Sociological Research Methods An Introduction

by Bulmer, Martin

• ISBN13: 9780333695883
• ISBN10: 0333695887
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-06-01
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

A distinctive characteristic of sociology is its concern with the methods used to investigate social reality. How can we know what we do know about society? Which methods of research will yield most reliable and valid knowledge? How are choices between different methods arrived at? How can different methods be combined? This new edition of Bulmer's classic text provides a fresh overview of four major styles of research.

Author Biography

Martin Bulmer is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Surrey.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Sociological Theory In Empirical Research

Facts, Concepts, Theories and Problems

Social-Survey Research

The Meaning of Relationships in Social-Survey Analysis

Problems with Surveys: Method or Epistemology?

Unobtrusive Measures

The Use of Archival Sources in Social Research

Why Don't Sociologists Make More Use of Official Statistics?

Historical Sources

The Relevance of History to Sociology

The Historical Study of Family Structure

Class Structure in Early Twentieth-Century Salford

Interpretative Procedures

Of Sociology and the Interview

Asking Questions (And Listening to Answers)

Concepts in the Analysis of Qualitative Data

Theory, Method and Substance

The Multi-Method Approach to Sociological Analysis

On Feminist Methodology

Social Skills, Social Research Skills, Sociological Skills: Teaching Reflexivity?

Bibliography

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