Social Research Methods

IN THIS SECTION:

BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I Foundations

Chapter 1 Why Do Research?

Chapter 2 What Are the Major Types of Social Research?

Chapter 3 Theory and Research
Chapter 4 The Meanings of Methodology
Chapter 5 How to Review the Literature and Conduct Ethical Studies

Chapter 6 Strategies of Research Design

Chapter 7 Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement
Chapter 8 Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling

Chapter 9 Experimental Research

Chapter 10 Survey Research

Chapter 11 Nonreactive Research and Secondary Analysis

Chapter 12 Analysis of Quantitative Data

Chapter 13 Field Research and Focus Group Research
Chapter 14 Historical-Comparative Research
Chapter 15 Analysis of Qualitative Data

COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I Foundations

Chapter 1 Why Do Research?

Alternatives to Social Science Research

What Research Involves: A Scientific Approach

Varieties of Social Research

Steps in the Research Process

Why Learn How to Conduct Social Research

Chapter 2 What Are the Major Types of Social Research?

Use and Audience of Research

Purpose of Research

Within or Across Case

Single or Multiple Points in Time

Data Collection Techniques

Chapter 3 Theory and Research

What Is Theory?

Social Theory versus Ideology

The Parts of Theory

Chapter 4 The Meanings of Methodology

Philosophical Foundations

The Three Approaches

Positivist Social Science

Interpretative Social Science

Critical Social Science

Feminist and Postmodern Research

Chapter 5 How to Review the Literature and Conduct Ethical Studies

The Literature Review

Ethics in Social Research

Part II Planning and Preparation

Chapter 6 Strategies of Research Design

Triangulation

Qualitative and Quantitative Orientations Toward Research

Qualitative Design Issues

Quantitative Design Issues

Chapter 7 Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement

The Need for Measurement

Quanitative and Qualtitative Measurement

The Measurement Process

Reliability and Validity

A Guide to Quantitative Measurement

Scales and Indexes

Chapter 8 Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling

Reasons for Sampling

Sampling Strategies

Part III Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis

Chapter 9 Experimental Research

Appropriate Technique

A Short History of the Experiment

Random Assignment

Experimental Design Logic

Internal and External Validity

Practical Considerations

Results of Experimental Research: Making Comparisons

A Word on Ethics

Chapter 10 Survey Research

A History of Survey Research

The Logic of Survey Research

Construction of the Questionnaire

Types of Surveys: Advantages and Disadvantages

Survey Interviewing

The Ethical Survey

Chapter 11 Nonreactive Research and Secondary Analysis

Nonreactive Measurement

Content Analysis

Existing Statistics/Documents and Secondary Analysis

Secondary Analysis of Survey Data

Issues of Inference and Theory Testing

Ethical Concerns

Chapter 12 Analysis of Quantitative Data

Dealing with Data

Results with One Variable

Results with Two Variables

More than Two Variables

Inferential Statistics

Part IV Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis

Chapter 13 Field Research and Focus Group Research

Understanding Field Research

The Field Research Interview

Data Quality

Ethical Dilemmas of Field Research

Focus Group Research

Chapter 14 Historical-Comparative Research

A Short History of Historical-Comparative Research

Research Questions Appropriate for Historical-Comparative Research

The Logic of Historical-Comparative Research

Steps in Conducting a Historical-Comparative Research Project

Data and Evidence in Historical Context

Comparative Research

Equivalence in Historical-Comparative Research

Ethics

Chapter 15 Analysis of Qualitative Data

Comparison of Methods of Data Analysis

Coding and Concept Formation

Analytic Strategies for Qualitative Data

Other Techniques

Part V Communicating with Others

Chapter 16 Writing the Research Report and the Politics of Social Research

The Research Report

The Politics of Social Research

Objectivity and Value Freedom

Appendix: Table of Randomly Selected Five Digit Numbers

Bibliography

Name Index

Subject Index

• Presents a more balanced coverage of qualitative and quantitative methods than any other book on the market, and illustrates how the greatest benefit often comes from combining various approaches.
• Discusses the social and historical context of research, and teaches students to recognize ethnocentric perspectives and the assumptions, values, and beliefs of their own society.
• In chapter 1, there are separate descriptions and examples of the steps in the research process for quantitative and qualitative approaches, to underscore some of the fundamental differences.
• Chapter 3, “Theory and Research,” helps students with no prior coursework in social theory understand the importance of theory and its connection to research.
• Contains many explanatory diagrams and interesting examples drawn from scholarly literature.
• Incorporates feminist and postmodernist theories in the “Meaning of Methodologies” chapter (Ch. 4).
• Covers "Writing a literature review" and "Ethics" early in Chapter 5.
• Concludes with a chapter on writing a research report.
• Appendix on Evaluation Research help students see how to apply research in practical settings.
• The Chapter on Survey Research (Ch. 10) covers the latest technology, including computer-assisted interviewing and Web surveys.
• The politics of research are discussed in the context of writing a literature report (Ch. 16).
• Key terms are called out and defined in boxes at the bottom of the pages where they appear, for easier study and review.

W. Lawrence Neuman James is professor of sociology and Asian Studies coordinator at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. His M.A. and Ph.D. were earned at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has authored seven books and published 35 articles and book chapters, which have appeared in Social Problems, Sociological Inquiry, Social Science Quarterly, American Sociological Review, Critical Asian Studies, Teaching Sociology, The Journal of Contemporary Asia, Sociological Quarterly, and other journals . He is a former president of the Wisconsin Sociological Association. Neuman has received his university’s highest award for research, the Chancellor's Award for service to students with disabilities, as well as the the Wisconsin Sociological Association's Outstanding Service Award, and the College of Letters and Sciences awards for outstanding teaching, excellence in research, and outstanding service.

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