New Strategies in Social Research

Derek Layder is the author of The Realist Image in Social Science (Macmillan, 1990). He is Reader in Sociology at the University of Leicester.

'This is one of the most important books to have been written on social research... equally as able to draw on 'grounded theory' as on 'middle range theory', and to relate these systematically to contingencies ranging from the personal, through the situational, to the institutional and contextual arenas of action as a historically constituted process. ... The future frame of sociological research training, if I am not very much mistaken, should be defined by Derek Layder's New Strategies in Social Research.' Stewart Clegg, University of St. Andrews 'Highly original ... a book that should be read by both novice and expert researchers in order that they may gain a new and deeper perspective on their own research and that of others.' Paul F. Secord, University of Houston'A good introduction for undergraduates. Clearly written and crowded with signposts, it enables them to look at different facets of social life, rather than being blinkered by one.' Times Higher Education Supplement'The book will work best in the role of an advanced undergraduate text in research methods. ... The research map that he provides, and the emphasis that he gives to the role of the map in generating research questions, will [also] be useful for students.' Philip Guest, Mahidol University, Thailand

• Preface. 1. Research Strategy and Theory Construction.2. Middle-Range Theory and Research.3. Grounded Theory and Field Research.4. Grounded Theory on a Broader Canvass.5. A Resource Map for Research.6. Data and Method in Multi-Strategy Research.7. Research Strategy and Theory Building.8. Investigating Power, Commitment and Constraint.9. The Historical Dimension.10. New Strategies: Some Reflections and a Practical Guide.References.Index.