Description
Book SynopsisHeavily grounded in helping students make the best choices for their projects, this book explores how to develop and work with theory, research questions, and method selection to build solid, logical proposals and move from research concepts to fully realized designs.
Rather than rushing initial planning stages or reverse engineering questions from preferred methods, it encourages students to challenge unconscious biases around method selection and analysis and provides step-by-step guidance on choosing a method that is in-line with the question being explored. Focused on the role of the researcher within research design, it stresses the need to consider the theoretical underpinnings of research and not just practical issues when designing a project.
It provides a sophisticated toolkit to understand:
- The critical issues associated with both qualitative and quantitative methods
- The approach that works best for specific research questions
- How design choices can affect practice.
Perfect for upper undergraduate and postgraduate students, this book will instil confidence and good decision making to ensure constructively informed design and practice.
Trade ReviewThis text provides user friendly illustrations, exercises and practical research tips. It consolidates understanding by simplifying what can, at times, be deemed as complex methodological issues.
-- Rachael Aplin
This textbook provides graduate students with tools to make sound decisions while planning, conducting and analysing research. It guides students in asking appropriate research questions, applying theory, choosing among quantitative or qualitative methods through the analysis and writing the manuscript.
-- GinaMarie Piane
This textbook is a detailed guide on how to set up a research project. It is an excellent tool for students studying social research methods as well as for practitioners working with research in the government, NGO, and corporations.
-- Mikhail Balaev
An essential text to support graduate students and novice researchers think critically about the multiple decisions required in designing a rigorous research study.
-- Susan Jack
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction: the Basics of Social Science Research Designs Deductive and inductive research Explanatory and interpretative research designs Deductive, explanatory research designs and their core components Research design choices: x-centered and y-centered projects Quality criteria for social science research Chapter 2: Detecting Puzzles and Selecting Good Research Questions Research questions’ essentials How to find empirical puzzles and select a good explanatory research question Feasibility How to make choices: selecting good research questions Chapter 3: Working with Theories Why do we need theories for explanatory social science projects? Selecting theories: how many and which ones do we need? Working with theories: how to develop and select hypotheses? Making choices: which and how many theories and hypotheses to use? Chapter 4: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed-Method Projects—How to Make the Choice Advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative projects Mixed-method combinations: Advantages and challenges Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method projects – How to make a choice? Chapter 5: How to Select Cases What is a case? Case selection: An essential task for comparative research How many and which cases should be selected? Making choices: How to select cases? Chapter 6: Making Choices between Methods of Data Collection The measurement of variables Overview of data sources and methods of data collection Databases and compendiums Primary Sources: Documents Interviews Surveys and questionnaires Focus groups Participant observation The importance of triangulation The importance of data management Summary – Choices on data collection Chapter 7: Making Choices between Qualitative Methods of Data Analysis Types of Comparisons in Qualitative Case Studies Process-tracing Summary: Choosing between methods of qualitative analysis Chapter 8: Making Choices between Quantitative Methods of Data Analysis Detecting variable types and describing variables Choosing between linear and logistic regression analysis Choosing between advanced methods of quantitative data analysis Chapter 9: Making Choices in Writing and Sharing Research Writing techniques Disseminating research outputs
