Principles of Social Research

by Green, Judith; Browne, John

• ISBN13: 9780335218356
• ISBN10: 0335218350
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-08-01
• Publisher: Open University Press

Summary

Public health problems are increasingly those of human behaviour: encouraging healthier lifestyles, understanding social determinants of health, and barriers to effective public policies, including health care policies. This book introduces some of the principles of social research as applied to public health. It is aimed at those with some understanding of health and health care but little exposure to social research. It introduces some of the social science disciplines that have turned their attention to health and health care such as medical sociology, psychology and anthropology.The book examines: Social science concepts Research design Interviewing and focus groups Analysing qualitative data Questionnaire and survey design

Table of Contents

Overview of the book	1	(4)
Section 1: Introduction	5	(38)
Introduction to social research	7	(8)
Judith Green
John Browne
Science and social science	15	(8)
Judith Green
John Browne
Framing a research question	23	(9)
Judith Green
John Browne
Research design	32	(11)
Judith Green
John Browne
Section 2: Qualitative methods	43	(50)
Introduction to qualitative methods	45	(8)
Judith Green
Qualitative interviewing	53	(10)
Judith Green
Focus groups and other group methods	63	(12)
Judith Green
Analysing qualitative data	75	(15)
Judith Green
Practical: using qualitative methods	90	(3)
Judith Green
Section 3: Quantitative methods	93	(40)
Measurement in the social sciences	95	(13)
John Browne
Judith Green
Questionnaire design	108	(8)
John Browne
Survey design	116	(12)
John Browne
Practical: designing a questionnaire	128	(5)
John Browne
Section 4: Social science disciplines in public health	133	(32)
Introduction to applied medical anthropology	135	(10)
Karina Kielmann
Introduction to history in health	145	(11)
Virginia Berridge
Multi-method and multi-disciplinary approaches	156	(9)
Judith Green
Glossary	165	(4)
Index	169