Social research: an alias for nursing research

Problems are a part of life. They can be viewed as minor annoyances or major obstacles. In any event, they invariably offer the opportunity to learn, discover, and grow. How often have we solved problems without even thinking about them? Research is nothing more than problem solving coupled with a special type of thinking, that is, analytical thinking in regard to the nature of what we are seeking an answer to. The what will almost always provide us with the method we must follow. Social research has shown us that methods need not be conventional and may, in many instances, be the product of new invention. Nursing research proposals of the social order, although not a new invention, can offer new insights and contributions to our knowledge base.