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 Goals Upon 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 For undergraduate or graduate courses that include planning, conducting, and evaluating research. A "do-it-yourself, understand-it-yourself" manual designed to help students understand the fundamental structure of research and the methodical process that leads to valid, reliable results. Written in uncommonly engaging and elegant prose, this text guides the reader, step-by-step, from the selection of a problem, through the process of conducting authentic research, to the preparation of a completed report, with practical suggestions based on a solid theoretical framework and sound pedagogy. Suitable as the core text in any introductory research course or even for self-instruction, this text will show students two things: 1) that quality research demands planning and design; and, 2) how their own research projects can be executed effectively and professionally.
IN THIS SECTION:
1.) BRIEF
2.) COMPREHENSIVE
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Part I: Foundations
Chapter 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
COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Part I: Foundations
Chapter 1: Doing Social Research
Introduction
Alternatives to Social Research
How Science Works
Steps in the Research Process
Dimensions of Research
Chapter 2: Theory and Social Research
What Is Social Theory?
The Parts of Theory
The Aspects of Theory
The Three Major Approaches to Social Science
The Dynamic Duo
Chapter 3: Ethics in Social Research
What are Research Ethics?
Why Be Ethical?
Power Relations
Ethical Issues Involving Research Participants
Ethics and the Scientific Community
Ethics and the Sponsors of Research
Politics of Research
Value-Free and Objective Research
Chapter 4: Reviewing the Scholarly Literature and Planning a Study
Literature Review
Using the Internet for Social Research
Qualitative and Quantitative Orientations toward Research
Qualitative Design Issues
Quantitative Design Issues
Chapter 5: Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement
Why Measure?
Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement
Parts of the Measurement Process
Reliability and Validity
A Guide to Quantitative Measurement
Chapter 6: Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling
Nonprobability Sampling
Probability Sampling
Part II: Conducting Quantitative Research
Chapter 7: Survey Research
When to use a Survey
The Logic of Survey Research
Constructing the Questionnaire
Types of Surveys: Advantages and Disadvantages
Interviewing
The Ethical Survey
Chapter 8: Experimental Research
Research Questions Appropriate for an Experiment
Random Assignment
Experimental Design Logic
Internal and External Validity
Practical Considerations
Results of Experimental Research: Making Comparisons
A Word on Ethics
Chapter 9: Nonreactive Research and Secondary Analysis
Nonreactive Measurement
Unobtrusive Observation
Content Analysis
Existing Statistics/Documents and Secondary Analysis
