Research Training for Social Scientists : A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers

by Dawn Burton

• ISBN13: 9780761963509
• ISBN10: 0761963502
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-05-15
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

Summary

With indispensable advice for students from all social science backgrounds, this handbook provides the core conceptual and practical skills to embark on succesful research. The organization of the book reflects the knowledge that is required in order to become a competent and effective researcher. It follows the life-cycle of the research project: it begins with a discussion of ethical and philosphical issues; presents guides to both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis; provides help on using computers in research; and includes advice on how to write up and present a research project. Based on the UK Economic and Social Research Council advice on the training which students should undertake in preparation for postgraduate research, this book will be invaluable for all beginning researchers

Table of Contents

Notes on contributors	viii
Acknowledgements	xii
Foreword	xiii
Robert G. Burgess
Introduction	xiv
Part I Philosophy of the Social Sciences	1	(58)
Philosophy of Science and its Relevance for the Social Sciences	5	(16)
Peter K. Smith
Questions of Hermeneutics: Beyond Empiricism and Post-modernism	21	(12)
Nick Stevenson
Feminist Methodologies for Social Researching	33	(16)
Sue Webb
Race and Racism	49	(10)
Peter Jackson
Part II Ethical and Legal Issues in Social Science Research	59	(76)
Ethical Principles	61	(7)
Gerry Kent
The Power of Research	68	(13)
Iain Crow
Informed Consent	81	(7)
Gerry Kent
Can the Law Prescribe an Ethical Framework for Social Science Research?	88	(9)
D.M.R. Townend
Ethics in the Field	97	(12)
Anne Celnick
How does Substantive Law Currently Regulate Social Science Research?	109	(26)
D.M.R. Townend
Part III Getting Started	135	(18)
Using Literature to Support Research	137	(16)
Dawn Burton
Part IV Qualitative Methods: Design, Data Collection and Analysis	153	(100)
Theory and Method in Qualitative Research	156	(11)
Simon Holdaway
Participatory Research as Emancipatory Method: Challenges and Opportunities	167	(19)
Wanda Thomas Bernard
The Use of Focus Groups in Social Science Research	186	(10)
Caroline Oates
Qualitative Interviewing	196	(19)
Matt Stroh
The Use of Case Studies in Social Science Research	215	(11)
Dawn Burton
Computers and Qualitative Data Analysis: To Use or Not to Use...?	226	(18)
Matt Stroh
Writing up Qualitative Data	244	(9)
Peter Jackson
Part V Using Computers for Qualitative Data Analysis	253	(36)
Using NUD•IST Version 4: A Hands-on Lesson	257	(32)
Matt Stroh
Part VI Survey Research in the Social Sciences: Design and Data Collection	289	(72)
Design Issues in Survey Research	292	(15)
Dawn Burton
Sampling Strategies in Survey Research	307	(13)
Dawn Burton
Data Collection Issues in Survey Research	320	(15)
Dawn Burton
Questionnaire Design	335	(12)
Dawn Burton
Secondary Data Analysis	347	(14)
Dawa Burton
Part VII Quantitative Data Analysis	361	(60)
Descriptive Statistics	363	(22)
Vernon Gayle
Inferential Statistics	385	(29)
Vernon Gayle
Getting Started	414	(7)
Vernon Gayle
Part VIII Finishing Off: Writing, Presenting and Publishing	421	(56)
Writing a Thesis	423	(14)
Dawn Burton
Presentation Skills	437	(19)
H. Doug Watts
Paul White
Getting Published	456	(21)
H. Doug Watts
Paul White
References	477	(22)
Index	499