The Practice of Social Research (with InfoTrac)

by Babbie, Earl R.

• ISBN13: 9780534574741
• ISBN10: 0534574742
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-07-14
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

This best-selling book covers all the major methods of social research. By emphasizing an understanding of the theoretical logic behind the research process and demonstrating preferred techniques, this book helps readers see methods as a way of thinking and gathering evidence.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvi
Holographic Overview	1	(13)
PART 1 An Introduction to Inquiry	14	(74)
Human Inquiry and Science	16	(25)
Paradigms, Theory, and Social Research	41	(27)
The Idea of Causation in Social Research	68	(20)
PART 2 The Structure of Inquiry	88	(126)
Research Design	90	(28)
Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement	118	(30)
Indexes, Scales, and Typologies	148	(27)
The Logic of Sampling	175	(39)
PART 3 Modes of Observation	214	(142)
Experiments	216	(21)
Survey Research	237	(37)
Qualitative Field Research	274	(29)
Unobstrusive Measures	303	(28)
Evaluation Research	331	(25)
PART 4 Analysis of Data	356	(110)
Qualitative Data Analysis	358	(25)
Quantifying Data	383	(13)
Elementary Quantitative Analyses	396	(20)
The Elaboration Model	416	(18)
Social Statistics	434	(32)
PART 5 The Social Context of Research	466
The Ethics and Politics of Social Research	468
The Uses of Social Research	490
Appendixes	A1
A Using the Library	A2
B Social Research in Cyberspace	A8
C The Research Report	A16
D GSS Household Enumeration Questionnaire	A23
E Random Numbers	A33
F Distribution of Chi Square	A35
G Normal Curve Areas	A37
H Estimated Sampling Error	A38
I A Learner's Guide to SPSS 8.0	A46
J Twenty Questions a Journalist Should Ask about Poll Results	A75