Theory and Methods in Social Research

by Bridget Somekh

• ISBN13: 9781849200141
• ISBN10: 1849200149
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781446246320
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-01-28
• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd

Summary

This new edition provides a scholarly and readable introduction to all the key qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and methods, enabling postgraduate and masters-level students and new researchers to reflect on which ones suit their needs and to receive guidance on how to find out more.With chapters written by experienced research practitioners, this second edition has been extensively expanded and updated. There are seven completely new chapters, as well as:" new material on literature reviews" a new introduction to quantitative methods" an expanded glossary" Weblinks with free access to a wide range of peer-reviewed journal articles" an annotated bibliography with conversational notes from authors in each chapter.This book will act as your 'expert friend' throughout your research project, providing advice, explaining key concepts and the implications for your research design, and illustrating these with examples of real research studies.

Table of Contents

Reading, Reviewing and Reflecting

Introduction

Research in the Social Sciences

Working with Literatures

Ethical Issues in Generating Public Knowledge

Listening, Exploring The Case and Theorizing

Introduction

Ethnography

Research Diaries

Case Study

Interviewing and Focus Groups

Addressing Issues of Power and Researching For Impact

Introduction

Feminist Methodologies

Critical Race Theory and Its Use in Social Science Research

Queer Theory / Lesbian and Gay Approaches

Action Research

The Purpose, Practice and Politics of Sponsored Evaluations

Observing, Querying, Interpreting

Introduction

Grounded Theory

Understanding Phenomenology through Reverse Perspectives

Observation

Discourse Analysis

Researching Online Practices

Identity, Community and Representation

Introduction

Life History and Narrative Methods

Social Semiotics and Multimodal Texts

Communities of Practice

Activity Theory

Researching Policy

Quantitative Methods: Theories and Perspectives

Introduction

The Practices of Quantitative Methods

The Positivist Paradigm in Contemporary Social Research: The Interface of Psychology, Method and Sociocultural Theory

Understanding and Describing Quantitative Data

Differences and Relationships in Quantitative Data

An Introduction to Statistical Modelling

Quantitative Methods in Action

Introduction

Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Social Inquiry

Random Reflections on Modelling, Geography and Voting

Methodological Issues in International Comparative Assessments of Educational Progress

Evaluating Literacy Advance in the Early Years of School

Working Backwards: The Road Less Travelled in Quantitative Methodology

Researching in Postmodern Contexts

Introduction

Deconstruction

From Hermeneutics to Post-Structuralism to Psychoanalysis

From Structuralism to Post-Structuralism

Feminism/Post-Structuralism

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