Autorentext

Yoland Wadsworth is a pathbreaker in research methodology and its use in social research in health, community and human services for over forty years. She has been an applied sociologist and consultant to community-based non-government organisations, self-help groups, and state, federal and local governments; an Adjunct Professor in the Centre for Applied Social Research, RMIT University; Principal Fellow in the McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, University of Melbourne; and deputy to the Director of the Policy & Research Branch in Premier & Cabinet, Victorian government. She is also author of the best-selling Everyday Evaluation on the Run (Vol 2 in this 40th anniversary Routledge trilogy) and culminating magnum opus, Human Inquiry for Living Systems: Building in Research and Evaluation for Life (Vol 3 in this same Routledge trilogy).

Klappentext

Over four decades this bestselling introduction has been used by many thousands of students, professionals and community groups to kick start their social research projects.

Always emphasising the importance of a spirit of inquiry, it demystifies the research process, covering all the basics of: where to start; how to manage a research project; methods, techniques and resources; digital tools; interpretation, analysis and reporting. This fourth edition has been thoroughly revised without losing its classic content, including clarity about relational research ethics and what technology can (and can't) contribute to the research process.

With its hands-on, no-nonsense approach, Do It Yourself Social Research is an essential resource for anyone doing social research in sociology, social work, education, health, welfare, not-for profit, community development and many other fields.

All three of Yoland Wadsworth's best-selling books have been brought together in this Routledge trilogy to offer for the first time a coherent body of work addressing the pressing needs of people to 'inquire their way' to the future.

Inhalt

1. Who and what this book is for 2. What is social research? 3. Why do you want to do it? 4. Managing, timing, budgeting and some common mistakes to avoid 5. How to go about 'finding out' 6. Other possible resources 7. Interpretation and organising ideas 8. Getting your findings into action Appendix A. Some examples of good do it yourself social research Appendix B. Translations of some common research language