Social Research Methodology A Critical Introduction, Second Edition

by Gomm, Roger

• ISBN13: 9780230224759
• ISBN10: 023022475X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-05-15
• Publisher: Red Globe Pr

Summary

Today's students of social science must understand a variety of research methods. This new edition fully explores the logic of research, whilst aiding acritical understanding of practical, evidence based work. With new chapters, an original framework and updated examples, this book continues to be the primary resource for undergraduates.

Author Biography

ROGER GOMM is Lecturer in Health and Social Welfare at The Open University.He has been widely published in the field of social research and methods, and is Co-editor of Using Evidence in Health and Social Care, Evaluating Research in Health and Social Care: A Reader and Case Study Method: Key Issues, Key Texts.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	p. vii
List of Tables	p. ix
List of Panels	p. xii
List of Transcripts	p. xiv
List of Activities	p. xv
Preface to the Second Edition	p. xvii
Acknowledgements	p. xix
List of Abbreviations	p. xx
Overview of the Book: Summarizing the main themes running though the book	p. 1
Instruments and Instrument Design: Criteria for constructing data collecting instruments	p. 24
Controlled Experiments: Introducing the logic of control as exemplified in controlled experiments	p. 59
More Naturalism in Experiments: Considering the merits and the problems of relaxing experimental control in order to make a controlled experiment more naturalistic	p. 85
Computer Simulations and Complexity Theory: Outlining the role of computer simulations in social research with particular reference to the simulation of complex phenomena	p. 111
Sample Surveys and Statistical Representativeness: Introducing surveys, sampling and statistical representativeness as the basis for empirical generalization	p. 129
Natural Experiments: Introducing and illustrating the ideas of natural experiments and statistical control	p. 158
Controlling for Time in Natural Experiments: Considering the importance of establishing time sequence in natural experiments and the use of longitudinal research	p. 183
Using Administrative Data in Research: Outlining the problems of using administrative data in social research	p. 196
Questions and Answers: Comparing questioning for social surveys with questioning in qualitative interviews and the data arising	p. 208
Analysing the Results of Qualitative Interviews: Demonstrating three different ways of analysing qualitative interview data	p. 239
Observing Naturally Occurring Events: Considering the strategies of naturalistic observation	p. 268
Analysing Written Documents: Explaining some techniques for analysing written documents both as topics and as resources	p. 295
Evaluative and Emancipatory Research: Considering the role of values in research and the differences between value-neutral and value-led research	p. 322
Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analysis and Syntheses from Diverse Sources: Explaining the various strategies adopted to synthesize the results of different pieces of research	p. 344
Research Ethics: Outlining different views on the proper moral conduct for social researchers	p. 365
References	p. 391
Index	p. 419
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.