Documentary Research in the Social Sciences

Malcolm Tight is a Professor in the Educational Research department at Lancaster University.

A much-needed overview allowing the reader to sharpen their perspective in the realm of documentary research and to find paths to further information on different research methodologies.

• Part I: Starting Documentary ResearchChapter 1: IntroductionWhat this Book is ForWhat the Book ContainsHow to Use this BookChapter 2: Documents and Documentary ResearchWhat is a Document?Varieties of DocumentThe Possibilities and Advantages of Documentary ResearchDocuments in, or as the Focus of, ResearchThe Purposes and Usages of DocumentsChapter 3: Finding and Reading DocumentsAccessing DocumentsEthical IssuesSampling and SelectionIssues to Consider when Researching DocumentsHow to Read DocumentsKeeping RecordsChapter 4: Documentary Research in the DisciplinesDocumentary Research in the Social SciencesDocumentary Research outside the Social SciencesPart II: Genres of Documentary ResearchChapter 5: Designing Documentary ResearchDocumentary Research DesignsDocumentary Research and Other Research DesignsDocumentary Research in Combination with Other Research DesignsChapter 6: Literature ReviewsThe Nature of Literature ReviewsThe Functions of Literature ReviewsTypes of Literature ReviewChapter 7: Systematic Reviews and Meta-AnalysesSystematic ReviewsMeta-AnalysesChapter 8: Secondary Data ResearchSecondary Data and Secondary Data AnalysisAdvantages and Disadvantages of Secondary Data ResearchTypes of Secondary Data AnalysisExamples of Secondary Data AnalysisWhere to Get Secondary DataChapter 9: Archival and Historical ResearchThe Nature of Archival and Historical ResearchTypes of Data and SourcesExamples of Archival and Historical ResearchChapter 10: Policy ResearchThe Nature of Policy and Policy ResearchTypes of Policy ResearchExamples of Policy ResearchPart III: Techniques for Documentary AnalysisChapter 11: Analysing DocumentsAnalysis of Written TextsAnalysis of Audio-Visual TextsChapter 12: Quantitative ApproachesSimple Quantitative AnalysisQuantitative Content AnalysisOther Forms of Quantitative Documentary AnalysisChapter 13: Qualitative ApproachesThematic AnalysisQualitative Content AnalysisDiscourse AnalysisConversation AnalysisNarrative AnalysisChapter 14: Mixed Methods ApproachesTriangulation and Mixed MethodsWhy and How to Combine Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches in Documentary ResearchExamples of Mixed Methods Documentary ResearchPart IV: Where Next?Chapter 15: Sharing and Disseminating your ResearchEvaluating Your ResearchSeminars and Conference PresentationsWriting Up for PublicationPlanning Further ResearchChapter 16: Conclusions