Designing social research : a guide for the bewildered /
Ian Greener.
- Los Angeles : SAGE, c2011.
- xvi, 208 p. ; 25 cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Written in plain language, this guide for students in sociology is intentionally designed to be shorter and more readable than other similar texts. It gives practical advice on the process of designing and doing social research, and also gives students background in the vocabulary and philosophy they need to understand the research they are undertaking. The goal is for students to be able to engage in discussion not only about the differences between methods, but in the reason for those differences. After an overview of the language of social science research and discussion of what makes a good research question, the book covers methods and approaches such as surveys and questionnaires, sampling and statistics, ethnography, and dealing with qualitative data. Some advanced topics covered include causality in research and dealing with time in social research. There is also advice on writing the research report and putting together literature reviews. Chapter summaries and examples are included. Greener teaches in the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University.