Social research methodology : a critical introduction

This text is designed to help the reader make informed judgements about appropriate research strategies and the credibility of particular pieces of research. Introductory in pitch and grounded in extensive real life examples, it explores the assumptions behind the main methods of data collection and analysis and the ways in which methods shape findings. Key terms are explained in plain English, activities offer opportunities for readers to test and extend their understanding, and each chapter ends with recommendations for further reading. The wealth of illustrative research examples should appeal to students across a range of academic and applied social and health science programmes.

• Overview of the Book
• Controlled Experiments
• More Naturalism in Experiments
• Sample Surveys and Statistical Representativeness
• Natural Experiments
• Controlling for Time in Natural Experiments
• Using Bureaucratic Data in Research
• Questions and Answers
• Analysing the Results of Qualitative Interviews
• Observing Naturally Occurring Events
• Analysing Written Documents
• Evaluative and Emancipatory Research
• Research Ethics
• Bibliography
• Index