An introduction to research, analysis, and writing : practical skills for social science students / Bruce Oliver Newsome

An Introduction to Research, Analysis, and Writing by Bruce Oliver Newsome is an accessible guide that walks readers through the process of completing a social science project. Written specifically to meet the needs of undergraduate research classes, it introduces students to a complete skill set, including: planning, design, analysis, argumentation, criticizing theories, building theories, modeling theories, choosing methods, gathering data, presenting evidence, and writing the final product. Students can use this text as a practical resource to navigate through each stage of the process, including choices between more advanced research techniques.

1. The Way Ahead Learning Objectives and Outcomes Goals of This Book Preview of the Rest of the Book Chapter Summary 2. Research Process Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette What is Research? What are the Objectives and Products of Research? What are the Approaches to Research? Project Life Cycle Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 3. Research Ethics and Laws Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette What are Ethics? Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 4. Scoping, Justifying, Designing, Planning Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette Scoping The Value of Your Research Feasibility Developing a Research Question Describing, Justifying, Planning, and Proposing the Research Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 5. Reading and Reviewing Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette Sources How to Read Efficiently Content Analysis Reviews Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 6. Analysis Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette What is Analysis? Why Do We Analyze? How are We Told to Analyze? How Should We Analyze? Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 7. Arguing and Explaining Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette Definitions Logical Arguments True Arguments Strong Versus Weak Arguments Fallacious Arguments Biases Dialectic Arguments Describing and Critiquing Arguments Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 8. Theorizing and Modeling Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette Theories Hypotheses Models Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 9. Methods Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette Methods and Methodologies Historical Research Case Study Survey Research Direct Observation in the Field Experimental Research Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 10. Evidence and Data Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette Observations and Data Operationalization Measurement Classifying Data Datasets Uses of Data Evidence Causality and Correlation Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises 11. Writing Learning Objectives and Outcomes Opening Vignette Planning the Writing of Your Whole Product Style Structure Chapter Summary Questions and Exercises.