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The study of social problems requires a robust toolkit to handle the complexity of social phenomena. Our research group employ a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, leveraging various tools and resources to gather, analyze, and interpret data. Research findings from these tools inform policies and interventions addressing social problems. Below is a comprehensive look at these tools and resources to maximize the depth and rigor of our analyses, facilitate comparisons, support decision-making, and provide nuanced insights into the social phenomena we investigate:-

Statistical analysis software:

Hierarchical Regression is a statistical technique used to examine the relationship between a set of independent variables (predictors) and a dependent variable while accounting for the incremental contribution of additional variables. It is especially useful in understanding how the addition of one or more variables affects the outcome, after controlling for the influence of other variables. In hierarchical regression, variables are added into the regression model in steps (hierarchically), which allows researchers to see how much each set of variables contributes to explaining the variation in the dependent variable. Hierarchical regression can be particularly useful when exploring social problems, as it allows researchers to examine the impact of different factors—such as demographic, socioeconomic, or psychological variables—on a social outcome while accounting for confounding variables. In the context of social problems, hierarchical regression helps assess the incremental influence of multiple variables, ultimately improving our understanding of complex societal issues.
AMOS is a software program used for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). It provides a user-friendly, graphical interface for specifying, estimating, and testing structural models. Using AMOS to address a social problem involves applying Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to explore complex relationships among factors that contribute to the issue. AMOS is particularly suited for analyzing data related to societal issues like inequality, mental health, education, or community well-being, as it can handle both direct and indirect relationships among variables.
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is a multivariate statistical technique that combines factor analysis and regression analysis to examine relationships between observed and latent variables. SEM is a powerful tool for exploring and addressing social problems because it allows researchers to investigate complex relationships among variables, including mediating and moderating effects. This can be invaluable for understanding the multifaceted nature of social issues like poverty, mental health disparities, educational inequality, or community development.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS): refers to software that supports qualitative data analysis by helping researchers managing, coding, analyzing, and visualizing data. It enhances the efficiency and depth of analysis, especially in handling complex datasets, like interviews, focus groups, field notes, or multimedia files. CAQDAS helps researchers systematically analyze qualitative data, including interviews, focus groups, field notes, and surveys. Using CAQDAS, researchers can examine social problems by identifying themes, patterns, and relationships in qualitative data that might otherwise be difficult to track manually. These tools can be particularly helpful when studying complex social issues like poverty, inequality, mental health, education, and crime. These software programs do not perform the analysis for the researcher but assist in organizing, coding, and interpreting the data. Such as:-

NVivo: Advanced text, audio, and video analysis, robust visualization tools, and mixed-methods support. Ideal for large datasets and complex research projects.
MAXQDA: Intuitive interface, integration with quantitative tools, and multimedia support.

Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) refers to the process of analyzing non-numerical data, such as interviews, focus groups, open-ended survey responses, or observational notes, videos, or images. It aims to uncover patterns, themes, and meanings within the data. When addressing social problems, qualitative data analysis is particularly useful because it helps researchers understand the deeper, context-specific nuances of people's experiences, perceptions, and behaviors in relation to a social issue. It helps researchers understand underlying patterns, themes, and meanings within complex data sets.

Electronic questionnaires

An electronic questionnaire (also known as an online questionnaire or digital survey) is a form of data collection tool that allows individuals to respond to a series of questions via an electronic device, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Electronic questionnaires are commonly used in research, market surveys, and social assessments because they offer several advantages over traditional paper-based questionnaires. Electronic questionnaires (or online surveys) have become a powerful tool for research on social problems, offering researchers an efficient way to gather data from diverse populations across different geographical locations. These surveys can help uncover trends, opinions, behaviors, and other important insights related to societal issues, such as poverty, education, health disparities, social inequality, mental health, crime, and substance abuse. By leveraging electronic questionnaires, researchers can reach a large and diverse sample, ensuring that the data collected is representative of the population they are studying. This method is also cost-effective, quick, and allows for easy data analysis. However, researchers must be mindful of potential biases and limitations, such as the digital divide and privacy concerns, to ensure the data collected is reliable and representative.

International Measures and Tests

In social science, international measures and tests are essential tools for understanding and comparing social phenomena across different countries, cultures, and populations. These measures and tests provide standardized ways to assess issues like education, health, poverty, gender equality, and social attitudes, ensuring that the data collected is reliable, comparable, and applicable to diverse contexts.These tools often come from global organizations or academic research initiatives, offering frameworks for measuring social progress, quality of life, human development, and other important dimensions of social well-being.These international tools help shape policies, social interventions, and research strategies, providing critical evidence for global development and social change efforts. By leveraging these international measures and tests, researchers, governments, and organizations can make informed decisions that lead to more equitable and effective social interventions worldwide.

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)

PRISMA is a widely adopted set of guidelines aimed at ensuring transparency and completeness in the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. It provides a checklist of essential items that researchers should include in their publications to ensure that their review process is rigorous, reproducible, and comprehensive. This is particularly important when addressing social problems because these issues often require careful synthesis of multiple studies to draw meaningful conclusions. In the context of social problem research, applying PRISMA guidelines ensures that the review process is structured, methodical, and that the findings are both robust and reliable. Below, we will explore how PRISMA can be applied to systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to social problems.

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines are typically associated with quantitative research, especially systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, qualitative research can also benefit from these guidelines, especially when a systematic review of qualitative studies is conducted.In qualitative research, a systematic review can be used to synthesize findings from multiple qualitative studies, such as interviews, focus groups, ethnographies, or case studies. These reviews are particularly important when addressing complex social problems where understanding human experiences, behaviors, and social contexts is crucial. For example, qualitative systematic reviews could focus on understanding mental health experiences, social inequality, substance abuse recovery, or education disparities.

Databases for Qualitative and Quantitative Research

In both qualitative and quantitative research, selecting the right databases is crucial for ensuring the reliability and comprehensiveness of your research findings. The databases help researchers access peer-reviewed journal articles, books, reports, and other scholarly materials that are essential for conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, especially when addressing social problems. Such as:-

ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research): Offers datasets in political and social research.
World Values Survey (WVS): Provides insights into social, political, and cultural changes globally.
Social Science Research Network (SSRN): A repository of scholarly research, including working papers and published articles.
PubMed (for health-related social problems): Contains millions of articles on health and social issues.
Pew Research Center: Provides data on social trends, public opinion, and demographic research.
The databases of the University of Jordan Library, Dar Almandumah, PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus.

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