Clear, coherent and trusted this book is the perfect guide to the main social research methods in use today. The much anticipated third edition of Clive Seale's bestselling title further expands its coverage to provide an authoritative introduction to all of the social research methods used to analyze qualitative and quantitative data. Written by internationally renowned experts, every chapter is packed with real world examples, student-friendly learning aids and helpful practical tips. Highlights of this edition include: - New chapters covering: research design, sampling, structured data collection, preparing data for statistical analysis, coding and analysing qualitative data, narrative analysis and interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), giving oral presentations, writing a research report and content and comparative keyword analysis - A much expanded glossary now boasting more than 500 definitions - A re-modelled and expanded website containing lecturer PowerPoint slides, extra chapters not included in the book and downloadable journal articles - Revised student exercises, workshops, review questions and key words An invaluable, practical resource this book is an essential companion for every undergraduate and postgraduate student starting a methods course or social research project.

Table of Contents

Introduction and Guide to Using This Book - Clive Seale PART ONE: STARTING OUT Introduction to the Philosophy of Science - Miran Epstein Research and Theory - David Silverman Research and Policy - David Silverman Ethics and Social Research - Suki Ali and Moira Kelly Doing a Literature Review - Duncan Branley Research Questions and Proposals - Moira Kelly Research Design - Clare Rutterford Sampling - Clive Seale Doing a Dissertation - Chetan Bhatt PART TWO: DOING RESEARCH Structured Methods: Interviews, Questionnaires and Observation - Constantinos N Phellas, Alice Bloch, Clive Seale Qualitative Interviewing - Bridget Byrne Focus Groups - Fran Tonkiss Doing Ethnography - David Walsh Doing Historical and Documentary Research - Ben Gidley Visual Analysis - Suki Ali Secondary Analysis and Official Statistics - Clive Seale Preparing Data for Statistical Analysis - Clive Seale Statistical Reasoning: From One to Two Variables - Alice Bloch Statistical Reasoning: Causal Arguments and Multivariate Analysis - Clive Seale Coding and Analyzing Qualitative Data - Carol Rivas Generating Grounded Theory - Clive Seale Discourse Analysis - Fran Tonkiss Analyzing Conversation - Tim Rapley Narrative Analysis and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis - Ann Griffin and Vanessa May Content and Comparative Keyword Analysis - Clive Seale and Fran Tonkiss Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods - Neil Spicer PART THREE: WRITING, PRESENTING, REFLECTING Writing a Research Report - Carol Rivas Giving Oral Presentations - David Silverman Validity, Reliability and the Quality of Research - Clive Seale When Things Go Wrong - Mike Michael

Reviews

This is an amazing and adventurous book with wide coverage of core issues in the research methods that are commonly used in many social sciences. The coverage is in-depth and of world-class quality. The examples used are fascinating and perhaps reflect the origins of some authors outside academia, ranging from general practitioner to counsellor and photographer. I was very impressed with the deep analysis of the philosophy of science which was presented in a useful way. Simple topics like sampling and testing hypotheses are covered in highly readable manner. Complex topics like discourse analysis are made easy through the use of short examples based on real-life interviews. The coverage of qualitative methods in a series of chapters is conveniently presented. Each chapter can be read independently. Some other chapters have been moved to an online free access mode, while new chapters have also been added for this edition. The links to online resources are extremely convenient and there are exercises and questions for review with each chapter. The book is highly enjoyable and, through the collaboration of its authors, offers much more value for money than the reader expects Wendy Olsen Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester