Research Methods in the Social Sciences

`This book provides an excellent balance between theory and practical application in social research. The book works well to develop students' understanding of particular methods of inquiry, embedding them within "real world" settings. I enviSAGE that it will help students to understand the nuances of particular approaches, the complimentarity of certain methods, and the areas of conflict/contention within social research in a way that overcomes the sometimes abstract nature of these discussions' - Dr Jon Tan, School of Education and Professional Training, Leeds Metropolitan University `This book unlocks all of the important areas of social science research in an easily digestible and stimulating style. Both students and supervisors in a range of disciplines will find this an excellent resource' - Fazal Rizvi, Professor in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Rather than being written by one or two `generalists', this innovative book is written by a large number of active researchers about their specialisms in methods/methodologies. The book introduces all the key qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and methods and seeks to draw readers into a community of researchers engaged in reflection on the research process. Included are narrative accounts of carrying out a research study that explore the way in which the research design and methods are shaped by the methodology, discussing problematic issues, and reflecting on the way in which knowledge and understanding develop. Aimed at researchers and postgraduate students, it will also be invaluable for students at masters level. Click on the companion website logo above to access additional resources and links to accompany each chapter in the book. `Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a valuable pedagogical tool. It is organized as a dialogue between theory and key concepts, and practice - stories from the field allowing novices and scholars alike to see how critical interpretive research is actually conducted' - Norman K Denzin, University of Illinois

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART ONE: RESEARCH COMMUNITIES IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES - Bridget Somekh et al PART TWO: LISTENING, EXPLORING THE CASE AND THEORIZING Introduction Ethnography - Juliet Goldbart and David Hustler Research Diaries - Herbert Altrichter and Mary Louise Holly Case Study - Sheila Stark and Harry Torrance Interviewing and Focus Groups - Rosaline S Barbour and John Schostak Grounded Theory - Juliet Corbin and Nicholas L Holt Ethical Responsibility in Social Research - Heather Piper and Helen Simons PART THREE: RESEARCHING FOR IMPACT Feminist Methodologies - Diane Burns and Melanie Walker Critical Theories of Race - Laurence Parker and Lorna Roberts Queer Theory/Lesbian and Gay Approaches - Gloria Filax et al Action Research - Susan Noffke and Bridget Somekh Researching Policy - Jill Blackmore and Hugh Lauder The Practice and Politics of Sponsored Evaluations - Tineke Abma and Thomas A Schwandt PART FOUR: OBSERVING, QUERYING, INTERPRETING Philosophy and Hermeneutics - Dave Heyward and Ian Stronach Phenomenology - Angie Titchen and Dawn Hobson Naturalistic Enquiry - Nigel Norris and Rob Walker Observation - Liz Jones and Bridget Somekh Discourse Analysis - Julia Gillen and Alan Petersen PART FIVE: READING AND REPRESENTING SOCIO-CULTURAL MEANINGS Life History and Narrative Approaches - Geoff Shacklock and Laurie Thorp Semiotic Approaches to Image-Based Research - Terry Carson et al Social Semiotics and Multimodal Texts - Gunther Kress and Diane Mavers Communities of Practice - David Benzie et al Activity Theory - Ines Langemeyer and Morten Nissen PART SIX: SAMPLING, CLASSIFYING AND QUANTIFYING The Foundations of Experimental/Empirical Research Methods - Dean Garratt and Yaojun Li The Positivist Paradigm in Contemporary Social Science Research - Charles Crook and Dean Garratt Elementary Quantitative Methods - Cathy Lewin An Introduction to Inferential Statistics - Sally Barnes and Cathy Lewin Testing for Differences and Relationships An Introduction to Statistical Modelling - Kelvyn Jones PART SEVEN: QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN ACTION Random Reflections on Modelling, Geography and Voting - Kelvyn Jones Methodological Issues in International Comparative Assessments of Educational - W J Pelgrum Capturing Complexity through Maturity Modelling - Jean Underwood and Gayle Dillon Evaluating Literacy Advance in the Early Years of School - John Ainley Working Backwards - Brian Doig The Road Less Travelled in Quantitative Methodology Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Social Inquiry - Jennifer C Greene, Holly Kreider and Ellen Mayer PART EIGHT: RESEARCHING IN POSTMODERN CONTEXTS Deconstruction - Erica Burman and Maggie Maclure From Hermeneutics to Post-Structuralism to Psychoanalysis - Tony Brown and Daniel Heggs Postmodernist Perspectives - Julianne Cheek and Noel Gough From Structuralism to Post-Structuralism - Lee Miller, Joanne 'Bob' Whalley and Ian Stronach Feminism/Post-Structuralism - Bronwyn Davies and Susanne Gannon Social Science Research in Virtual Realities - Colin Lankshear and Kevin M Leander PART NINE: PARTICIPATING IN THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY - Bridget Somekh et al

About the Author :
Bridget Somekh is based at Manchester Metropolitan University as well as University of Canterbury. Cathy Lewin is based at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Review :
"Not merely a how-to book, it reviews the conceptual framework of research methods in the social and behavioral sciences and provides tangible stories from the field that illustrate the application of specific techniques and the process of conducting research... This work affords a concise overview of qualitative and quantitative methodologies in the social science... Highly recommended." -- R.V. Labaree CHOICE 20050701