Amira Sabeg in my opinion, in the realm of social sciences, both questions and answers play indispensable roles in advancing knowledge, fostering critical thinking, and driving research forward. However, the relative importance of questions versus answers can vary depending on the context, objectives, and methodologies employed within different disciplines and research paradigms.
Amira Sabeg to explore further below, I explore the significance of both questions and answers in the social sciences:
Questions:Questions serve as the catalyst for inquiry and the foundation upon which research endeavors are built. They stimulate curiosity, frame the scope of investigation, and guide the research process by delineating the issues to be explored, the variables to be examined, and the hypotheses to be tested. Well-crafted research questions are clear, focused, and theoretically grounded, providing direction and purpose to scholarly endeavours. Moreover, questions often emerge from gaps in existing knowledge, theoretical debates, practical concerns, or societal issues, highlighting areas ripe for investigation and intervention. As such, the formulation of insightful and relevant research questions is a crucial initial step in the scientific inquiry process, laying the groundwork for the generation of new insights, theories, and empirical findings.
Answers: Answers represent the culmination of research efforts, offering insights, explanations, and interpretations that contribute to the advancement of knowledge within the social sciences. They provide responses to research questions, validate or refute hypotheses, and shed light on the underlying mechanisms, patterns, and dynamics of social phenomena. The generation of empirically supported answers is essential for building theoretical frameworks, refining existing concepts, and informing evidence-based practices and policies. Moreover, answers facilitate the dissemination of research findings to academic audiences, policymakers, practitioners, and the general public, fostering dialogue, debate, and further inquiry. By offering plausible explanations, empirical evidence, and nuanced interpretations, answers contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of knowledge within specific fields of study.
Amira Sabeg while questions and answers are both integral components of the research process, their relative importance can vary depending on the stage of inquiry, the nature of the research problem, and the epistemological assumptions underlying a particular research paradigm. In some cases, the formulation of innovative and thought-provoking research questions may be prioritised as a means of pushing the boundaries of existing knowledge, challenging conventional wisdom, and fostering intellectual curiosity. In other instances, the generation of empirically robust answers may take precedence, as researchers seek to test hypotheses, validate theoretical propositions, and address practical concerns through rigorous data analysis and interpretation.
Ultimately, the symbiotic relationship between questions and answers lies at the heart of scientific inquiry in the social sciences. While questions drive the research process by posing intellectual puzzles and theoretical challenges, answers provide the means of addressing these inquiries through empirical investigation, critical analysis, and scholarly dialogue. By embracing the iterative and dynamic nature of this relationship, researchers can continue to push the frontiers of knowledge, deepen our understanding of social phenomena, and contribute to positive social change.
Imo, Amira Sabeg , the right questions are most important; with respect to answers, they depend on the applied method, in terms of quantitative and/or
qualitative approaches.
It has also to be mentioned that I do not mean puzzle-solving here (as standard academic exercise), but real-world problem-solving, e.g. meeting unmet human needs by social entrepreneurship or replacing outdated linear economics by cyclical economic thought.
I was trained that social science is more of a soft science. When it comes to psychology, however, there is more and more evidence of hard science contributions. However, I believe that questions are the most important. Each person in each different situation may have a different answer. There are rarely hard line answers, and just the exploration of the question can sometimes be enough to satisfy the need to know.