Need to Know: Social Science Research Methods

by McIntyre, Lisa

• ISBN13: 9780767413176
• ISBN10: 0767413172
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-05-05
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education

Summary

This accessible, alternative approach to mainstream Research Methods titles is written for students who will need to interpret social research in their careers and, more than likely, have opportunities to do research. The book's focus is on equipping students with the tools both to evaluate research done by others and to do their own research. Exercises in the text help students develop skills and strategies for research, including Internet assignments for finding and evaluating sources. The text provides students with a solid grounding in the relevant aspects of the philosophy of science and thoroughly explains the differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: Why You Need to Know: An Introduction

Chapter 2: The Nature of the Scientific Enterprise

Chapter 3: The Logic of Inquiry

Chapter 4: The Vocabulary of Science

Chapter 5: Doing the Right Thing--Ethics in Social Research

Chapter 6: Sampling

Chapter 7: Elements of Research Design

Chapter 8: Experiments

Chapter 9: Survey Research--Part 1: The Art of Asking Questions

Chapter 10: Survey Research--Part 2: Design and Implementation

Chapter 11: Unobtrusive Methods

Chapter 12: Qualitative Research Methods

Appendix A: Working on the Internet

Appendix B: Code of Ethics, American Sociological Association

Appendix C: Tables and Figures

Appendix D: Basic Statistics for Social Researchers

Appendix E: Writing Research Reports

References

Credits

Glossary/Index