Research Design: Succesful Designs for Social Economics Research

by Hakim,Catherine

• ISBN13: 9780415223133
• ISBN10: 041522313X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2000-08-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Covering both theoretical and policy research,this is a practical overview of the central issues involved in the design of social and economic research. Illustrations from real life research with many updates on the previous edition.

Author Biography

Catherine Hakim is Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Key to abbreviations	xv
Introduction	1	(18)
Rationale for a focus on research design	2	(1)
Theoretical research and policy research	3	(6)
A classification of study types	9	(3)
Qualitative and quantitive research	12	(2)
The presentation of study types	14	(2)
Choices, strategies and practicalities	16	(3)
PART I Types of research study	19	(126)
Research reviews, meta-analysis and secondary analysis	21	(13)
Research reviews	21	(2)
Meta-analysis	23	(1)
Secondary analysis	24	(3)
Population census studies	27	(2)
Cross-national comparative studies	29	(2)
Practical considerations	31	(3)
Qualitative research	34	(12)
Depth interviews and focus groups	35	(3)
Some illustrative examples	38	(2)
Cross-national comparative studies	40	(1)
Overlaps and combinations	40	(2)
Practical considerations	42	(4)
Administrative records and documents	46	(13)
Varieties of records-based research	48	(2)
The nature and quality of data from administrative records	50	(3)
Computerisation of administrative records	53	(1)
Record linkage	54	(2)
Documentary analysis	56	(1)
Cross-national comparative studies	56	(1)
Overlaps and combinations	57	(1)
Practical considerations	57	(2)
Case studies	59	(17)
Individual case histories	63	(2)
Community studies	65	(1)
Case studies of social groups	66	(2)
Case studies of organisations and institutions	68	(2)
Case studies of events, roles and relationships	70	(1)
Cross-national comparative studies	71	(1)
Overlaps and combinations	72	(1)
Practical considerations	72	(4)
Ad hoc sample surveys	76	(19)
Surveys of individuals	79	(4)
Survey research on roles and relationships	83	(2)
Survey research on organisations	85	(1)
Cross-national comparative studies	86	(2)
Overlaps and combinations	88	(1)
Practical considerations	89	(6)
Regular surveys	95	(14)
Gross and net change	96	(2)
Types of regular survey	98	(4)
Cross-national comparative studies	102	(3)
Overlaps and combinations	105	(1)
Practical considerations	106	(3)
Longitudinal studies	109	(18)
Multi-purpose studies: panels and cohorts	114	(5)
Studies focused on specific groups or issues	119	(1)
Inter-generational studies	120	(1)
Retrospective studies	120	(1)
Cross-national comparative studies	121	(2)
Overlaps and combinations	123	(1)
Practical considerations	123	(4)
Experimental social research	127	(18)
Experiments in real-life settings	132	(3)
Natural experiments	135	(2)
Experiments in artificial settings	137	(2)
Simulation and modelling	139	(2)
Cross-national comparative studies	141	(1)
Overlaps and combinations	142	(1)
Practical considerations	142	(3)
PART II Putting together a research design	145	(71)
Choices and combinations	147	(17)
Student dissertations and theses	149	(1)
Trading down to a cheaper design	150	(2)
Trading up to a more complex design	152	(1)
Simultaneous replication	153	(3)
Units of analysis: time, space and social units	156	(8)
Research programmes	164	(20)
Strategies for research programmes	166	(4)
Focused sampling	170	(2)
Selection effects	172	(1)
Multiple triangulation	172	(2)
Conflicting interests	174	(2)
Multi-disciplinary research	176	(3)
Programme organisation and management	179	(2)
Presentation of reports	181	(3)
The organisation and funding of research	184	(16)
Practical aspects of research design	185	(3)
Funding	188	(5)
Organisation and management of research work	193	(2)
Issues in research management	195	(5)
Cross-national comparative studies	200	(11)
The logic of comparative analysis	200	(3)
Organisation of research work	203	(3)
Funding and practical problems	206	(5)
Conclusions	211	(5)
Bibliography	216	(32)
Author index	248	(6)
Subject index	254