Full Description
Preparing students to do research and understand what research can do.Basics of Social Research helps students understand what research can and cannot do, become better consumers of research, and learn why properly conducted research is important.This text teaches students to be better consumers of research results and understand how the research enterprise works, preparing them to conduct small research projects. Upon completing this text, students will gain an awareness of the capabilities and restrictions of research, and learn why properly conducted research is important. Using clear, accessible language and examples from real research, this text discusses both qualitative and quantitative approaches to social research, emphasizing the benefits of combining various approaches.Learning GoalsUpon completing this book, readers should be able to:Recognize that social research is simultaneously a very important enterprise and one that is not beyond you - you can understand it Become better consumers and understand what research can and cannot do Learn how to properly conducted research Acquire a foundation for further learning about doing research and understand that this activity requires dedication, creativity, and mature judgment
Contents
IN THIS SECTION:1.) BRIEF2.) COMPREHENSIVEPart I: FoundationsChapter 1: Doing Social Research Chapter 2: Theory and Social Research Chapter 3: Ethics in Social Research Chapter 4: Reviewing the Scholarly Literature and Planning a Study Chapter 5: Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement Chapter 6: Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling Part II: Conducting Quantitative Research Chapter 7: Survey Research Chapter 8: Experimental Research Chapter 9: Nonreactive Research and Secondary Analysis Chapter 10: Analysis of Quantitative Data Part III: Conducting Qualitative Research Chapter 11: Field Research and Focus Group Research Chapter 12: Historical-Comparative Research Chapter 13: Analysis of Qualitative Data Part IV: Research Reports Chapter 14: Writing the Research Report Part I: FoundationsChapter 1: Doing Social Research IntroductionAlternatives to Social ResearchHow Science WorksSteps in the Research ProcessDimensions of ResearchChapter 2: Theory and Social Research What Is Social Theory?The Parts of TheoryThe Aspects of TheoryThe Three Major Approaches to Social ScienceThe Dynamic DuoChapter 3: Ethics in Social Research What are Research Ethics?Why Be Ethical?Power RelationsEthical Issues Involving Research ParticipantsEthics and the Scientific CommunityEthics and the Sponsors of ResearchPolitics of ResearchValue-Free and Objective ResearchChapter 4: Reviewing the Scholarly Literature and Planning a Study Literature ReviewUsing the Internet for Social ResearchQualitative and Quantitative Orientations toward ResearchQualitative Design IssuesQuantitative Design IssuesChapter 5: Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement Why Measure?Quantitative and Qualitative MeasurementParts of the Measurement ProcessReliability and ValidityA Guide to Quantitative MeasurementChapter 6: Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling Nonprobability Sampling Probability Sampling Part II: Conducting Quantitative Research Chapter 7: Survey Research When to use a SurveyThe Logic of Survey ResearchConstructing the QuestionnaireTypes of Surveys: Advantages and DisadvantagesInterviewingThe Ethical SurveyChapter 8: Experimental Research Research Questions Appropriate for an ExperimentRandom AssignmentExperimental Design LogicInternal and External ValidityPractical ConsiderationsResults of Experimental Research: Making ComparisonsA Word on EthicsChapter 9: Nonreactive Research and Secondary Analysis Nonreactive Measurement Unobtrusive ObservationContent Analysis Existing Statistics/Documents and Secondary Analysis Issues of Inference and Theory Testing Ethical Concerns Chapter 10: Analysis of Quantitative Data Dealing with Data Results with One Variable Results with Two Variables More Than Two Variables Inferential Statistics Part III: Conducting Qualitative Research Chapter 11: Field Research and Focus Group Research Introduction to Field ResearchConducting a Field Research StudyThe Field Research Interview Data QualityEthical Dilemmas of Field ResearchFocus Group ResearchChapter 12: Historical-Comparative Research The Logic of Historical-Comparative Research Steps in a Historical-Comparative Research Project Data and Evidence in Historical Context Comparative Research Equivalence in Historical-Comparative Research Ethics Chapter 13: Analysis of Qualitative Data Comparing Methods of Data Analysis Coding and Concept Formation Analytic Strategies for Qualitative Data Other Techniques Software for Qualitative Data Part IV: Research Reports Chapter 14: Writing the Research Report Reasons for WritingThe Writing ProcessSteps in WritingThe Quantitative Research Report The Qualitative Research ReportThe Research Proposal
