Principles and Methods of Social Research - Hardcover

Crano, William D.; Brewer, Marilynn B.; Lac, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805839038 ISBN 13: 9780805839036

Publisher: Psychology Press, 2002

Synopsis

An extensive revision, this classic text presents the most recent advances in social research design and methodology. The authors thoroughly describe the research process using methods derived from basic principles of scientific inquiry and demonstrate how they apply to the study of human behavior. These applications make it an indispensable resource for all fields of human social research, particularly communication, psychology, public health, and marketing. With a heavy emphasis on reliability and validity, the book considers experimental, quasi-experimental, and survey research designs in light of these qualities.

Principles and Methods of Social Research is noted for its:
*emphasis on understanding the principles that govern the use of a method to facilitate the researcher's choice of the proper methodological approach;
*use of the laboratory experiment as a point of reference for describing and evaluating field experiments, correlational designs, quasi-experiments, and survey designs; and
*unique chapter on the ethics of social research including the power a researcher wields and tips on how to use it responsibly.

Highlights of the thoroughly expanded and updated edition include:
*new chapters on meta-analysis and social cognition methods;
* the latest on experimental operations and procedures, such as implicit measures, simulations, and Internet experiments;
* expanded coverage of conducting experiments outside of the lab, including conducting experiments on the Web and on applied evaluation research methods, including efficacy and effectiveness research.

Intended as a text for upper-level and graduate courses in research methods in social psychology, the social sciences, communications, and public health research. No previous methods courses are required.

About this title

Synopsis

This work draws from social psychological and communications research to reflect the newest statistical techniques associated with designs and data collection methods. It focuses on understanding the principles that govern the use of a particular method, rather than on understanding how a given method can be used to answer a specific question. Topics covered include issues of reliability and validity and the process of fitting the methodological designs to research aims. The text concentrates on research strategies, and focuses on data collection techniques, including systematic observational methods, content analysis, and scaling. It also contains chapters on meta-analysis - the quantitative synthesis of research results across many studies - and on the social responsibility and ethical requirements of the social research methodologist. This new edition contains a chapter on social cognition methods featuring expanded coverage of experimental operations and procedure, conducting experiments outside the laboratory, conceptual replication and meta-analysis, and questionnaire design and construction.

Edition details

• Publisher: Psychology Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0805839038
• ISBN 13: 9780805839036
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 432