Designing Social Research: A Guide For The Bewildered - Softcover

Greener, Ian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1849201900 ISBN 13: 9781849201902

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2011

Synopsis

Designing Social Research aims to guide students and new researchers using everyday non-jargonised language through the jungle of setting up their own research study. Ian Greener provides readers an accessible combination of guidance on how to practically plan one′s research and understand the underpinning methodological principles that should inform the decisions we make about the methods we plan to use.

This is the perfect starter book for anyone looking to design their own research project and make sense of and justify the many decisions that go into the research design process. The goal throughout is to enable students and researchers to assess the appropriateness of a range of methods and to get understanding of the strengths and limitations of different approaches to research.

Greener highlights key debates in the field - both philosophical and practical - and presents them in such a way that they remain constantly relevant to research practice of his readers. Coverage includes:

- Framing an effective research question/problem;

- Examining the jargon of social research;

- The links between theory, methodology and method;

- The role of literature reviewing in research design;

- Managing and planning the research process;

- Sampling;

- Qualitative designs;

- Quantitative designs;

- Mixed methods designs;

- Data analysis.

Designing Social Research will be ideal first reading for M-level students and undergraduates planning significant research projects for their dissertations. It will also be invaluable to first year PhD students considering how they will go about their research projects.

About this title

About the Author

Ian Greener is a Professor in the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University where he leads the provision of research methods teaching on ESRC-accredited courses. Prior to this he worked for a number of UK Higher Education Universities including Manchester and York in Business Schools and Social Science Departments. His main research interest is trying to keep up with the hectic pace of public sector reform both in the UK and internationally, using a range of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research strategies to examine continuity and change in public services, and which has led to books on the history of the NHS and public management, and over fifty articles published in a range of international peer-reviewed journals.

Ian lives in York where he spends his time trying to stop his children, Bethany, Emily and Anna, from spending what remains of his money, and walking a spaniel his wife insists he must grow to like. He likes good red wine, Strictly Come Dancing, and computers that work.

From the Back Cover

Enabling both students and researchers to fully explore the range of research approaches available, this guide demystifies the process of setting up a research study and is ideal as a starter book in research design.

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1849201900
• ISBN 13: 9781849201902
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224