Social Research Methods

This introduction to research methods provides students and researchers with unrivalled coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods, making it invaluable for anyone embarking on social research.

Bridging the gap between theory and practice, Social Research Methods, Fifth Edition, is packed full of engaging examples and practical tips to equip students with the tools and knowledge needed for them to complete their own research projects. In addition to providing practical advice, author Alan Bryman deftly explores the nature of social research and the wider issues impinging on it.

Alan Bryman is Professor of Organisational and Social Research at the University of Leicester, UK.

Part One
1. The nature and process of social research
2. Social research strategies: quantitative research and qualitative research
3. Research designs
4. Planning a research project and formulating research questions
5. Getting started: reviewing the literature
6. Ethics and politics in social research
Part Two
7. The nature of quantitative research
8. Sampling in quantitative research
9. Structured interviewing
10. Self-administered questionnaires
11. Asking questions
12. Structured observation
13. Content analysis
14. Using existing data
15. Quantitative data analysis
16. Using IBM SPSS for Windows
Part Three
17. The nature of qualitative research
18. Sampling in qualitative research
19. Ethnography and participant observation
20. Interviewing in qualitative research
21. Focus groups
22. Language in qualitative research
23. Documents as sources of data
24. Qualitative data analysis
25. Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis: using NVivo
Part Four
26. Breaking down the quantitative/qualitative divide
27. Mixed methods research: combining quantitative and qualitative research
28. Writing up social research