Making Sense of the Social World : Methods of Investigation

by Daniel F. Chambliss

Edition:

3rd

ISBN13:

9781412969390

ISBN10:

1412969395

Format:

Paperback

Pub. Date:

2/19/2009

Publisher(s):

Pine Forge Press

Other versions by this Author

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Summary

Making Sense of the Social World is an engaging and innovative introduction to social research for students who need to understand methodologies and results, but who may never conduct the research themselves. It provides a balanced treatment of qualitative and quantitative methods, integrating substantive examples and research techniques, and is written in a less formal style than many comparable texts, with examples drawn from everyday experience: a text that students actually like to read!The text covers all the essential elements of social research methods including validity, causation, experimental and quasi-experimental design, and techniques of analysis - topics cited as most challenging for students. A student study site with journal articles and online interactive exercises, and chapter examples with emphasis on everyday experiences and current newsworthy issues assist student's understanding.This Third Edition now contains:- A new chapter with revised material on evaluation research- A new chapter on research ethics.- More contemporary web-based research instruction.- Updated End-of-chapter exercises, including new ethics exercises.- Boxed features: "When Things Go Wrong in Social Research"

About the Authors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Science, Society, and Social Research
What Is the Problem?
Can Social Scientists See the Social World More Clearly?
How Well Have We Done Our Research?
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
The Process and Problems of Social Research
What Is the Question?
What Is the Theory?
What Is the Strategy?
What Is the Design?
But Is It Ethical?
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Ethics in Research
Historical Background
Ethical Principles
Conclusions
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Conceptualization and Measurement
What Do We Have in Mind?
How Will We Know When We've Found It?
How Much Information Do We Really Have?
Did We Measure What We Wanted To Measure?
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Sampling
How Do We Prepare to Sample?
What Sampling Method Should We Use?
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Causation and Experimental Design
Causal Explanation
What Causes What?
Why Experiment?
What If a True Experiment Isn?t Possible?
What Are the Threats to Validity in Experiments?
How Do Experimenters Protect Their Subjects?
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Survey Research
Why Is Survey Research So Popular?
How Should We Write Survey Questions?
How Should Questionnaires Be Designed?
What Are the Alternatives for Administering Surveys?
A Comparison of Survey Designs
Ethical Issues in Survey Research
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Elementary Quantitative Data Analysis
Why Do Statistics?
How to Prepare Data for Analysis
What Are the Options for Displaying Distributions?
What Are the Options for Summarizing Distributions?
How Can We Tell Whether Two Variables Are Related?
Analyzing Data Ethically: How Not to Lie with Statistics
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening
What Are "Qualitative" Methods?
How Does Participant Observation Become a Research Method?
How Do You Conduct Intensive Interviews?
How Do You Run Focus Groups?
Analyzing Qualitative Data
Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Qualitative Data Analysis
What Is Distinctive About Qualitative Data Analysis?
What Techniques Do Qualitative Data Analysts Use?
What Are Some Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis?
Visual Sociology
How Can Computers Assist Qualitative Data Analysis?
What Ethical Issues Arise in Qualitative Data Analysis?
Conclusions
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Evaluation Research
What Is the History of Evaluation Research?
What Is Evaluation Research?
What Are the Alternatives in Evaluation Designs?
What Can an Evaluation Study Focus On?
Ethical Issues in Evaluation Research
Conclusion
Key Terms
Highlights
Exercises
Reviewing, Proposing, and Reporting Research
Comparing Research Designs
Reviewing Research
Proposing New Research
Reporting Research
Conclusion
Highlights
Exercises
Finding Information
Secondary Data Sources
References
Glossary/Index
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