Doing Social Research

By (author) Leonard Cargan

Publication date:

18 January 2007

Length of book:

362 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9780742547155

Doing Social Research is an easy-to-understand guidebook for readers who have little or no knowledge of the social research process. Written in a clear, straightforward style, this book presents the various topics of social research in the outline form of all sociological research articles: starting with an introduction to the problem being researched, why the problem was chosen, and the theoretical premises of the chosen topic, then progressing to the methods utilized to collect the data, the analysis of the data, and the presentation of the material. By following the research outline, the book provides a concise overview of the most important elements of social research, and as an added bonus, synopses of classical studies introduce readers to the early pioneers of social research.

Part 1 1. The Scientific Method
Chapter 2 Introduction: Taking the Course
Chapter 3 Doing Social Research
Chapter 4 The Range of Questions
Chapter 5 Types of Inquiry
Chapter 6 Research Techniques
Chapter 7 Conclusions: The Text
Chapter 8 Questions
Chapter 9 Exercises
Part 10 2. Designing the Research Project
Chapter 11 Introduction: Establishing the Purpose of the Study
Chapter 12 The Literature Review
Chapter 13 The Design of the Study
Chapter 14 Conclusions: Reviewing the Process
Chapter 15 Questions
Chapter 16 Exercises
Part 17 3. The Conceptual Framework
Chapter 18 Introduction: The Function of the Framework
Chapter 19 The Theory
Chapter 20 The Role of the Hypothesis
Chapter 21 The Components of the Hypothesis: Variables and Concepts
Chapter 22 The Question of Causality
Chapter 23 Conclusions: The Contributions of the Conceptual Framework
Chapter 24 Questions
Chapter 25 Exercises
Part 26 4. The Research Process
Chapter 27 Introduction: The Research Proposal
Chapter 28 Types of Research
Chapter 29 Common Research Methods
Chapter 30 Conclusions: The Terminology
Chapter 31 Questions
Chapter 32 Exercises
Part 33 5. Collecting the Data
Chapter 34 Introduction: Measurement
Chapter 35 Method Classifications
Chapter 36 Obtrusive Methods
Chapter 37 Unobtrusive Methods: Using Available Data
Chapter 38 Conclusions: Advantages and Disadvantages of These Methods
Chapter 38 Conclusions: Advantages and Disadvantages of These Methods
Chapter 39 Questions
Chapter 39 Questions
Chapter 40 Exercises
Chapter 40 Exercises
Part 41 The Classic Studies:
Chapter 42 Classic Example Using Available Government Statistics: Suicide: A Study in Sociology
Chapter 43 Classic Example Using Content Analysis of Available Documents: The Polish Peasant in Europe and America
Part 44 6. Collecting the Data: Utilizing the Survey
Chapter 45 Introduction: The History of the Survey
Chapter 46 The Self-Administered Questionnaire: Tasks of Construction and Development
Chapter 47 Different Techniques for Conducting a Survey
Chapter 48 The Interview: Tasks of Construction
Chapter 49 Special Interviewing Techniques
Chapter 50 Conclusions: Advantages and Disadvantages
Chapter 51 Questions
Chapter 52 Exercises
Part 53 The Classic Studies:
Chapter 54 Classic Example Using the Survey Questionnaire: The American Soldier: Adjustment During Army Life
Chapter 55 Classic Example Using the Survey Interview: An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy
Chapter 56 Classic Example Using the Depth Interview Survey: Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female
Part 57 7. Collecting the Data: Making Scientific Observations
Chapter 58 Introduction: Scientific Observation
Chapter 59 Advantages and Disadvantages of Scientific Observation
Chapter 60 Types of Scientific Observation
Chapter 61 Conclusions: Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Type of Scientific Observation
Chapter 62 Student Projects
Part 63 The Classic Studies:
Chapter 64 Classic Example Using Detached Observation: Interaction Process Analysis: A Method for the Study of Small Groups
Chapter 65 Classic Example Using Participant Observation: Street Corner Society: The Social Structure of an Italian Slum
Chapter 66 Classic Example Using Participant as Observer: We the Tikopia: A Sociological Study of Kinship in Primitive Polynesia
Part 67 8. Collecting the Data: Conducting an Experiment
Chapter 68 Introduction: Types of Experiments
Chapter 69 The Settings for Experiments
Chapter 70 The Techniques for Conducting Experiments
Chapter 71 Conclusions: The Decisions
Chapter 72 Questions
Chapter 73 Exercises
Part 74 The Classic Studies:
Chapter 75 Classic Example Using a Laboratory Experiment: Management and the Worker
Chapter 76 Classic Example Using a Field Experiment: Inter-group Conflict and Cooperation: The Robbers Cave Experiment
Part 77 9. Collecting the Data: Some Special Designs
Chapter 78 Introduction: Different Designs for Special Needs
Chapter 79 The Case Study
Chapter 80 The Community Study
Chapter 81 The Longitudinal Analysis
Chapter 82 Conclusions: Current Use of These Special Designs
Chapter 83 Questions
Chapter 84 Exercises
Part 85 The Classic Studies:
Chapter 86 Classic Example Using the Case Study: Union Democracy: The Internal Politics of the International Typographical Union
Chapter 87 Classic Example Using the Community Study: Middletown: A Study in American Culture and Middletown in Transition
Chapter 88 Classic Example Using the Panel Analysis: The People's Choice: How the Voter Makes Up His Mind in a Presidential Campaign
Part 89 10. Analyzing the Data: Some Important Questions
Chapter 90 Introduction: Analysis and the Research Question
Chapter 91 Problems of Measurement: Validity and Reliability
Chapter 92 Problems of Measurement: Sampling
Chapter 93 Problems of Measurement: Scales
Chapter 94 Conclusions: Needs
Chapter 95 Student Projects
Part 96 11. Analyzing the Data: Some Important Tools
Chapter 97 Introduction: Tools of Analysis
Chapter 98 The Need for Coding
Chapter 102 Conclusions: The Need for Verification
Chapter 103 Questions
Chapter 104 Exercises
Part 105 12. Concluding the Study
Chapter 106 Introduction: Presenting the Material
Chapter 107 Writing the Report
Chapter 108 The Abstract
Chapter 109 Conclusions: Other Possible Needs
Chapter 110 Questions
Chapter 111 Exercises
Part 112 Appendixes
Chapter 113 A. Basic Outline for the Design of a Social Research Problem
Chapter 114 B. The Research Grant: Proposal/Budget/ Funding Sources
Chapter 115 C. A Guide to Sociological Journals
Chapter 116 D. A List of Web Sites
Chapter 117 E. Job Titles for Sociology Trainees
Chapter 118 F. Statistical Tables: Random Numbers, Chi Square Numbers, Normal Curve Percentages
Chapter 119 Glossary
Chapter 120 References: The Classic Studies
Chapter 121 References
Chapter 122 Index
Chapter 123 About the Author

The book is a topical and well thought-out text that is accessible to students. It brings up important ethical and practical issues of interest to anyone doing research (or teaching it), and it has better balance among methods and treats observation in good detail. I look forward to using it myself in the social research methods course for undergraduates and in the first of the required graduate courses. One of the strengths of this book lies in the organization of the material. Cargan builds well thecentral concepts and ideas and then elaborates on the more technical aspects of research in the latter chapters. His ability to skillfully introduce central concepts and then immediately explain what he means by them should put at ease those students whoare fearful or may feel challenged by a methods text ..