Synopses & Reviews
Providing a comprehensive introduction to the study and implementation of social research methods, this book shows how social research is carried out and offers advice for independent social research study. All the major research methods and designs are covered. And, both quantitative and qualitative research are explored in depth alongside discussions of the ways in which these two research strategies can be combined. Illustrated throughout with a wide range of examples, this book provides the essential introduction to social research methods for all students of this subject.
Review
"...provides an insightful overview of the characteristics and applications of focus groups." --Communication Booknotes Quarterly
Synopsis
Now in its 2nd edition this market leading textbook continues to provide students with an excellent explanation and demonstration of the main theories and techniques in social research methods. Fully updated and now in two colour, the text is accessible and well structured with numerous real life examples and student learning aids. The text is also accompanied by a fully comprehensive companion web site.
About the Author
Professor Alan Bryman is Professor of Social Research at Loughborough University.
Table of Contents
Part One 1. Social Research Strategies
2. Research Designs
Part Two
3. The Nature of Quantitative Research
4. Sampling
5. Structured Interviewing
6. Self-Completion Questionnaires
7. Asking Questions
8. Structured Observation
9. Content Analysis
10. Secondary Analysis and Official Statistics
11. Quantitative Data Analysis
12. Using SPSS for Windows
Part Three
13. The Nature of Qualitative Research
14. Ethnography and Participant Observation
15. Interviewing in Qualtitative Research
16. Focus Groups
17. Language in Qualitative Research
18. Documents as Sources of Data
19. Qualitative Data Analysis
20. Computer-assisted Qualitative Data Analysis: Using NVivo
Part Four
21. Breaking down the Quantitative/Qualitative Divide
22. Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Research
23. E-Research: The Internet as Object and Method of Data Collection
24. Writing up Social Research
25. Ethics in Social Research
26. Doing a Research Project