Research Methods For The Social Sciences

Description:
Provides a straightforward but not simplistic guide to research in the social and behavioural sciences: it discuss its value, its limitations and its uses. It tackles difficult issues and concepts in a scholarly but accessible manner, providing ample guidance and signposts to further reading. For some readers it provides a 'stepping stone' to more detailed texts on research methods. For others, it acts as an initial guide in getting them started on their own research project. A third category comprises those readers who wish to, or need to as a result of their job, examine critically the research carried out by others in the medical profession, speech therapy, social work and education. This is an invaluable resource for those working in a research environment.

Table of Contents:
Part One Introduction to Research; 1. A broad introduction to social research; 2. Approaches to social research; 3. Considering the quality of research: methodology, theory and location; 4. The researcher's role and responsibility; Part Two Qualitative Methods - Their Value and Their Limits; 5. Some qualitative methods considered; 6. Dealing with qualitative data; Part Three The Quantitative Approach: value and limits; 7. Dealing with Quantitative Data; 8. Psychometrics: measuring traits and states; Part Four Presenting and Disseminating Research; 9. Presenting and reporting research; References and Further reading; Glossary of terms; Appendices 1, 2 and 3.

Author Biography:
Jerry Wellington is a professor in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield, and has authored and edited over a dozen books Marcin Szczerbinski is a lecturer in the Department of Human Communication Science at the University of Sheffield.