The Practice of Social Research (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac)

by Babbie, Earl R.

• ISBN13: 9780534620288
• ISBN10: 0534620280
• Edition: 10th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-03-06
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

This thorough revision of Babbie's standard-setting book for the course offers students a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to the field of research methods as practiced by sociologists and other social scientists. Emphasizing the importance of the research process, the book shows students how social scientists design research studies, introduces the variety of observation modes used by sociologists, and covers the "how-tos" and "whys" of social research methods. Students learn how to conduct various types of research, when it is appropriate to use each method, and how to analyze qualitative and quantitative data using the Elaboration Model. The 10th edition provides students with the necessary tools for understanding social research methods and for applying these concepts both inside and outside the classroom--as researchers and as consumers of research. Retaining the authoritative coverage of the research process that has made the book a best-seller, the new edition is more student-friendly than ever. The new edition features a completely new chapter on reading and writing social research, a streamlined organization, a new running glossary, and a new Research Writing and Chapter Tutorial CD-ROM that not only helps students every step of the way in writing research papers, but also links to chapter by chapter online tutorials that will help them master the concepts and techniques of the course.

Table of Contents

Part One: AN INTRODUCTION TO INQUIRY

1. Human Inquiry and Science

2. Paradigms, Theory and Social Research

3. The Ethics and Politics of Social Research

Part Two: THE STRUCTURE OF INQUIRY

4. Research Design

5. Conceptualization, Operationalization and Measurement

6. Indexes, Scales, and Typologies

7. The Logic of Sampling

Part Three: MODES OF OBSERVATION

8. Experiments

9. Survey Research

10. Qualitative Field Research

11. Unobtrusive Measures

12. Evaluation Research

Part Four: ANALYSIS OF DATA

13. Qualitative Data Analysis

14. Elementary Quantitative Analyses

15. The Elaboration Model

16. Social Statistics

17. Reading and Writing Social Research

Appendix A: Using the Library

Appendix B: GSS Household Enumeration Questionnaire

Appendix C: Random Numbers

Appendix D: Distribution of Chi Square

Appendix E: Normal Curve Areas

Appendix F: Estimated Sampling Error

Twenty Questions a Journalist Should Ask about Poll Results