Major designs and challenges of sociological research in Nigeria: The need for understanding appropriate information gathering techniques

Abstract

Social Work is an emerging discipline in Nigeria and can hardly develop comparatively with other social sciences without practitioners, scholars and students engaging in research and providing acceptable research output. This is only possible with understanding of research designs and information gathering techniques appropriate to various research designs, a non-combination of which will render research result faulty. Research designs are classified into quantitative and qualitative designs, which include: causal, cohort, case study, cross sectional, experimental, longitudinal, sequential, descriptive, exploratory, historical, observational, meta-analysis, mixed, philosophical and ethnographic designs, which are borrowed from other social sciences and can be applied in the study and analysis of problems in social work. Methods of information generation which are both primary and secondary were explained, namely: survey, structured and unstructured interview, in-depth interview, key informant interview, focus group discussion, textbooks, magazines, journals, archival documents, official records, newspapers and archeological ruins. The use of survey as a research design was particularly frowned at, except it is appropriately qualified. Challenges to research were highlighted and it was concluded that understanding research designs and appropriate method of information gathering is key to a successful research despite challenges facing researchers in Nigeria. It is recommended that research should be given a prominent place in Social Work curriculum and students and practitioners of Social Work should resharpen their understanding of social research with particular attention to research design.