Methodological Thinking
Basic Principles of Social Research Design
Second Edition
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Go to College Publishing WebsiteDescription
Focused on the underlying logic behind social research, Methodological Thinking: Basic Principles of Social Research Design encourages readers to understand research methods as a way of thinking. The book provides a concise overview of the basic principles of social research, including the characteristics of research questions, the importance of literature reviews, variations in data generation techniques, and sampling. The Second Edition includes a revised chapter on research foundations, with focus on the philosophy of science and ethics; an emphasis on critical thinking; additional attention to evaluating research; and a new selection of briefer, multidisciplinary journal articles designed to be accessible to a wide variety of readers.
Contents
1. Exploring the World of Social Research Design
- Defining Social Research
- The Study of Social Research Design
- Evaluating Social Research
- Methodological Thinking
- Studying Research Design as Methodological Thinking
- Methods in Theory and in Practice
2. Foundations
- Foundation I: Data, Concepts, and Theory
- Foundation II: The Logic of Relationships Between Data and Concepts/Theory
- Foundation III: Philosophies of Science
- The Qualitative Versus Quantitative Debate
- Foundations and Research Design
3. Research Questions
- Characteristics of Appropriate Research Questions
- Identifying Research Questions in Published Research
- Creating Research Questions
- Thinking Ahead: Developing Questions That Will Be Ethical and Practical to Study
- Revising Research Questions
- Evaluating Research Questions
- Research Questions and Research Design
4. Literature Reviews
- Defining "The Literature"
- Existing Knowledge as Tools for Research Design
- Defining the Relevant Literature
- Thinking About the Review Task
- The Contents and Form of Literature Reviews
- Evaluating Literature Reviews
- Literature Reviews and Research Design
- Examples of Social Research Article Databases
5. Measurement
- Conceptualization and Conceptual Definitions
- Operationalization and Operational Definitions
- Conceptualization and Operationalization in Research Led by Inductive Reasoning
- Measurement Problems in Social Research
- Evaluating Measurement
- Measurement and Research Design
6. Data Generation Techniques
- Research Questions and Data
- Data Generation Techniques
- Planning Ahead
- Data Generation Techniques and Research Design
7. Samples
- Populations and Samples in Social Research
- The Importance of Samples in Social Research
- Probability Samples
- Non-probability Samples
- Evaluating Samples in Published Research
- Samples and Research Design
8. Summary: Thinking About Social Research Design
- Foundations of Research Design and Evaluation: Methodological Thinking
- Evaluating Research Design: Variations
- Assessing Research Quality
- Characteristics of High-Quality Reports of Research Design
- Ending and Beginnings
Appendix: Suggestions for Further Reading
Appendix: Suggestions for Further Reading
Appendix: Articles Used as Examples
Appendix: Articles Used as Examples
Description
Focused on the underlying logic behind social research, Methodological Thinking: Basic Principles of Social Research Design encourages readers to understand research methods as a way of thinking. The book provides a concise overview of the basic principles of social research, including the characteristics of research questions, the importance of literature reviews, variations in data generation techniques, and sampling. The Second Edition includes a revised chapter on research foundations, with focus on the philosophy of science and ethics; an emphasis on critical thinking; additional attention to evaluating research; and a new selection of briefer, multidisciplinary journal articles designed to be accessible to a wide variety of readers.
Contents
1. Exploring the World of Social Research Design
- Defining Social Research
- The Study of Social Research Design
- Evaluating Social Research
- Methodological Thinking
- Studying Research Design as Methodological Thinking
- Methods in Theory and in Practice
2. Foundations
- Foundation I: Data, Concepts, and Theory
- Foundation II: The Logic of Relationships Between Data and Concepts/Theory
- Foundation III: Philosophies of Science
- The Qualitative Versus Quantitative Debate
- Foundations and Research Design
3. Research Questions
- Characteristics of Appropriate Research Questions
- Identifying Research Questions in Published Research
- Creating Research Questions
- Thinking Ahead: Developing Questions That Will Be Ethical and Practical to Study
- Revising Research Questions
- Evaluating Research Questions
- Research Questions and Research Design
4. Literature Reviews
- Defining "The Literature"
- Existing Knowledge as Tools for Research Design
- Defining the Relevant Literature
- Thinking About the Review Task
- The Contents and Form of Literature Reviews
- Evaluating Literature Reviews
- Literature Reviews and Research Design
- Examples of Social Research Article Databases
5. Measurement
- Conceptualization and Conceptual Definitions
- Operationalization and Operational Definitions
- Conceptualization and Operationalization in Research Led by Inductive Reasoning
- Measurement Problems in Social Research
- Evaluating Measurement
- Measurement and Research Design
6. Data Generation Techniques
- Research Questions and Data
- Data Generation Techniques
- Planning Ahead
- Data Generation Techniques and Research Design
7. Samples
- Populations and Samples in Social Research
- The Importance of Samples in Social Research
- Probability Samples
- Non-probability Samples
- Evaluating Samples in Published Research
- Samples and Research Design
8. Summary: Thinking About Social Research Design
- Foundations of Research Design and Evaluation: Methodological Thinking
- Evaluating Research Design: Variations
- Assessing Research Quality
- Characteristics of High-Quality Reports of Research Design
- Ending and Beginnings
Appendix: Suggestions for Further Reading
Appendix: Suggestions for Further Reading
Appendix: Articles Used as Examples
Appendix: Articles Used as Examples
Reviews
February 2016 | 208 pages | Sage US
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|
Focused on the underlying logic behind social research, Methodological Thinking: Basic Principles of Social Research Design encourages readers to understand research methods as a way of thinking. The book provides a concise overview of the basic principles of social research, including the characteristics of research questions, the importance of literature reviews, variations in data generation techniques, and sampling. The Second Edition includes a revised chapter on research foundations, with focus on the philosophy of science and ethics; an emphasis on critical thinking; additional attention to evaluating research; and a new selection of briefer, multidisciplinary journal articles designed to be accessible to a wide variety of readers.
Table Of Contents:
- 1. Exploring the World of Social Research Design
- Defining Social Research
- The Study of Social Research Design
- Evaluating Social Research
- Methodological Thinking
- Studying Research Design as Methodological Thinking
- Methods in Theory and in Practice
- 2. Foundations
- Foundation I: Data, Concepts, and Theory
- Foundation II: The Logic of Relationships Between Data and Concepts/Theory
- Foundation III: Philosophies of Science
- The Qualitative Versus Quantitative Debate
- Foundations and Research Design
- 3. Research Questions
- Characteristics of Appropriate Research Questions
- Identifying Research Questions in Published Research
- Creating Research Questions
- Thinking Ahead: Developing Questions That Will Be Ethical and Practical to Study
- Revising Research Questions
- Evaluating Research Questions
- Research Questions and Research Design
- 4. Literature Reviews
- Defining "The Literature"
- Existing Knowledge as Tools for Research Design
- Defining the Relevant Literature
- Thinking About the Review Task
- The Contents and Form of Literature Reviews
- Evaluating Literature Reviews
- Literature Reviews and Research Design
- Examples of Social Research Article Databases
- 5. Measurement
- Conceptualization and Conceptual Definitions
- Operationalization and Operational Definitions
- Conceptualization and Operationalization in Research Led by Inductive Reasoning
- Measurement Problems in Social Research
- Evaluating Measurement
- Measurement and Research Design
- 6. Data Generation Techniques
- Research Questions and Data
- Data Generation Techniques
- Planning Ahead
- Data Generation Techniques and Research Design
- 7. Samples
- Populations and Samples in Social Research
- The Importance of Samples in Social Research
- Probability Samples
- Non-probability Samples
- Evaluating Samples in Published Research
- Samples and Research Design
- 8. Summary: Thinking About Social Research Design
- Foundations of Research Design and Evaluation: Methodological Thinking
- Evaluating Research Design: Variations
- Assessing Research Quality
- Characteristics of High-Quality Reports of Research Design
- Ending and Beginnings
- Appendix: Suggestions for Further Reading
- Appendix: Articles Used as Examples
Recent Product Reviews:
Methodological Thinking is a highly accessible, practical guide to the often-intimidating process of designing a research project. An excellent starting point for an undergraduate course in social research fundamentals, full of useful examples and uncomplicated explanations of the starting stages of the research process.
Adam Driscoll, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
This concise, approachable book with clear examples from published articles is a useful supplement to long, detailed, technical methodology texts that students sometimes find overwhelming and inaccessible.
Tracy L. Johns, University of Florida
The second edition of Methodological Thinking has only improved upon the first edition, by focusing more attention on critical issues related to sampling and ethics, along with a broader examination of the epistemology underlying social science research. This book is useful as a “go-to” reference on designing social science research and is excellent as a primary text at all levels of college.
Todd L. Matthews, Cabrini College
Methodological Thinking helps students move past their preconceptions of research to critically engage in research design while enhancing skills that will help them evaluate information in their daily lives.
Joseph V. Ross, Florida Gulf Coast University