Theory and Methods in Social Research

by Bridget Somekh

• ISBN13: 9781849200158
• ISBN10: 1849200157
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• 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.

Author Biography

Bridget Somekh is Professor of Educational Research (Emeritus) in the Education and Social Research Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is currently Adjunct Professor at the University of Canterbury, 2010-13. During 2009-11 she is also Adjunct Professor at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. Cathy Lewin is a Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director of the CREATE research group in Manchester Metropolitan University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. x
Contributor biographies	p. xi
Foreword	p. xvii
Introduction	p. xix
Reading, Reviewing and Reflecting
Introduction	p. 1
Research in the Social Sciences	p. 2
Working with Literatures	p. 16
Ethical Issues in Generating Public Knowledge	p. 25
Listening, Exploring the Case and Theorizing
Introduction	p. 33
Ethnography	p. 34
Research Diaries	p. 43
Case Study	p. 53
Interviewing and Focus Groups	p. 61
Addressing Issues of Power and Researching for Impact
Introduction	p. 69
Feminist Methodologies	p. 70
Critical Race Theory and Its Use in Social Science Research	p. 78
Queer Theory/Lesbian and Gay Approaches	p. 86
Action Research	p. 94
The Purpose, Practice and Politics of Sponsored Evaluations	p. 102
Observing, Querying, Interpreting
Introduction	p. 111
Grounded Theory	p. 113
Understanding Phenomenology through Reverse Perspectives	p. 121
Observation	p. 131
Discourse Analysis	p. 139
Researching Online Practices	p. 147
Identity, Community and Representation
Introduction	p. 155
Life History and Narrative Methods	p. 157
Social Semiotics and Multimodal Texts	p. 166
Communities of Practice	p. 174
Activity Theory	p. 182
Researching Policy	p. 190
Quantitative Methods: Theories and Perspectives
Introduction	p. 199
The Practice of Quantitative Methods	p. 201
The Positivist Paradigm in Contemporary Social Research: The Interface of Psychology, Method and Sociocultural Theory	p. 212
Understanding and Describing Quantitative Data	p. 220
Differences and Relationships in Quantitative Data	p. 231
An Introduction to Statistical Modelling	p. 241
Quantitative Methods in Action
Introduction	p. 257
Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Social Inquiry	p. 259
Random Reflections on Modelling, Geography and Voting	p. 267
Methodological Issues in International Comparative Assessments of Educational Progress	p. 271
Evaluating Literacy Advance in the Early Years of School	p. 276
Working Backwards: The Road Less Travelled in Quantitative Methodology	p. 280
Researching in Postmodern Contexts
Introduction	p. 285
Deconstruction	p. 286
From Hermeneutics to Post-Structuralism to Psycholanalysis	p. 295
From Structuralism to Post-Structuralism	p. 304
Feminism/Post-Structuralism	p. 312
Glossary	p. 320
Index	p. 332
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