{"product_id":"the-process-of-social-research-9780197613733","title":"The Process of Social Research","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFeaturing a conversational, engaging, and student-friendly writing style, The Process of Social Research, Third Edition, introduces students to the fundamentals of research. It places a unique emphasis on process with flowcharts in every chapter that provide step-by-step guides for conducting social research and evaluating the research of others. The authors use relatable, everyday examples and carefully selected research examples to make the book accessible to undergraduates. Comprehensive and up-to-date without attempting to be encyclopedic in its coverage, The Process of Social Research provides a balance between qualitative and quantitative research, taking a more integrated approach to describing the relationship between theory and research.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Process of Social Research is one of the most approachable, student-centered social research methods texts that I have found. The authors' ability to connect with an undergraduate audience through relevant examples while maintaining the level of scholarship needed for a course like this is commendable. * Jessica Grosholz, University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee   *\u003cbr\u003eThe Process of Social Research not only adopts quantitative and qualitative approaches equally, but lets the students know how important dual methodology is. The authors do an excellent job at explaining the concepts and demonstrating how they apply to real-life research studies. Students will actually want to engage with this material! * Sarah Hahn, Mercy College   *\u003cbr\u003eThe Process of Social Research is very comprehensive. The explanations and examples used in the chapters are very useful and drive home the message of the concept being explained. This is one of the best research methods text that I have read. * Aramide Kazeem, University of West Georgia   *\u003cbr\u003eThe Process of Social Research is very informative, well-written, and thorough. I like how the authors use examples of current research, as it helps to connect ideas to real research.\" David Morris, College of Charleston\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eContents Preface  CHAPTER 1 Introduction: Why Care About Research Methods?  The Process of Social Research  Four Social Media Studies  An Experiment  A Survey  A Field Research Study  An Analysis of Existing Data  BOX READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 1.1: Critical Evaluation of Facebook Studies    CHAPTER 2 Science and Social Research: From Theory to Data and Back  The Characteristics and Process of Science  Theory  Verifiable Data  Systematic Observation and Analysis  Logical Reasoning  Logics of Inquiry  Does Contact Change Stereotypes? An Answer from Deductive Inquiry  How Does Class Matter? An Answer from Inductive Inquiry  Combining the Logics of Inquiry  From a Psychological Theory of Suicide to a Sociological One  Evaluating Science: Possibilities, Cautions, and Limits  Tentative Knowledge  The Ideal and Reality of the Scientific Process  The Sociohistorical Aspect of Science  The Human Element of Science  BOXES READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 2.1: Verify This!  CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 2.2: Identifying and Analyzing Deductive and Inductive Reasoning  DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 2.3: A Replication or Reproducibility Crisis in Social Science?  CHAPTER 3 The Ethics and Politics of Research: Doing What's \"Right\"  Overview: Ethics  Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Research Participants  Potential Harm  Informed Consent  Deception  Invasion of Privacy  Federal and Professional Ethical Guidelines  Evaluating Potential Harm  Informed Consent Procedures   Deception Ground Rules  Privacy Protection: Anonymity and Confidentiality  The Process of Ethical Decision-Making  Review Federal Regulations and Professional Ethics Codes  Assess Costs and Benefits of Proposed Research  Identify and Address Areas of Ethical Concern  Prepare and Submit Application for IRB Approval  Collect Data and Secure Participants' Rights  Politics and Social Research  Topic Selection, Political Ideology, and Research Funding  Data Analysis and Interpretation and Political Ideology  Dissemination of Research Findings: Science, Politics, and Public Policy   The Intersection of Ethics and Politics in Social Research  A Case Study: Research on Same-Sex Parenting  Conflict of Interest  Social Responsibility  BOXES READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 3.1: Privacy Invasion in the Public Identification of Participants  CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 3.2: Ethics Practice Questions  DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 3.3: Principles and Recommendations for Ethical Data Collection and Analysis   CHAPTER 4 Research Designs: It Depends on the Question  Initial Steps in the Research Process  Select Research Topic   Review the Literature\/Consider Theory  Formulate Research Question  Prepare Research Design  Designing Research to Answer Quantitative Questions  Select a Research Strategy  Identify and Select Units of Analysis  Measure Variables  Gather Data and Analyze the Relationships Among Variables  Designing Research to Answer Qualitative Questions  Select Research Strategy  Select Field Setting, Social Group, and\/or Archival Records  Gain Access and Establish Relationships  Decide Whom to Observe or Interview or What to Read  Gather and Analyze Data  BOXES DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 4.1: How to Search the Literature  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 4.2: The Ecological Fallacy  CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 4.3: Quantitative Research Questions, Units of Analysis, and Variables  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 4.4: How to Interpret Correlations and Tests of Statistical Significance   CHAPTER 5 Measurement: Linking Theory to Research  Overview: The Measurement Process  Conceptualization and Operationalization  Conceptualization  Operationalization  Variations in Operational Definitions: Data Sources  Manipulated Versus Measured Operations  Sources of Measured Operational Definitions  Variations in Operational Definitions: Levels of Measurement  Nominal Measurement  Ordinal Measurement  Interval Measurement  Ratio Measurement  Select and Apply Operational Definitions to Produce Data  Assess the Quality of Operational Definitions  Forms of Reliability Assessment  Forms of Validity Assessment  The Feedback Loop: From Data Back to Concepts  and Measurement  BOXES DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 5.1: Improving Measurement with Composite Measures  CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 5.2: Inferring Level of Measurement from Operational Definitions  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 5.3: Indexes, Scales, and Scaling Techniques  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 5.4: Measurement Error and the Social Desirability Effect   CHAPTER 6 Sampling: Case Selection as a Basis for Inference  Overview: The Sampling Process  Principles of Probability Sampling  Probability and Random Selection  Probability Distribution and Sampling Error  Sampling Distributions  Statistical Inference  Steps in Probability Sampling   Define Target Population  Construct Sampling Frame  Devise Sampling Design  Determine Sample Size  Draw Sample  Nonprobability Sampling  Overview of Nonprobability Sampling  Steps in Nonprobability Sampling  Making Inferences from Nonprobability Samples  BOXES DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 6.1: How to Select Things Randomly  CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 6.2: The Principles of Probability Sampling as Applied to the 2020 Pre-election Polls  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 6.3: Assessing Nonresponse Bias and  Overall Sample Quality  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 6.4: Methodological Issues Related to Sampling via Crowdsourcing and Online Panels   CHAPTER 7 Experiments: What Causes What?  Introductory Example: Misconduct in Criminal Prosecution  The Logic of Experimentation  Variations on the Experimental Method  Variations in Experimental Design  Variations in Experimental Context  The Process of Conducting Experiments  Pretesting  Participant Recruitment and Informed Consent  Introduction to the Experiment  Experimental Manipulation and Random Assignment  Manipulation Checks  Measurement of the Dependent Variable  Debriefing  Strengths and Weaknesses of Experiments  Internal Validity  External Validity  Reactive Measurement Effects  Content Restrictions  BOXES CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 7.1: The Difference Between Random Sampling and Random Assignment  DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 7.2: Informed Consent Form for an Experiment  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 7.3: Thinking Critically About Research Designs and Threats to Internal Validity   CHAPTER 8 Surveys: Questioning and Sampling  Introductory Example: The Constructing the Family Survey   General Features of Survey Research   Large-Scale Probability Sampling  Structured Interviews or Questionnaires  Quantitative Data Analysis  Variations in Survey Designs and Modes  Survey Research Designs  Data-Collection Modes  The Process of Planning and Conducting a Survey  Choose Mode of Data Collection  Construct and Pretest Questionnaire  Choose Sampling Frame\/Design and Select Sample  Recruit Sample and Collect Data  Code and Edit Data  Strengths and Weaknesses of Surveys  Generalization to Populations  Versatility  Efficiency  Establishing Causal Relationships  Measurement Issues  BOXES READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 8.1: Open-Ended Versus Closed-Ended Questions in Survey Research  DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 8.2: Writing Survey Questions  DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 8.3: Informed Consent Statement in the Constructing the Family Survey   CHAPTER 9 Field Research and In-Depth Interviews: Systematic People-Watching and Listening  Introductory Field Research Example: Mexican New York  Introductory In-Depth Interview Example: Mexican Americans Across Generations  General Features of Qualitative Research  Observation  Interviews  Supplementary Archival and Other Data  Nonprobability Sampling  Qualitative Data Analysis  Reflexivity  Variations in Qualitative Research Methods  Degrees of Participation and Observation  Overt Versus Covert Observation  Interview Structure  Individual Versus Group Interviews  Technological Developments Crosscutting Observations and Interviews  The Process of Conducting Field Research  Select Setting\/Group  Gain Access  Establish Roles and Relationships  Decide What to Observe\/Whom to Interview   Gather and Analyze Data  Leave the Field  Write the Report  The Process of Conducting In-Depth Interviews  Select and Recruit Interviewees  Develop Interview Guide  Gather Data  Analyze Data  Strengths and Limitations of Qualitative Research  Naturalistic Approach  Subjective and Contextual Understanding  Flexible Research Design  Generalizability  Reliability and Validity  Efficiency  BOXES CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 9.1: The \"Nacirema\" and Reflexivity  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 9.2: Getting an Insider's View of Students by Passing as One  DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 9.3: Preparing for an In-Depth Interview   CHAPTER 10 Existing Data Analysis: Using Data from Secondhand Sources  Sources and Examples of Existing Data  Public Documents and Official Records  Private Documents  Mass Media  Physical, Nonverbal Evidence  Social Science Data Archives  Analysis of Existing Statistical Data  Existing Statistics Example: The Impact of MTV's 16 and Pregnant on Teen  Childbearing  The Process of Analyzing Existing Statistics  Content Analysis  Content Analysis Example: Journalistic Accounts of the Iraq War  The Process of Content Analysis  Comparative Historical Analysis  An Example of Comparative Historical Analysis: The Emergence of Mass  Imprisonment  The Process of Comparative Historical Analysis  Strengths and Limitations of Existing Data Analysis   Studying Social Structure, History, and Social Change  Nonreactive Measurement  Cost Efficiency  Data Limitations  BOXES READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 10.1: The Big Data Revolution  CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 10.2: Identifying Units of Analysis  DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 10.3: Analyzing the Content of Cell Phone Use   CHAPTER 11 Multiple Methods: Two or More Approaches Are Better Than One  A Comparison of Four Basic Approaches to Social Research  Examples of Mixed Methods Research  Effect of Abuse on Marriage and Cohabitation  What Employers Say Versus What They Do  Explaining Discrimination in a Low-Wage Labor Market  Unpredictability and Unequal Control of Work Schedules and Time  Purposes of Mixed Methods Research  Triangulation  Complementarity  Development  Expansion  Mixed-Methods Research Designs  Sequential Designs  Concurrent Designs  Component Designs  Integrated Designs  BOX DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 11.1: Limitations and Guidelines for Doing Mixed Methods Research   CHAPTER 12 Quantitative Data Analysis: Using Statistics for Description and Inference  Introductory Example of Survey Data Analysis: Drinking and Grades  Introductory Overview: The Process of Quantitative Analysis  Prepare Data for Computerized Analysis: Data Processing  Coding   Editing  Entering the Data  Cleaning  Inspect and Modify Data  Nominal- and Ordinal-Scale Variables  Interval- and Ratio-Scale Variables  Carry Out Preliminary Hypothesis Testing  Nominal- and Ordinal-Scale Variables  Interval- and Ratio-Scale Variables  Conduct Multivariate Testing  Elaboration of Contingency Tables  Multiple Regression  BOXES DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 12.1: Codebook Documentation  CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING 12.2: The Meaning of Statistical Significance and Strength of Association  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 12.3: The Impact of Statistical Assumptions in Quantitative Data Analysis   CHAPTER 13 Qualitative Data Analysis: Searching for Meaning  Introductory Example: Homelessness in Austin, Texas  Overview: A Process of Analyzing Qualitative Data  Prepare Data  Transform the Data to Readable Text   Check for and Resolve Errors  Manage the Data  Identify Concepts, Patterns, and Relationships  Coding  Memo-Writing  Data Displays  Draw and Evaluate Conclusions  Variations in Qualitative Data Analysis  Grounded Theory Methods  Narrative Analysis  Conversation Analysis  BOXES DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 13.1: Coding Textual Data  READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 13.2: From Displays Back to Data     CHAPTER 14 Reading and Writing in Social Research: It's All About Communication  Read, Take Notes, and Write Research Proposal  Locate Relevant Research Literature   Read and Evaluate Prior Research  Formulate Research Question  Design Research and Prepare Proposal  Write Research Report  Outline and Prepare to Write   Write First Draft  Revision and Other Writing Considerations  BOXES READING SOCIAL RESEARCH 14.1: Questions to Ask in Evaluating a Research Report  DOING SOCIAL RESEARCH 14.2: ASA Guidelines for In-Text Citations and References  Glossary  References  Credits  Index","brand":"OUP USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50577240359255,"sku":"9780197613733","price":113.55,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780197613733.jpg?v=1746094504","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-process-of-social-research-9780197613733","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}