Research Design: Creating Robust Approaches for the Social Sciences

Research design is of critical importance in social research, despite its relative neglect in many methods resources. Early consideration of design in relation to research questions leads to the elimination or diminution of threats to eventual research claims, by encouraging internal validity and substantially reducing the number of alternative explanations for any finite number of research ′observations′. This new book: discusses the nature of design; gives an introduction to design notation; offers a flexible approach to new designs; looks at a range of standard design models; and presents craft tips for real-life problems and compromises. Most importantly, it provides the rationale for preferring one design over another within any given context. Each section is illustrated with case studies of real work and concludes with suggested readings and topics for discussion in seminars and workshops, making it an ideal textbook for postgraduate research methods courses. Based on the author′s teaching on the ESRC Doctoral Training Centre "Masters in Research Methods" at the University of Birmingham, and his ongoing work for the ESRC Researcher Development Initiative, this is an essential text for postgraduate researchers and academics. There is no book like Research Design on the market that addresses all of these issues in an easy to comprehend style, for those who want to design research and make critical judgements about the designs of others.

Table of Contents:
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION - ′DESIGN′ AS DISTINCT FROM METHODS What Is Research Design? Introducing Designs in the Cycle of Research PART TWO: THE PRELIMINARIES OF RESEARCH DESIGN Identifying Researchable Questions Warranting Research Claims The Nature of Causal Claims PART THREE: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Identifying the Sample or Cases Comparing for Comparative Claims Matters of Timing and Sequence Evaluating Controlled Interventions PART FOUR: MORE ADVANCED CONSIDERATIONS Further Designs for Evaluation Challenges for Validity How Big Is a Difference? A Second Principle of Ethics PART FIVE: CONCLUSION Revisiting the Need for Robust Design

About the Author :
Stephen Gorard is the Professor of Education Research at the University of Birmingham, Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences, introducer for the ESRC Grant Awarding Panel A, and a methods expert for the US Institute of Education Science panel on Mathematics and Science. His research concerns the robust evaluation of education as a lifelong society-wide process, focused on issues of equity and effectiveness. He has successfully conducted over 70 projects funded by government and other sources, and is the author of hundreds of research books and articles. His work appears regularly in the media, and is much used by local and international policy-makers. He is currently an evaluator for the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional Policy, the Educational Endowment Foundation, the Learning and Skills Information Service, the Department of Work and Pensions, and the Food Standards Agency.

Review :
This is a landmark text in the neglected field of research design. Gorard provides a unique introduction to planning and executing a research project that is both grounded in well-established traditions and radical in its approach. Perhaps the most important methods text published in many years Patrick White University of Leicester For the first time this book has made me realize the need and worth of doing real social science research. Page after page made me think clearly about research design and its essential importance. The book will have an everlasting impact on my view of any research project. I must say that it is the only book I have ever come across that reads so simply and so naturally about research design in social sciences. This book is surely the ′bible′ of social science research for me Nadia Siddiqui Lecturer, Fatima Jinnah Women′s University, Pakistan This well-elaborated book does in no sense exclude traditional views on how to plan, organize and execute a research project, but tries to highlight the new approaches that can help a researcher develop his project as authentically as possible via the appropriate choice of the design for his research. The intended audience of this book can be wide as it can vary from beginners such as students; as it serves as an excellent textbook, teachers who can employ it in teaching, tutoring and working in his research; or workers in the field of research in social sciences. Research design is an essential element of any research that other important elements of research are reliant on it... Gorard, in this book, has provided a comprehensive view of the research design that may work as a guide for researchers through the journey of research.   It is rare to find a clearly written social science research book that is entirely generalizable across the social sciences and even more rare to find one that is genuinely enjoyable to read. However, with his new book entitled ′Research Design: Creating Robust Approaches for the Social Sciences′, Stephen Gorard has managed to achieve the seemingly impossible. The book not only provides an essential introduction to research design in the socials sciences for new researchers, but also acts as a good reminder of best practice design for seasoned researchers. Best of all, throughout the entire book, Gorard provides clear instructions, examples, and rationale for the various types and components of research design. The book combines being a good read for experienced researchers who want to remind themselves of how to design good quality, rigorous, research, with being an excellent introduction for those new to the field in how to plan and execute inherently useful research for any evidence base. It also strongly emphasises the ethics of research – why we should be clear about the purpose of the research and how we will analyse the data (not just data dredging for results). The book gives several examples of research that has been badly designed, and which could be damaging. These examples demonstrate the importance of getting it right, and the book gives the tools to do just that.