Introducing social research methods : essentials for getting the edge / Janet M. Ruane.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ruane, Janet M., 1954- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social sciences--Methodology.

Social sciences.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (310 pages): illustrations (some color), photographs, tables

Place of Publication:

Chichester, England : Wiley Blackwell, 2016.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

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' 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, PowerPoint 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. Book jacket.

Contents:

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 Measures-Making 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.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Description based on print version record.

Local Notes:

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest, 2015. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest affiliated libraries.

Other Format:

Print version: Ruane, Janet M., 1954- Introducing social research methods : essentials for getting the edge.

ISBN:

9781118874202

OCLC:

935249059

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.