Table of Contents

Each chapter begins with an Introduction and ends with Conclusion, Key Terms, Review Questions and Notes.

Preface.

I. FOUNDATIONS.

1. Science and Research.

Alternatives to Social Research.

How Science Works.

Qualitative and Quantitative Social Research.

Steps of the Research Process.

Why Conduct Social Research.

2. Dimensions of Research.

Dimensions of Research.

Audience for and Use of Research

The Purpose of research

The Time Dimension in Research

Data Collection Techniques Used.

3. Theory and Research.

What Is Theory?

Social Theory versus Ideology.

The Parts of Theory.

Aspects of Theory.

The Dynamic Duo.

4. The Meanings of Methodology.

The Three Approaches.

Positivist Social Science.

Interpretative Social Science.

Critical Social Science.

Feminist and Postmodern Research.

5. The Literature Review and Ethical Concerns.

The Literature Review.

Ethics in Social Research.

II. PLANNING AND PREPARATION.

6. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs.

Triangulation.

Qualitative and Quantitative Orientations Toward Research.

Qualitative Design Issues.

Quantitative Design Issues.

7. Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement.

Why Measure?

Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement.

Parts of the Measurement Process.

Reliability and Validity.

A Guide to Quantitative Measurement.

Index Construction.

Scales.

8. Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling.

Nonprobability Sampling.

Probability Sampling.

III. QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.

9. Experimental Research.

Random Assignment.

Experimental Design Logic.

Internal and External Validity.

Practical Considerations.

Results of Experimental Research: Making Comparisons.

A Word on Ethics.

10. Survey Research.

The Logic of Survey Research.

Constructing the Questionnaire.

Types of Surveys: Advantages and Disadvantages.

Interviewing.

Computer-Assisted Pilot-Testing and Web Surveys

The Ethical Survey.

11. Nonreactive Research and Secondary Analysis.

Nonreactive Measurement.

Content Analysis.

Existing Statistics/Documents and Secondary Analysis.

Issues of Inference and Theory Testing.

12. Analysis of Quantitative Data.

Dealing with Data.

Results with One Variable.

Results with Two Variables.

More than Two Variables.

Inferential Statistics.

IV. QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.

13. Field Research.

The Logic of Field Research.

Choosing a Site and Gaining Access.

Relations in the Field.

Observing and Collecting Data.

The Field Research Interview.

Leaving the Field.

Ethical Dilemmas of Field Research.

14. Historical-Comparative Research.

The Logic of Historical Comparative Research.

Steps in a Historical-Comparative Research Project.

Data and Evidence in Historical Context.

Comparative Research.

Equivalence in Historical Comparative Research.

15. Analysis of Qualitative Data.

Comparing Methods of Data Analysis.

Coding and Concept Formation.

Analytic Strategies for Qualitative Data.

What Is Not Seen.

Other Tools.

V. COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS.

16. Writing the Research Report and the Politics of Social Research.

Introduction.

The Research Report.

The Politics of Social Research.

Objectivity and Value Freedom.

Conclusion.

Appendices.

Appendix A: American Sociological Association Code of Ethics.

Appendix B: Table of Randomly Selected Five Digit Numbers.

Appendix C: Sample of Data Archives and Resources.

Appendix D: Measurement Theory.

Appendix E: Evaluation Research.

Glossary.

Bibliography.

Name Index.

Subject Index.

Scholarly Journals in the Social Sciences in English.