Basics of Social Research : Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches

by Neuman, W. Lawrence

• ISBN13: 9780205355785
• ISBN10: 0205355781
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Adapted from the extremely successful Social Research Methods, this exciting new book is a concise introduction to the process of social research. Using clear, accessible language and examples from real research, Lawrence Neuman guides readers through the process of planning, implementing, analyzing, and reporting social research projects.

Table of Contents

Foundations

Doing Social Research

Alternatives to Social Research

How Science Works

Steps in the Research Process Dimensions of Research

Theory and Research

What Is Theory?

The Parts of Theory

The Aspects of Theory

The Dynamic Duo

Ethics in Social Research The Individual Researcher

Why Be Ethical? Power Relations

Ethical Issues Involving Research Participants

Mandated Protections of Research Participants

Ethics and the Scientific Community

Ethics and the Sponsors of Research

Politics of Research

Value Free and Objective Research

Reviewing the Scholarly Literature and Planning a Study

Literature Review

Where to Find Research Literature

Using the Internet for Social Research

Qualitative and Quantitative Orientations Toward Research

Qualitative Design Issues

Quantitative Design Issues

Conducting Quantitative Research

Formulating Hypotheses and Measuring Variables

Why Measure? Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement Parts of the Measurement Process

Reliability and Validity

A Guide to Quantitative Measurement

Index Construction

Scales

Sampling Nonprobability Sampling

Probability Sampling

Survey Research

The Logic of Survey Research

Construction the Questionnaire

Types of Surveys: Advantages and Disadvantages

Interviewing

The Ethical Survey

The Experiment

Random Assignment

Experimental Design Logic

Internal and External Validity

Practical Considerations

Results of Experimental Research: Making Comparisons

A Word on Ethics

Non-Reactive Research

Nonreactive Measurement

Content Analysis

Existing Statistics/Documents and Secondary Analysis

Issues of Inference and Theory Testing

Statistical Analysis Dealing with Data

Results with One Variable

Results with Two Variables

More Than Two Variables

Inferential Statistics

Conducting Qualitative Research

Field Research

The Logic of Field Research

Choosing a Site and Gaining Access

Relations in the Field

Observing and Collecting Data

The Field Research Interview

Leaving the Field

Ethical Dilemmas of Field Research

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

Qualitative Data Analysis

Comparing Methods of Data Analysis

Coding and Concept Formation

Analytic Strategies for Qualitative Data

Other Techniques

Writing A Research Report

Writing a Research Report

The Research Report

Glossary

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