社会研究是指由社会科学家以有系统方式进行的研究。社会研究方法可以分为定量研究和定性研究。

即使研究方法分为定量和定性，大部份方法蕴含二者元素。例如，定性研究往往以颇具结构的方式，为原始数据进行编码，归纳为有系统的信息，和量化编码者间信度。  故此，「定量」和「定性」并非完全切割的概念。

社会科学家采用一系列的方法，分析林林种种的社会现象，包括：收集数以百万计个人数据的人口普查、深入分析社会实验内的单一个体、观察近代街头的现况、调查古代历史文献。社会研究方法植根于社会学和统计学，延展至其他学科，包括政治学、媒体研究、方案评估和市场调查。

Social research is research conducted by social scientists following a systematic plan. Social research methodologies can be classified along a quantitative/qualitative dimension.

While methods may be classified as quantitative or qualitative, most methods contain elements of both. For example, qualitative data analysis often involves a fairly structured approach to coding the raw data into systematic information, and quantifying intercoder reliability. Thus, there is often a more complex relationship between "qualitative" and "quantitative" approaches than would be suggested by drawing a simple distinction between them.