Research methods for social science : a practical introduction

Preface ix
Acknowledgements xiii

Chapter 1 Introducing research methods 1

1.1 Social science research: the backgronnd l
1.2 Social science research: aims 3
1.3 Research and scientific method 4
1.4 Beginning a research project 15
1.5 Reviewing the literature 17
1.6 Evaluating research 20
1.7 The structure of a research project 22
1.8 Review 22
1.9 Explanation of terms 22
1.10 Further reading 23

Chapter 2 Planning a study - the design 24

2.1 The purpose of a research plan 26
2.2 Rescarch plans and practicalities 27
2.3 Methods 34
2.4 The nature of research design 40
2.5 Design elements in research 53
2.6 Developments in research design 57
2.7 Review 66
2.8 Explanation of terms 66
2.9 Further reading 68

Chapter 3 Carrying out your study - the procedure 69

3.1 The role of procedure 69
3.2 The stuff of research - who will you use? 71
3.3 Secondary rescarch 83
3.4 Using questionnaires in rescarch 85
3.5 Special techniques for information gathering 90
3.6 Using standard instruments in rescarch 91
3.7 Conducting ethical research 98
3.8 Review 99
3.9 Explanation of terms 99
3.10 Further reading 101

Chapter 4 Quantitative techniques - describing the social world:
introducing SPSS 103

4.1 Using numbers to represent the social world 103
4.2 Making sense of numbers 105
4.3 Using statistics to illustrate and describe 108
4.4 The normal distribution 111
4.5 Computer analysis and SPSS 117
4.6 The basics of working with SPSS 119
4.7 Setting up data in SPSS 125
4.8 SPSS and descriptive statistics 125
4.9 Interval data and correlation 129
4.10 Review 139
4.11 Explanation of terms 139
4.12 Further reading 140

Chapter 5 Making inferences about research: statistical analysis using SPSS 141

5.1 Inferential statistics 141
5.2 Probability explained 143
5.3 Scope for errors 144
5.4 One- and two-tailed tests 144
5.5 Statistical analysis 145
5.6 Complex analyses (analysis of variance, regression and partial correlation) 173
5.7 Review 192
5.8 Explanation of terms 194
5.9 Further reading 195

Chapter 6 Qualitative research 196

6.1 What is qualitative research? 196
6.2 An overview of some approaches 198
6.3 Preparing to condact a qualitative study 204
6.4 Collecting data 205
6.5 Dealing with qualitative data 209
6.6 Points to consider when writing up 211
6.7 Other issues relating to the quality of the research 211
6.8 Review 212
6.9 References 212
6.10 Further reading 214

Chapter 7 Writing up your research 215

7.1 The purpose of a report 218
7.2 Writing guidelines 218
7.3 The structure of a research report 219
7.4 Tables and figures 228
7.5 Discussion 231
7.6 References 231
7.7 Appendices 233
7.8 Presentation and style 233
7.9 Writing up qualitative research 233
7.10 Presenting a report 236
7.11 Review 238
7.12 Further reading 239

Index 241