Course: Research Methods
A constant in social research is a factor that stays the same throughout the study.
In social research, you might encounter the term constant. This is not something complicated. It’s just a factor that doesn’t change in the research. For instance, let’s say we’re studying a city’s crime rates. The city’s location is a constant because it remains the same throughout our study. The crime rates might change, but not the city’s location.
Constants: The Unchanging Elements
Constants are critical in social research. They provide a stable setting where the researcher can observe changes. If everything was changing, it would be challenging to tell what was affecting what. Above all, constants help researchers isolate and identify the factors that truly make a difference in their study.
Constants in Criminal Justice
Let’s delve into an example from criminal justice. Imagine you’re investigating the effect of community policing on reducing crime rates. Your research might consider factors like the number of police officers, their training, and the methods they use. However, the city where you’re studying this remains a constant.
By keeping the city the same, you can measure changes in crime rates without worrying that differences in location are affecting your results. After all, cities differ in many ways – from their population to the local economy and culture.
Social Work
Think about a social work study. Suppose you’re researching the impact of counseling on homeless individuals’ mental health. You might study factors like the type of counseling or the counselor’s experience level.
Yet, the city where the study takes place would again be a constant. It wouldn’t change. After that, the researcher could track changes in the individuals’ mental health without worrying that different city environments influenced the results. All in all, the constant allows the researcher to focus on the variable they’re studying.
Political Science
In political science research, the same principle applies. Let’s say we’re investigating the effect of political campaigns on voter turnout. Variables might include the campaign strategies, the candidates, or the issues discussed.
However, the country where this research takes place would be a constant. It would remain the same throughout the study. No sooner would you start your research than you would realize how this constant allows you to compare different campaign strategies without worrying about differences between countries.
Wrapping Up
Both in life and in social research, change is inevitable. Nonetheless, constants are those unchanging factors that anchor us. They help researchers identify what’s causing the changes they observe. Accordingly, understanding the role of constants in research is crucial for anyone studying social phenomena.
Whether you’re studying crime rates, the impact of counseling, or voter turnout, constants are everywhere. They’re part of what makes social research possible. Now that you know what constants are, you’ll be better equipped to understand and conduct social research.