Introducing Social Research Methods

Introducing Social Research Methods: Essentials for Getting the Edge is a concise and student-friendly introduction to research methods that uses examples from around the world to illustrate the centrality of social science research in our everyday lives.

• Explains complex, multi-faceted concepts and methodologies in straightforward prose

• Designed for students who are new to or skeptical of social science research methods as useful tools for approaching real-world challenges

• Persuasively argues that social scientific proficiency unlocks an array of personal and professional opportunities beyond the realms of academia

• A supplementary website features a glossary, test bank, Power Point presentations, a comprehensive list of web resources, a guide to relevant TED lectures and much more

Autorentext
Janet M. Ruane is a professor of sociology at Montclair State University. She is the author of Second Thoughts: Sociology Challenges Conventional Wisdom (with Karen Cerulo, 6th edition, 2014) and has published articles in an array of prestigious, peer-reviewed journals, including Social Psychology Quarterly, Sociological Forum, Sociological Inquiry, Law and Policy, Communication Research, Sociological Focus, and Science as Culture. With over 25 years of experience teaching research methods to undergraduates, Professor Ruane is an ardent supporter of education as a tool of empowerment.

Klappentext

Introducing Social Research Methods: Essentials for Getting the Edge offers a concise, student-friendly introduction to research methods that represents a refreshing alternative to the dense tomes too focused on the minutiae of methodologies to appeal to novices or outsiders. Janet Ruane, a respected author with more than 25 years of experience teaching social science research methods, provides detailed explanations of methodologically complex concepts written in straightforward and engaging prose. Each chapter features specific everyday examples from around the world that demonstrate the relevance and informative potential of social science methods. The text includes a range of pedagogic features, from lists of key points to boxes highlighting the relevance of social science research in interpreting current events, while the companion website offers further tools for instructors and students, including a glossary of key terms, a test bank, Power Point presentations, a comprehensive list of web resources, and more. Specifically designed for students who are new to or skeptical of social science, Introducing Social Research Methods: Essentials for Getting the Edge persuasively argues for the real-world value of understanding social research methods and the benefits of the broader perspective gained from understanding this fundamental field.

Zusammenfassung
Introducing Social Research Methods: Essentials for Getting the Edge is a concise and student-friendly introduction to research methods that uses examples from around the world to illustrate the centrality of social science research in our everyday lives.

• Explains complex, multi-faceted concepts and methodologies in straightforward prose
• Designed for students who are new to or skeptical of social science research methods as useful tools for approaching real-world challenges
• Persuasively argues that social scientific proficiency unlocks an array of personal and professional opportunities beyond the realms of academia
• A supplementary website features a glossary, test bank, Power Point presentations, a comprehensive list of web resources, a guide to relevant TED lectures and much more

Inhalt

About the Website ii

1 How Do We Know What We Know? Science as a Superior Way of Knowing 1

2 The Language of Science and Research: Learning to Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk 21

3 Ethics: It's the Right Thing To Do 45

4 Designing Ideas: What Do We Want to Know and How Can We Get There? 67

5 Measure by Measure: Developing MeasuresMaking the Abstract Concrete 93

6 All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Assessing the Validity and Reliability of Measures 117

7 One Thing Leads to Another or Does it? Tackling Causal Analysis 139

8 The Questionnaire: Would You Mind Taking the Time to Answer a Few Questions? 163

9 Having the Talk: Person to Person Information Exchanges 189

10 Field Research: Welcome to My World 209

11 Sample This! How Can So Few Tell Us About So Many? 231

12 Show Me the Numbers: Descriptive Statistics and Inferential Statistics 255

13 Pulling it Together: A Final Synthesis 283

Glossary 289

Index 295