Making Sense of the Social World : Methods of Investigation

by Chambliss, Daniel; Schutt, Russell

• ISBN13: 9781412927178
• ISBN10: 141292717X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-16
• Publisher: Pine Forge Press

Summary

In this Second Edition of the bestselling Making Sense of the Social World: Methods of Investigation, authors Daniel F. Chambliss and Russell K. Schutt once again provide students with an engaging, innovative, and accurate introduction to social research. More than a brief derivative of Schutt's widely successful Investigating the Social World, this version is written in a less formal, occasionally humorous style, with more concise examples drawn from everyday experience, and less coverage of complex or more rigorous methods.

Table of Contents

About the Authors	xvii
Preface	xix
Acknowledgments	xxiii
Science, Society, and Social Research	1	(20)
What Is the Problem?	2	(6)
Overgeneralization	5	(1)
Selective or Inaccurate Observation	5	(2)
Illogical Reasoning	7	(1)
Resistance to Change	7	(1)
Can Social Scientists See the Social World More Clearly?	8	(4)
Social Research in Practice	8	(1)
Description: How Often Do Americans ``Neighbor?''	9	(1)
Exploration: How Do Athletic Teams Build Player Loyalty?	10	(1)
Explanation: Does Social Context Influence Adolescent Outcomes?	11	(1)
Evaluation: Does More Social Capital Result in More Community Participation?	11	(1)
How Well Have We Done Our Research?	12	(4)
Measurement Validity	13	(1)
Generalizability	13	(2)
Causal Validity	15	(1)
Conclusion	16	(2)
Key Terms	18	(1)
Highlights	18	(1)
Exercises	19	(2)
Discussing Research	19	(1)
Finding Research	19	(1)
Critiquing Research	20	(1)
Doing Research	20	(1)
The Process and Problems of Social Research	21	(30)
What Is the Question?	22	(1)
What Is the Theory?	23	(2)
What Is the Strategy?	25	(6)
Deductive Research	25	(3)
Domestic Violence and the Research Circle	28	(1)
Inductive Research	29	(1)
An Inductive Study of Response to a Disaster	29	(1)
Descriptive Research: A Necessary Step	30	(1)
What Is the Design?	31	(9)
Cross-Sectional Designs	31	(1)
Longitudinal Designs	32	(2)
Trend Designs	34	(1)
Panel Designs	35	(1)
Cohort Studies	36	(1)
Units and Levels of Analysis	37	(3)
But Is It Ethical?	40	(6)
Honesty and Openness	41	(1)
The Uses of Science	41	(1)
Research on People	42	(4)
Conclusion	46	(1)
Key Terms	47	(1)
Highlights	47	(1)
Exercises	48	(3)
Discussing Research	48	(1)
Finding Research	49	(1)
Critiquing Research	50	(1)
Doing Research	50	(1)
Conceptualization and Measurement	51	(34)
What Do We Have in Mind?	52	(4)
Conceptualization	52	(3)
Variables and Constants	55	(1)
How Will We Know When We've Found It?	56	(10)
Using Available Data	58	(1)
Constructing Questions	59	(1)
Single Questions	60	(1)
Indexes and Scales	61	(2)
Making Observations	63	(1)
Content Analysis	64	(1)
Collecting Unobtrusive Measures	64	(1)
Combining Measurement Operations	65	(1)
How Much Information Do We Really Have?	66	(5)
Nominal Level of Measurement	68	(1)
Ordinal Level of Measurement	68	(1)
Interval Level of Measurement	69	(1)
Ratio Level of Measurement	70	(1)
Comparison of Levels of Measurement	70	(1)
Did We Measure What We Wanted To Measure?	71	(8)
Measurement Validity	71	(1)
Face Validity	72	(1)
Content Validity	72	(1)
Criterion Validity	72	(1)
Construct Validity	73	(1)
Reliability	74	(1)
Test-Retest Reliability	75	(1)
Interitem Reliability (Internal Consistency)	75	(1)
Alternate-Forms Reliability	76	(1)
Interobserver Reliability	76	(1)
Can We Achieve Both Reliability and Validity?	76	(3)
Conclusion	79	(1)
Key Terms	79	(1)
Highlights	80	(1)
Exercises	80	(5)
Discussing Research	80	(1)
Finding Research	81	(1)
Critiquing Research	81	(2)
Doing Research	83	(2)
Sampling	85	(21)
How Do We Prepare to Sample?	86	(4)
Define Sample Components and the Population	86	(2)
Evaluate Generalizability	88	(1)
Assess the Diversity of the Population	89	(1)
Consider a Census	89	(1)
What Sampling Method Should We Use?	90	(12)
Probability Sampling Methods	91	(3)
Simple Random Sampling	94	(1)
Systematic Random Sampling	94	(1)
Cluster Sampling	95	(2)
Stratified Random Sampling	97	(2)
Nonprobability Sampling Methods	99	(1)
Availability Sampling	99	(1)
Quota Sampling	99	(2)
Purposive Sampling	101	(1)
Snowball Sampling	101	(1)
Conclusion	102	(1)
Key Terms	102	(1)
Highlights	103	(1)
Exercises	104	(2)
Discussing Research	104	(1)
Finding Research	104	(1)
Critiquing Research	104	(1)
Doing Research	105	(1)
Causation and Experimental Design	106	(30)
Causal Explanation	107	(1)
What Causes What?	108	(3)
Association	108	(1)
Time Order	108	(1)
Nonspuriousness	109	(1)
Mechanism	109	(1)
Context	110	(1)
Why Experiment?	111	(2)
What If a True Experiment Isn't Possible?	113	(6)
Nonequivalent Control Group Designs	115	(2)
Before-and-After Designs	117	(2)
Ex Post Facto Control Group Designs	119	(1)
What Are the Threats to Validity in Experiments?	119	(9)
Threats to Internal Causal Validity	120	(1)
Noncomparable Groups	121	(1)
Endogenous Change	122	(1)
History	123	(1)
Contamination	124	(1)
Treatment Misidentification	124	(1)
Generalizability	125	(1)
Sample Generalizability	126	(1)
Cross-Population Generalizability	126	(2)
Interaction of Testing and Treatment	128	(1)
How Do Experimenters Protect Their Subjects?	128	(2)
Deception	128	(2)
Selective Distribution of Benefits	130	(1)
Conclusion	130	(1)
Key Terms	131	(1)
Highlights	132	(1)
Exercises	133	(3)
Discussing Research	133	(1)
Finding Research	134	(1)
Critiquing Research	134	(1)
Doing Research	135	(1)
Survey Research	136	(29)
Why Is Survey Research So Popular?	137	(1)
How Should We Write Survey Questions?	138	(5)
Be Clear; Avoid Confusing Phrasing	138	(1)
Minimize Bias	139	(1)
Allow for Disagreement	140	(1)
Don't Ask Questions They Can't Answer	140	(1)
Allow for Uncertainty	141	(1)
Make Response Categories Exhaustive and Mutually Exclusive	142	(1)
How Should Questionnaires Be Designed?	143	(3)
Build on Existing Instruments	143	(1)
Refine and Test Questions	143	(1)
Maintain Consistent Focus	144	(1)
Order the Questions	144	(1)
Make the Questionnaire Attractive	145	(1)
What Are the Alternatives for Administering Surveys?	146	(10)
Mailed, Self-Administered Surveys	147	(1)
Group-Administered Surveys	148	(2)
Telephone Surveys	150	(1)
Reaching Sampling Units	150	(1)
Maximizing Response to Phone Surveys	150	(2)
In-Person Interviews	152	(1)
Maximizing Response to Interviews	152	(1)
Electronic Surveys	153	(3)
A Comparison of Survey Designs	156	(1)
Ethical Issues in Survey Research	157	(2)
Conclusion	159	(1)
Key Terms	160	(1)
Highlights	160	(1)
Exercises	161	(4)
Discussing Research	161	(1)
Finding Research	161	(1)
Critiquing Research	162	(2)
Doing Research	164	(1)
Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening	165	(27)
What Are ``Qualitative'' Methods?	166	(3)
Case Study: Beyond Caring	167	(2)
How Does Participant Observation Become a Research Method?	169	(10)
Choosing a Role	169	(1)
Complete Observation	170	(1)
Mixed Participation/Observation	171	(1)
Complete Participation	172	(1)
Entering the Field	172	(2)
Developing and Maintaining Relationships	174	(1)
Sampling People and Events	174	(3)
Taking Notes	177	(2)
Managing the Personal Dimensions	179	(1)
How Do You Conduct Intensive Interviews?	179	(5)
Establishing and Maintaining a Partnership	182	(1)
Asking Questions and Recording Answers	182	(2)
How Do You Run Focus Groups?	184	(1)
Analyzing Qualitative Data	185	(1)
The Phases of Analysis	185	(1)
Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research	186	(2)
Conclusion	188	(1)
Key Terms	188	(1)
Highlights	189	(1)
Exercises	190	(2)
Discussing Research	190	(1)
Finding Research	190	(1)
Critiquing Research	190	(1)
Doing Research	191	(1)
Qualitative Data Analysis	192	(36)
What Is Distinctive About Qualitative Data Analysis?	193	(5)
Qualitative Data Analysis as an Art	196	(1)
Qualitative Compared to Quantitative Data Analysis	196	(2)
What Techniques Do Qualitative Data Analysts Use?	198	(11)
Documentation	199	(1)
Conceptualization, Coding, and Categorizing	200	(4)
Examining Relationships and Displaying Data	204	(1)
Authenticating Conclusions	205	(2)
Reflexivity	207	(2)
What Are Some Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis?	209	(10)
Ethnography	209	(2)
Ethnomethodology	211	(1)
Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)	211	(2)
Narrative Analysis	213	(3)
Conversation Analysis	216	(2)
Case-Oriented Understanding	218	(1)
Grounded Theory	218	(1)
Visual Sociology	219	(2)
How Can Computers Assist Qualitative Data Analysis?	221	(3)
What Ethical Issues Arise in Qualitative Data Analysis?	224	(1)
Conclusions	225	(1)
Key Terms	226	(1)
Highlights	226	(1)
Exercises	226	(2)
Discussing Research	226	(1)
Finding Research	226	(1)
Critiquing Research	227	(1)
Doing Research	227	(1)
Elementary Quantitative Data Analysis	228	(29)
Why Do Statistics?	229	(1)
Case Study: The Likelihood of Voting	229	(1)
How to Prepare Data for Analysis	229	(1)
What Are the Options for Displaying Distributions?	230	(8)
Graphs	232	(4)
Frequency Distributions	236	(2)
What Are the Options for Summarizing Distributions?	238	(8)
Measures of Central Tendency	239	(1)
Mode	239	(1)
Median	240	(1)
Mean	241	(1)
Median or Mean?	241	(2)
Measures of Variation	243	(1)
Range	243	(1)
Interquartile Range	243	(1)
Variance	243	(1)
Standard Deviation	244	(2)
How Can We Tell Whether Two Variables Are Related?	246	(5)
Reading the Table	247	(2)
Controlling for a Third Variable	249	(2)
Analyzing Data Ethically: How Not to Lie with Statistics	251	(1)
Conclusion	252	(1)
Key Terms	253	(1)
Highlights	253	(1)
Exercises	254	(3)
Discussing Research	254	(1)
Finding Research	254	(1)
Critiquing Research	254	(1)
Doing Research	255	(2)
Reviewing, Proposing, and Reporting Research	257	(26)
Comparing Research Designs	258	(2)
Reviewing Research	260	(6)
Case Study: ``Night as Frontier''	261	(1)
The Research Design	261	(1)
Analysis of the Design	262	(1)
An Overall Assessment	263	(1)
Case Study: When Does Arrest Matter?	263	(1)
Summarize Prior Research	263	(1)
Critique Prior Research	264	(1)
Present Pertinent Conclusions	265	(1)
Proposing New Research	266	(7)
Case Study: Treating Substance Abuse	267	(6)
Reporting Research	273	(6)
Writing and Organizing	273	(6)
Conclusion	279	(1)
Highlights	280	(1)
Exercises	281	(2)
Discussing Research	281	(1)
Finding Research	281	(1)
Critiquing Research	281	(1)
Doing Research	281	(2)
Appendix A: Finding Information	283	(11)
Elizabeth Schneider
Russell K. Schutt
Appendix B: Secondary Data Sources	294	(13)
References	307	(10)
Glossary/Index	317