, analysing, interpreting and reporting upon, research data.They originally developed in the natural sciences to study natural phenomena. Examples of quantitative methods now well accepted in the social sciences include surveys and laboratory experiments.

Qualitative research methods are typically non numericaland were developed in the social sciences to enable researchers to study social and cultural phenomena. Examples of qualitative methods are in-depth interviews and questionnaires, the analysis of documents and texts, and value being placed upon the researcher's impressions and reactions and research results in the form of narrative description. Increasingly, researchers arerequired to use more than one method in a study.

Where do Social ScienceResearchers Work?

Social science researchers are employed in arange of central government departments, Library, Internal Affairs, Parliamentary Services, and in government ministries including the Ministries of Transport, Health, Education,Justice and Social Development. They are also employed in local government, NGOs (nongovernmentorganisations) and related organisations.

Social science researchers also work in the private sector, in market research, broadcasting, management consultancy, banking and insurance. Experienced researchers often work independently as consultants. Some choose to have academic careers – as university lecturers and researchers.

What Do Social Science Researchers Do?

Researchers often work as evaluators, policy analysts or advisory officers in government departments. Research, however, is only one component of a wide job brief. Advisory work tends to focus on developing policy, providing advice to the Minister and monitoring and evaluating policy implementation, impact and outcomes.

Want to read more? Download a complete copy of Career View on Social Science Research.

Career View on Social Science Research is part of the Career View series produced by Career Development and Employment at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. While the booklet was originally developed for a New Zealand audience, we believe that graduates in Australia will also find the information within it relevant and useful.

Check out the excellent resources available on the Victoria University of Wellington's Careers homepage at www.vuw.ac.nz/st_services/careers .

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