Doing Social Research

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ISBN: 9780742547155 | 0742547159
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 1/18/2007

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Doing Social Research is an easy-to-understand guidebook for readers who have little or no knowledge of the social research process. Written in a clear, straightforward style, this book presents the various topics of social research in the outline form of all sociological research articles, providing a concise overview of the most important elements of social research. As an added bonus, synopses of classical studies introduce readers to the early pioneers of social research.

Preface	p. xiii
The Scientific Method	p. 1
Introduction: Taking the Course	p. 1
Doing Social Research	p. 3
Scientific Requirements	p. 3
The Range of Questions	p. 5
Applied and Pure Research	p. 6
Types of Inquiry	p. 6
Research for Social Studies	p. 8
Social Studies Impacts	p. 8
Social and Sociological Problems	p. 8
Research Methods	p. 9
The Possibilities	p. 10
Conclusion: The Text	p. 10
The Classical Studies	p. 12
Student Projects	p. 13
Questions	p. 13
Exercises	p. 14
Designing the Research Project	p. 15
Introduction: Establishing the Purpose of the Study	p. 15
Positive Factors	p. 15
Negative Factors	p. 17
The Literature Review	p. 18
The Search	p. 19
The Design of the Study	p. 24
The Methods	p. 26
Concluding the Design	p. 27
Conclusion: Reviewing the Process	p. 27
Student Projects	p. 28
Questions	p. 28
Exercises	p. 28
The Conceptual Framework	p. 29
Introduction: The Function of the Conceptual Framework	p. 29
The Theory	p. 30
Inductive Logic	p. 31
Deductive Logic	p. 31
Concept Mapping	p. 32
The Role of the Hypothesis	p. 33
The Needs of a Good Hypothesis	p. 34
The Components of the Hypothesis: Variables and Concepts	p. 36
The Question of Causality	p. 39
Conclusion: The Contributions of the Conceptual Framework	p. 40
Student Projects	p. 41
Questions	p. 41
Exercises	p. 41
The Research Proposal	p. 43
Introduction: The Research Proposal	p. 43
The Explanation	p. 43
The Study	p. 44
Non-Experts	p. 45
Types of Research	p. 47
Affecting Factors	p. 48
Common Research Methods	p. 49
Conclusion: The Terminology	p. 51
Student Projects	p. 52
Questions	p. 52
Exercises	p. 52
Collecting Data	p. 53
Introduction: Measurement	p. 53
Method Classifications	p. 54
Obtrusive Methods	p. 54
Unobtrusive Methods	p. 56
Using Available Data	p. 56
Content Analysis: Means and Uses	p. 61
Secondary Analysis	p. 64
Advantages and Disadvantages of Available Data	p. 64
Conclusion: More Than One	p. 66
Student Projects	p. 66
Questions	p. 66
Exercises	p. 66
The Classic Studies
Classic Example Using Available Government Statistics: Suicide: A Study in Sociology	p. 69
Classic Example Using Content Analysis of Available Documents: The Polish Peasant in Europe and America	p. 78
Collecting the Data: Utilizing the Survey	p. 89
Introduction: The History of the Survey	p. 89
Advantages and Disadvantages	p. 90
Types	p. 90
The Self-Administered Questionnaire	p. 91
Tasks of Construction and Development	p. 92
Question Types	p. 93
Question Preparation	p. 94
The Problems	p. 95
Different Techniques for Conducting a Survey	p. 98
Administration	p. 98
The Telephone	p. 98
The Mailed Questionnaire	p. 99
The Internet	p. 101
The Interview	p. 105
Tasks of Construction	p. 105
Tasks of Administration	p. 106
Special Interviewing Techniques	p. 110
The Focus Interview	p. 110
The Depth Interview	p. 111
The Telephone Interview	p. 112
Conclusions: Advantages and Disadvantages	p. 116
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Self-Administered Questionnaire	p. 116
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Interview	p. 117
Which Method to Choose	p. 121
Student Projects	p. 121
Questions	p. 121
Exercises	p. 121
The Classic Studies
Classic Example Using the Survey Questionnaire: The American Soldier: Adjustment during Army Life (volume 1) and The American Soldier: Combat and Its Aftermath (volume 2)	p. 123
Classic Example Using the Survey Interview: An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy	p. 131
Classic Example Using the Survey Depth Interview: Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953)	p. 135
Collecting the Data: Making Scientific Observations	p. 141
Introduction: Scientific Observation	p. 141
Advantages and Disadvantages of Scientific Observation	p. 142
Aids in Recording Behavior	p. 145
Types of Scientific Observation	p. 146
Means of Scientific Observation	p. 147
Nonparticipant Observer	p. 147
Participant Observer	p. 147
The In-between Observer	p. 152
Conclusion: Advantages and Disadvantages of the Types of Scientific Observation	p. 154
Student Projects	p. 154
Questions	p. 154
Exercises	p. 155
The Classic Studies
Classic Example Using Detached Observation: Interaction Process Analysis: A Method for the Study of Small Groups	p. 157
Classic Example Using Participant Observation: Street Corner Society: The Social Structure of an Italian Slum	p. 164
Classic Example Using Unstructured Observation: We, the Tikopia: A Sociological Study of Kinship in Primitive Polynesia	p. 172
Collecting the Data: Conducting an Experiment	p. 175
Introduction: Tasks of Experiments	p. 175
Types of Experiments	p. 176
The Settings for Experiments	p. 177
Designs for Conducting Experiments	p. 179
Validity	p. 184
Conclusion: The Decisions	p. 185
Student Projects	p. 186
Questions	p. 186
Exercises	p. 186
The Classic Studies
Classic Example Using a Laboratory Experiment: Management and the Worker	p. 187
Classic Example Using a Field Experiment: Intergroup Conflict and Cooperation: The Robbers Cave Experiment	p. 195
Collecting the Data: Some Special Designs	p. 203
Introduction: Different Designs for Special Needs	p. 203
The Case Study	p. 203
The Community Study	p. 205
The Longitudinal Study	p. 206
Conclusion: Current Use of These Special Designs	p. 209
Student Projects	p. 209
Questions	p. 209
Exercises	p. 209
The Classic Studies
Classic Example Using a Case Study: Union Democracy: The Internal Politics of the International Typographical Union	p. 211
Classic Example Using a Community Study: Middletown: A Study in American Culture (1929) and Middletown in Transition (1937)	p. 216
Classic Example Using a Panel Analysis: The People's Choice: How the Voter Makes Up His Mind in a Presidential Campaign	p. 223
Analyzing the Data: Some Important Questions	p. 229
Introduction: Analysis and the Research Question	p. 229
Problems of Measurement: Validity and Reliability	p. 229
Validity	p. 230
Reliability	p. 233
Problems of Measurement: Sample Type	p. 235
Sample Size	p. 236
Sampling Error	p. 238
Sample Selection	p. 239
Problems of Measurement: Scales	p. 244
Scale Types	p. 245
Sophisticated Scales	p. 247
Conclusion: Needs	p. 254
Scaling Needs	p. 255
Student Projects	p. 256
Questions	p. 256
Exercises	p. 257
Analyzing the Data: Some Important Tools	p. 259
Introduction: Tools of Analysis	p. 259
Tasks	p. 259
The Need for Coding	p. 260
Reliability	p. 261
Special Problems	p. 261
Codebooks	p. 262
Graphic Displays	p. 262
Matrices	p. 263
Networks	p. 265
Statistics for Testing and Explaning	p. 265
Parametric Numbers: Descriptive and Inferential Numbers	p. 266
Nonparametric Numbers: Frequency Distribution; Central Tendency; Dispersion	p. 267
Inferential Statistics	p. 270
The Latest Entry in Data Analysis: The Computer	p. 273
Conclusion: The Need for Verification	p. 276
Student Projects	p. 277
Questions	p. 277
Exercises	p. 277
Concluding the Study	p. 279
Introduction: Presenting the Material	p. 279
Statement of the Problem	p. 281
Description of Method	p. 282
Presentation of Results	p. 282
Interpretation	p. 282
Writing the Report	p. 282
The Abstract	p. 287
Conclusion: Other Possible Needs	p. 288
Student Projects	p. 289
Questions	p. 289
Exercises	p. 289
Appendixes
Basic Research Guide for the Design of a Social Research Problem	p. 291
A List of Websites for Research	p. 295
A Guide to Sociological Journals	p. 301
The Research Grant Proposal	p. 307
Job Titles for Sociology Trainees	p. 311
Glossary	p. 313
References: The Classic Studies	p. 321
References	p. 325
Index	p. 331
About the Author	p. 345
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Doing Social Research

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Author Biography

Table of Contents

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