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

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910460469903321
• Autore: Ruane Janet M. <1954->
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Chichester, England : , : Wiley Blackwell, , 2016; ©2016
• ISBN: 1-118-87420-X
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (310 p.)
• Disciplina: 300.72/1
• Soggetti: Social sciences - Methodology; Electronic books.
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Description based upon print version of record.
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Introducing Social Research Methods; About the Website; Contents; Chapter 1 How Do We Know What We Know? Science as a Superior Way of Knowing; FIRST TAKES; The Competition: Non-Scientific Ways of Knowing; Time-Based Knowing - Traditional Knowledge; Credential-Based Knowing - Authoritative Knowledge; More Risky Knowledge Sources - Common Sense and Intuition; More Reasonable and Tangible Ways of Knowing: Rationalism and Empiricism; Science - Providing an Accuracy Edge; Science as a Trustworthy Way of Knowing; Science is a Distinctive Way of Knowing; Empirical evidence; Systematic, Methodical RulesCommitment to Causal Analysis; Replication; Science is a Public Endeavor; Tentative; Science as an Exercise in Skepticism; Using Research Methods to Become Critical Consumers of Information; TAKE AWAYS; Sharpening the Edge: More Reading and Searching; Exercises; Notes; References; Chapter 2 The Language of Science and Research: Learning to Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk; FIRST TAKES; Units of Analysis; Variables; The Nuanced Language of Variables; Data; Correlations; The Causal Relationship; Styles of Research; The Quantitative/Qualitative Difference; The Inductive/Deductive DistinctionGoals of Research; Some Perfectly Valid Points; Talking the Talk; TAKE AWAYS; Sharpening the Edge: More Reading and Searching; Exercises; Notes; References; Chapter 3 Ethics: ; It's the Right Thing To Do; FIRST TAKES; Putting Ethics in Historical Context; Research Should Not Cause Harm to Subjects; Researchers Should Obtain the Informed Consent of Subjects; Competence; Voluntarism; Full information; Comprehension; Researchers Should Respect Subjects' Privacy; Sensitivity of Information; Research Setting; Disseminating Research Findings; Researchers Should Avoid Conflicts of InterestReinforcing the Ethical Route: Institutional Review Boards; Ethical Fusion; TAKE AWAYS; Sharpening the Edge: More Reading and Searching; Exercises; Notes; References; Chapter 4 Designing Ideas: What Do We Want to Know and How Can We Get There?; FIRST TAKES; The Research Plan; Coming up with the Right Question; Reviewing the Literature; The Case and Place for Theory; The Placement of Theory in the Research Process; The Levels of Theory Guiding or Resulting from Research; More Planning and Strategizing: Considering Questions and Timing; What's the Question? Causal vs. Non-Causal QuestionsCausal Questions; Non-Causal Questions; Timing is Everything; Cross-Sectional Research Designs; Longitudinal Research Designs; Fixed-Sample Panel Design; Repeated Cross-Sectional Design; Event-Based Designs; Questions About the Process; And Still More Planning; Planning to Maximize Research Validity; Measurement Validity; Internal Validity; External Validity; Conclusions; TAKE AWAYS; Sharpening the Edge: More Reading and Searching; Exercises; Notes; References; Chapter 5 Measure by Measure: Developing Measures - Making the Abstract Concrete; FIRST TAKES