Full Description
The Process of Social Research successfully meets two major challenges of teaching social science methods: to make the material interesting and accessible to students, and to provide them with the tools necessary to understand, evaluate, and conduct research. Authors Jeffrey C. Dixon, Royce A. Singleton, Jr., and Bruce C. Straits employ a conversational writing style that is engaging and student-friendly. Using everyday examples to introduce chapters andclarify complex concepts, they provide current research examples on such cutting-edge topics as immigration, family composition, prosecutorial misconduct, organized racism, homelessness, social inequality andeducation, and alcohol consumption and grades. Placing a unique emphasis on the research process, the book helps students understand the logic and mechanics of social research, giving them the tools and the power to evaluate the research of others and to conduct their own research. Beginning with the introduction, every chapter contains flowcharts of research processes. As each diagram is presented, the authors relate the specific method to the overall research process. Then, over the course ofthe chapter or section, they flesh out each step. This way, they convey information about the "nuts and bolts" of research while ensuring that students do not lose sight of the logic of inquiry.Comprehensive and up-to-date without attempting to be encyclopedic in its coverage, The Process of Social Research provides a balance between qualitative and quantitative research, taking a more integrated approach to describing the relationship between theory and research.
Contents
PrefaceChapter 1. Introduction: Why Care about Research Methods? The Process of Social ResearchFour Facebook Studies--An Experiment--A Survey--A Qualitative Study--An Analysis of Existing DataBoxReading Social Research 1.1: Critical Evaluation of Facebook StudiesChapter 2. Science and Social Research: From Theory to Data and BackThe Characteristics and Process of Science-- Theory-- Verifiable Data-- Systematic Observation and Analysis-- Logical ReasoningLogics of Inquiry -- Does Contact Change Stereotypes? An Answer from Deductive Inquiry-- How Does Class Matter? An Answer from Inductive Inquiry-- Combining the Logics of Inquiry-- From a Psychological Theory of Suicide to a Sociological OneEvaluating Science: Possibilities, Cautions, and Limits-- Tentative Knowledge-- The Ideal and Reality of the Scientific Process-- The Sociohistorical Aspect of Science-- The Human Element of ScienceBoxesReading Social Research 2.1: Verify This!Checking Your Understanding 2.2: Practice Questions in Deductive and Inductive LogicChapter 3. The Ethics and Politics of Research: Doing What's "Right" Overview: Ethics Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Research Participants-- Potential Harm -- Informed Consent -- Deception -- Invasion of PrivacyFederal and Professional Ethical Guidelines -- Evaluating Potential Harm-- Informed Consent Procedures-- Deception Ground Rules-- Privacy Protection: Anonymity and ConfidentialityThe Process of Ethical Decision-Making-- Review Federal Regulations and Professional Ethics Codes-- Assess Costs and Benefits of Proposed Research-- Identify and Address Areas of Ethical Concern-- Prepare and Submit Application for IRB Approval-- Conduct Research and Secure Participants' RightsPolitics and Social Research-- Topic Selection, Political Ideology, and Research Funding-- Data Analysis and Interpretation and Political Ideology-- Dissemination of Research Findings: Science, Politics, and Public PolicyThe Intersection of Ethics and Politics in Social Research-- A Case Study: Research on Same-Sex Parenting-- Conflict of Interest-- Social ResponsibilityBoxesReading Social Research 3.1: Privacy Invasion in the Public Identification of ParticipantsChecking Your Understanding 3.2: Ethics Practice QuestionsDoing Social Research 3.3: Web Resources on Research EthicsChapter 4. Research Designs: It Depends on the Question Initial Steps in the Research Process-- Select Research Topic-- Review the Literature/Consider Theory-- Formulate Research Question-- Prepare Research DesignDesigning Research to Answer Quantitative Questions-- Select a Research Strategy-- Identify and Select Units of Analysis-- Measure Variables-- Gather Data and Analyze Relationships among VariablesDesigning Research to Answer Qualitative Questions -- Select Research Strategy-- Select Field Setting, Social Group, and/or Archival Records-- Gain Access and Establish Relationships-- Decide Whom to Observe or Interview or What to Read-- Gather and Analyze DataBoxesDoing Social Research 4.1: How to Search the LiteratureChecking Your Understanding 4.2: Quantitative Research Questions, Units of Analysis, and VariablesReading Social Research 4.3: How to Interpret Correlations and Tests of Statistical SignificanceChapter 5. Measurement: Linking Theory to ResearchOverview: The Measurement ProcessConceptualization and Operationalization -- Conceptualization-- OperationalizationTypes and Selection of Operational Definitions -- Manipulated Versus Measured Operations-- Types of Measured Operational Definitions-- Selection of Operational DefinitionsLevels of Measurement -- Nominal Measurement-- Ordinal Measurement-- Interval Measurement-- Ratio MeasurementAssessing the Quality of Operational Definitions-- Forms of Reliability Assessment-- Forms of Validity AssessmentThe Feedback Loop: From Data Back to Concepts and Measurement BoxesChecking Your Understanding 5.1: Inferring Level of Measurement from Operational DefinitionsReading Social Research 5.2: Measurement Error and the Social Desirability EffectChapter 6. Sampling: Case Selection as a Basis for InferenceOverview: The Sampling ProcessPrinciples of Probability Sampling-- Probability and Random Selection-- Probability Distributions and Sampling Error-- Sampling Distributions-- Statistical InferenceSteps in Probability Sampling-- Define Target Population-- Construct Sampling Frame-- Devise Sampling Design-- Determine Sample Size-- Draw SampleNonprobability Sampling-- Overview of Nonprobability Sampling-- Steps in Nonprobability Sampling-- Making Inferences from Nonprobability SamplingBoxesDoing Social Research 6.1: How to Select Things Randomly Reading Social Research 6.2: Assessing Nonresponse Bias and Overall Sample Quality Chapter 7. Experiments: What Causes What?Introductory Example: Misconduct in Criminal Prosecution The Logic of ExperimentationVariations on the Experimental Method -- Variations in Experimental Design-- Variations in Experimental ContextThe Process of Conducting Experiments -- Pretesting-- Participant Recruitment and Informed Consent-- Introduction to the Experiment-- Experimental Manipulation and Random Assignment-- Manipulation Checks-- Measurement of the Dependent Variable-- DebriefingStrengths and Weaknesses of Experiments -- Internal Validity-- External Validity-- Reactive Measurement Effects-- Content RestrictionsBoxesChecking Your Understanding 7.1: The Difference Between Random Sampling and Random AssignmentDoing Social Research 7.2: Informed Consent Form for an ExperimentReading Social Research 7.3: Thinking Critically About Research Designs and Threats to Internal ValidityChapter 8. Surveys: Questioning and SamplingIntroductory Example: The Constructing the Family SurveyGeneral Features of Survey Research-- Large-Scale Probability Sampling-- Structured Interviews or Questionnaires-- Quantitative Data AnalysisVariations in Survey Designs and Modes-- Survey Research Designs-- Data-Collection ModesThe Process of Planning and Conducting a Survey-- Choose Mode of Data Collection-- Construct and Pretest Questionnaire-- Choose Sampling Frame/Design and Select Sample-- Recruit Sample and Collect Data-- Code and Edit DataStrengths and Weaknesses of Surveys-- Generalizations to Populations-- Versatility-- Efficiency-- Establishing Causal Relationships-- Measurement IssuesBoxesReading Social Research 8.1: Open-Ended Versus Closed-Ended Questions in Survey ResearchReading Social Research 8.2: Questions to Ask about Survey QuestionsDoing Social Research 8.3: Informed Consent Statement in the Constructing the Family SurveyChapter 9. Field Research and In-Depth Interviews: Systematic People Watching and ListeningIntroductory Field Research Example: Mexican New YorkIntroductory In-Depth Interview Example: Mexican Americans across GenerationsGeneral Features of Qualitative Research-- Observation-- Interviews -- Supplementary Archival and Other Data-- Nonprobability Sampling-- Qualitative Data Analysis-- ReflexivityVariations in Qualitative Research Methods-- Degrees of Participation and Observation-- Overt vs. Covert Observation-- Interview Structure -- Individual vs. Group InterviewsThe Process Of Conducting Field Research-- Select Setting/Group-- Gain Access-- Establish Roles and Relationships-- Decide What to Observe/Whom to Interview-- Gather and Analyze Data-- Leave the Field-- Write the ReportThe Process of Conducting In-Depth Interviews-- Select and Recruit Interviewees-- Develop Interview Guide-- Gather Data-- Analyze DataStrengths and Limitations of Qualitative Research-- Naturalistic Approach-- Subjective and Contextual Understanding-- Flexible Research Design-- Generalizability-- Reliability and Validity-- EfficiencyBoxesChecking Your Understanding 9.1: The "Nacirema" and ReflexivityReading Social Research 9.2: Getting an Insider's View of Students by Passing as OneDoing Social Research 9.2: Preparing for an In-Depth InterviewChapter 10. Existing Data Analysis: Using Data from Secondhand SourcesSources and Examples of Existing Data-- Public Documents and Official Records-- Private Documents-- Mass Media-- Physical, Nonverbal Materials-- Social Science Data ArchivesAnalysis of Existing Statistical Data-- Existing Statistics Example: The Impact of MTV's 16 and Pregnant on Teen Childbearing-- The Process of Analyzing Existing StatisticsContent Analysis-- Content Analysis Example: Journalistic Accounts of the Iraq War-- The Process of Content AnalysisComparative Historical Analysis-- An Example of Comparative Historical Analysis: The Emergence of Mass Imprisonment-- The Process of Comparative Historical AnalysisStrenghts and Limitations of Existing Data Analysis-- Studying Social Structure, History, and Social Change-- Nonreactive Measurement-- Cost Efficiency-- Data LimitationsBoxesReading Social Research 10.1: The Ecological FallacyChecking Your Understanding 10.2: Identifying Units of AnalysisDoing Social Research 10.3: Analyzing the Content of Cell Phone UseChapter 11. Multiple Methods: Two or More Approaches Are Better than OneMultiple Measures of Concepts within the Same Study-- Composite Measures: Indexes and Scales-- Structural Equation ModelingMultiple Tests of Hypotheses across Different Studies-- Replications Using the Same Research Strategy: Social Exclusion and Helping-- Replications Using Different Research Strategies I: What Employers Say versus What They Do-- Replications Using Different Research Strategies II: Effect of Abuse on Marriage and CohabitationA Comparison of Four Basic Approaches to Social ResearchBoxReading Social Research 11.1: Development of a Summated ScaleChapter 12. Quantitative Data Analysis: Using Statistics for Description and InferenceIntroductory Example of Survey Data Analysis: Drinking and GradesIntroductory Overview: The Process of Quantitative AnalysisPrepare Data for Computerized Analysis: Data Processing-- Coding-- Editing-- Entering the Data-- CleaningInspect and Modify Data-- Nominal- and Ordinal-Scale Variables-- Interval- and Ratio-Scale VariablesCarry Out Preliminary Hypothesis Testing-- Nominal- and Ordinal-Scale Variables-- Interval- and Ratio-Scale VariablesConduct Multivariate Testing-- Elaboration of Contingency Tables-- Multiple RegressionBoxesDoing Social Research 12.1: Codebook DocumentationChecking Your Understanding 12.2: The meaning of Statistical Significance and Strength of AssociationReading Social Research 12.3: The Impact of Statistical Assumptions in Quantitative Data AnalysisChapter 13. Qualitative Data Analysis: Searching for MeaningIntroductory Example: Homelessness in Austin, TexasOverview: A Process of Analyzing Qualitative DataPrepare Data-- Transform the Data to Readable Text-- Check for and Resolve Errors-- Manage the DataIdentify Concepts, Patterns, and Relationships-- Coding-- Memo-Writing-- Data DisplaysDraw and Evaluate ConclusionsVariations in Qualitative Data Analysis-- Grounded Theory Methods-- Narrative Analysis-- Conversation AnalysisBoxesDoing Social Research 13.1: Coding Textual DataReading Social Research 13.2: From Displays Back to DataChapter 14. Reading and Writing in Social Research: It's All about CommunicationRead, Take Notes, and Write Research Proposal-- Locate Relevant Research Literature-- Read and Evaluate Prior Research-- Formulate Research Question-- Design Research and Prepare ProposalWrite Research Report-- Outline and Prepare to Write-- Write First Draft-- Revision and Other Writing ConsiderationsBoxesReading Social Research 14.1: Questions to Ask in Evaluating a Research ReportDoing Social Research 14.2: ASA Guidelines for In-Text Citations and ReferencesGlossaryReferencesCreditsIndex
