Full Description
This book is a definitive, comprehensive understanding to social science research methodology. It covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The book covers the entire research process, beginning with the conception of the research problem to publication of findings. The text combines theory and practical application to familiarize the reader with the logic of research design, the logic and techniques of data analysis, and the fundamentals and implications of various data collection techniques. Organized in seven sections and easy to read chapters, the text emphasizes the importance of clearly defined research questions and well-constructed practical explanations and illustrations. A key contribution to the methodology literature, the book is an authoritative resource for policymakers, practitioners, graduate and advanced research students, and educators in all social science disciplines.
Contents
Inquiry: A fundamental concept for scientific investigation,- Research: Meaning and purpose.- Social research: Definition, types and nature, and characteristics of social research.- Theory in social research.- Inductive and/or deductive research designs.- Positivism.- Critical Theory in Social Research: A Theoretical and Methodological Outlook.- Narrative inquiry, phenomenology, and grounded theory in qualitative research.- Pragmatism.- Designing a research proposal in quantitative research.- Experimental method.- Social survey method.- Survey questionnaires.- Interviews as data collection method.- Sampling techniques for quantitative research.- Data analysis techniques for quantitative study.- Techniques for reporting quantitative data.
