Full Description
Constructing Social Research, Second Edition is a concise, innovative text designed for undergraduate Research Methods courses in the Social Sciences. This Sociology for a New Century Series text effectively highlights the unity and diversity of methods across disciplines and cultures using comparative and historical examples. Ragin and Amoroso clearly demonstrate the similarities among three major traditions: qualitative research on commonalities, comparative research on diversity, and quantitative research on relationships among variables. Together, these three compelling research strategies provide a solid foundation for studying all social phenomena, from examining the complexities of everyday life to investigating the power of transnational processes.New to This Edition- This edition includes a new Chapter 4 "The Ethics of Social Research" to provide more in-depth information on this vital topic - Ragin and Amoroso offer a new succinct overview of the scientific method, illuminating the contrast between this method and the alternative presented in the text- To illustrate the various types of data collection associated with qualitative, comparative, and quantitative research, each chapter within the "Strategies of Social Research" section includes new, detailed examples.
Contents
ForewordPrefacePART I Elements of Social Research1 What is Social Research?IntroductionSome Conventional Views of Social ResearchSocial Research and Other Ways of Representing Social LifeSocial Research DefinedJournalism and Social Research: The SimilaritiesHow Social Research Differs2 The Goals of Social ResearchIntroductionThe Seven Main GoalsThe Link between Goals and StrategiesThe Social Nature of Social Research3 The Process of Social Research: Ideas and EvidenceIntroductionThe Interpretive Model of Social ResearchProcesses and Strategies of Social ResearchThe Challenge of Social Research4 The Ethics of Social ResearchIntroductionEthical Dilemmas and FailuresThe Troublesome History of Ethical ResearchThe Current Ethical Standards and Institutional OversightEthical and Professional Dilemmas Facing Social ResearchersPART II Strategies of Social Research5 Using Qualitative Methods to Study CommonalitiesIntroductionThe Goals of Qualitative ResearchThe Process of Qualitative ResearchUsing Qualitative MethodsThe Study of a Single Case6 Using Comparative Methods to Study DiversityIntroductionContrasts with Other Research StrategiesThe Goals of Comparative ResearchThe Process of Comparative ResearchUsing Comparative Methods7 Using Quantitative Methods to Study CovariationIntroductionContrasts with Other Research StrategiesThe Goals of Quantitative ResearchThe Process of Quantitative ResearchUsing Quantitative MethodsAFTERWORD: The Promise of Social Research with Mary DriscollAPPENDIX: Computing Correlation CoefficientsReferencesGlossary/Index
