Front cover image for The practice of social research

The practice of social research

This is a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to the field of research as practiced by social scientists. This best-selling book emphasizes the research process by demonstrating how to design research studies, introducing the various observation modes in use today, and answering questions about research methods--such as how to conduct online surveys, and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data. The practice of social research provides all the tools researchers and consumers need to apply social research
Print Book, English, ©2010
Wadsworth Cengage, Belmont, Calif, ©2010
xxiv, 530 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
9780495598411, 0495598410
317075477
pt. 1, Introduction to inquiry. Human inquiry and science ; Paradigms, theory, and social research ; The ethics and politics of social research
pt. 2, The structuring of inquiry : quantitative and qualitative. Research design ; Conceptualization, operationalization, and measurement ; Indexes, scales, and typologies ; The logic of sampling
pt. 3, Modes of operation : quantitative and qualitative. Experiments ; Survey research ; Qualitative field research ; Unobtrusive research ; Evaluation research
pt. 4, Analysis of data : quantitative and qualitative. Qualitative data analysis ; Quantitative data analysis ; The elaboration model ; Statistical analyses ; Reading and writing social research
Appendixes. Using the library ; GSS household enumeration questionnaire ; Random numbers ; Distribution of chi square ; Normal curve areas ; Estimated sampling error ; Twenty questions a jounalist should ask about poll results