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 Note: MySearchLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MySearchLab, please visit: www.mysearchlab.com or you can purchase a ValuePack of the text + MySearchLab with Pearson eText (at no additional cost). ValuePack ISBN-10: 0205863671/ ValuePack ISBN-13: 9780205863679
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 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 Research Conducting a Field Research Study The Field Research Interview Data Quality Ethical Dilemmas of Field Research Focus Group Research Chapter 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 Writing The Writing Process Steps in Writing The Quantitative Research Report The Qualitative Research Report The Research Proposal