Research Methods for the Social Sciences – serie

This is an accessible and practical introduction to research that addresses the broadest spectrum of research methodologies of interest to the student or new research, from experimental and survey approaches to program evaluation and ethnography. Research Essentials includes key interpretive and qualitative strategies. The book shows the role that research plays in the social sciences and education, followed by an overview of research traditions. It offers practical examples and relevant resources across the disciplines. Other features include study questions, lists of relevant journals, web sites, and organizations.

Designing and Conducting Your First Interview ProjectUsing a clear, easily followed approach, Designing and Conducting Your First Interview Project helps anyone new to the process develop the skills to conduct the most essential part of social research data collection: the interview. The book also shows how to organize, analyze, and interpret the data.This workbook provides a step-by-step template for a collaborative class experience in social science. Organized according to the steps of the deductive scientific method, it includes essential activities to take place during class after the appropriate chapter has been read. The book begins with the process of choosing a topic and proceeds through hypothesis development, interview data collection, data entry using SPSS, and elementary data analysis. The final chapter includes the formal assignment and instructions to students on how to write about their experiences in a way that will produce an excellent final paper. By selecting the hypothesis, gathering the data, and analyzing the results, students will gain an appreciation for the strengths and potential weaknesses of "knowing" things through doing quantitative social science.

Online Research EssentialsDesigning and Implementing Research StudiesOnline Research EssentialsWritten by experts in the field, Online Research Essentials provides step-b-step guidance to the student or new practitioner in how to create, test, and deploy online survey research. The book includes everything needed for planning and developing a survey, putting it online, and formatting data for further analysis.Russell and Purcell provide support for using the popular Microsoft Expression Web and Adobe Dreamweaver web page authoring tools and for using the Access database that is used to collect and store survey results. Online Research Essentials is a comprehensive resource that discusses the practical aspects of survey development and applied research and offers information on a wide range of research-related topics that include: Scientific method and research designEthical considerations on using the Internet for researchCreating web pagesPlanning the research studyCreating a simple survey on the InternetDeveloping an e-surveyCreating more complicated Internet surveysSampling proceduresDeveloping experimental designsJavaScript and web programming and advanced JavaScript programmingRepeated measures and matched group designs

Action Research Essentials is a practical guide born of the author's own experience working with students in the social sciences and education, providing a step-by-step outline of how to "do" action research--backed by the most extensive theory and research coverage on the market today. The author guides future researcher/practitioners through the action research process via numerous concrete illustrations and a wealth of on-line resources; positioning it as a fundamental component of practice, A key and unique strength of the book is its outreach to a much larger breadth of students than usually found in action research books. This book will illustrate all the steps in action research using examples from education, social work, psychology, sociology, nursing, medicine, and counseling. The structure of the book is intended as the sole textbook for a course devoted to naturalistic inquiry, practitioner research, or beginning qualitative methods, or can complement a general research course.

This book offers an innovative introduction to social research. The book explores all stages of the research process and it features both quantitative and qualitative methods. Research design topics include sampling techniques, choosing a research design, and determining research question that inform public opinion and direct future studies. Throughout the book, the authors provide vivid and engaging examples that reinforce the reading and understanding of social science research. "Your Turn" boxes contain activities that allow students to practice research skills, such as sampling, naturalistic observation, survey collection, coding, analysis, and report writing.

A comprehensive and practical guide to ethnographic research, this book guides you through the process, starting with the fundamentals of choosing and proposing a topic and selecting a research design. It describes methods of data collection (taking notes, participant observation, interviewing, identifying themes and issues, creating ethnographic maps and tables and charts, and referring to secondary sources) and analyzing and writing ethnography (sorting and coding data, answering questions, choosing a presentation style, and assembling the ethnography). Although content is focused on producing written ethnography, many of the principles and methods discussed here also apply to other forms of ethnographic presentation, including ethnographic film. Designed to give basic hands-on experience in the overall ethnography research process, Ethnography Essentials covers a wealth of topics, enabling anyone new to ethnography research to successfully explore the excitement and challenges of field research.

This book is an accessible introduction to quantitative data analysis, concentrating on the key issues facing those new to research, such as how to decide which statistical procedure is suitable, and how to interpret the subsequent results. Each chapter includes illustrative examples and a set of exercises that allows readers to test their understanding of the topic. The book, written for graduate students in the social sciences, public health, and education, offers a practical approach to making sociological sense out of a body of quantitative data. The book also will be useful to more experienced researchers who need a readily accessible handbook on quantitative methods. The author has posted stata files, updates and data sets at his website http://tinyurl.com/Treiman-stata-files-data-sets.

Methods in Educational ResearchMethods in Educational Research is designed to prepare students for the real world of educational research. It focuses on scientifically-based methods, school accountability, and the professional demands of the twenty-first century, empowering researchers to take an active role in conducting research in their classrooms, districts, and the greater educational community. Like the first edition, this edition helps students, educators, and researchers develop a broad and deep understanding of research methodologies. It includes substantial new content on the impact of No Child Left Behind legislation, school reform, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, logic modeling, action research, and other areas. Special features to assist the teaching and learning processes include vignettes illustrating research tied to practice, suggested readings at the end of each chapter, and discussion questions to reinforce chapter content.Praise for the Previous Edition"A new attempt to make this subject more relevant and appealing to students. Most striking is how useful this book is because it is really grounded in educational research. It is very well written and quite relevant for educational researchers or for the student hoping to become one." -PsycCRITIQUES/American Psychological Association"I applaud the authors for their attempt to cover a wide range of material. The straightforward language of the book helps make the material understandable for readers." -Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation

Integrate qualitative inquiry approaches and methods into the practice of evaluation Qualitative inquiry can have a major effect on evaluation practice, and provides evaluators a means to explore and examine various settings and contexts in need of rich description and deeper understanding. Qualitative Inquiry in Evaluation: From Theory to Practice explores the most important considerations for both students and evaluation professionals. Using various evaluation theories and approaches as a springboard for real-world practice, this reference serves as an accessible text for beginning students and seasoned professionals alike. Readers are given an in-depth view of the key qualities and benefits of qualitative inquiry, which also serves as a crucial counterpart to quantitative analysis.Chapters in part one focus on the foundations, core concepts, and intersection of evaluation theory and qualitative inquiry.Part two contains contributions from leading evaluators whose design, implementation, and reporting strategies for qualitative inquiry are centered on common, real-world settings. These case-based chapters point to the strengths and challenges of implementing qualitative evaluations. Key competencies for conducting effective qualitative evaluations are also discussed. Explores the role of qualitative inquiry in many prominent approaches to evaluationDiscusses the method's history and delves into key concepts in qualitative inquiry and evaluationHelps readers understand which qualities are necessary to be an effective qualitative evaluatorPresents the viewpoints and experiences of expert editors and contributing authors with high levels of understanding on the topicQualitative Inquiry in Evaluation: From Theory to Practice is a vital tool for evaluators and students alike who are looking to deepen their understanding of the theoretical perspectives and practice considerations of qualitative evaluation.

Between good intentions and great results lies a program theory—not just a list of tasks but a vision of what needs to happen, and how. Now widely used in government and not-for-profit organizations, program theory provides a coherent picture of how change occurs and how to improve performance. Purposeful Program Theory shows how to develop, represent, and use program theory thoughtfully and strategically to suit your particular situation, drawing on the fifty-year history of program theory and the authors' experiences over more than twenty-five years."From needs assessment to intervention design, from implementation to outcomes evaluation, from policy formulation to policy execution and evaluation, program theory is paramount. But until now no book has examined these multiple uses of program theory in a comprehensive, understandable, and integrated way. This promises to be a breakthrough book, valuable to practitioners, program designers, evaluators, policy analysts, funders, and scholars who care about understanding why an intervention works or doesn't work." —Michael Quinn Patton, author, Utilization-Focused Evaluation"Finally, the definitive guide to evaluation using program theory! Far from the narrow 'one true way' approaches to program theory, this book provides numerous practical options for applying program theory to fulfill different purposes and constraints, and guides the reader through the sound critical thinking required to select from among the options. The tour de force of the history and use of program theory is a truly global view, with examples from around the world and across the full range of content domains. A must-have for any serious evaluator." —E. Jane Davidson, PhD, Real Evaluation Ltd.Companion Web site: josseybass.com/go/funnellrogers

The authors—noted scholars and researchers—provide an up-to-date guide to qualitative study design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Step by step, the authors explain a range of methodologies and methods for conducting qualitative research focusing on how they are applied when conducting an actual study. The book includes methods of data collection, specific approaches to qualitative research, and current issues in the field. Specifically, chapters cover the methods, designs, and analyses related to the methodologies of history, case study, program evaluation, ethnography, autoethnography, narrative, life histories, emancipatory discourses, feminist perspectives, African American inquiry, indigenous studies, and practitioner qualitative research.

A core statistics text that emphasizes logical inquiry, not mathBasic Statistics for Social Research teaches core general statistical concepts and methods that all social science majors must master to understand (and do) social research. Its use of mathematics and theory are deliberately limited, as the authors focus on the use of concepts and tools of statistics in the analysis of social science data, rather than on the mathematical and computational aspects. Research questions and applications are taken from a wide variety of subfields in sociology, and each chapter is organized around one or more general ideas that are explained at its beginning and then applied in increasing detail in the body of the text.Each chapter contains instructive features to aid students in understanding and mastering the various statistical approaches presented in the book, including: Learning objectivesCheck quizzes after many sections and an answer key at the end of the chapterSummaryKey termsEnd-of-chapter exercisesSPSS exercises (in select chapters)Ancillary materials for both the student and the instructor are available and include a test bank for instructors and downloadable video tutorials for students.

Quantitative and Statistical Research MethodsThis user-friendly textbook teaches students to understand and apply procedural steps in completing quantitative studies. It explains statistics while progressing through the steps of the hypothesis-testing process from hypothesis to results. The research problems used in the book reflect statistical applications related to interesting and important topics. In addition, the book provides a Research Analysis and Interpretation Guide to help students analyze research articles.Designed as a hands-on resource, each chapter covers a single research problem and offers directions for implementing the research method from start to finish. Readers will learn how to: Pinpoint research questions and hypothesesIdentify, classify, and operationally define the study variablesChoose appropriate research designsConduct power analysisSelect an appropriate statistic for the problemUse a data setConduct data screening and analyses using SPSSInterpret the statisticsWrite the results related to the problemQuantitative and Statistical Research Methods allows students to immediately, independently, and successfully apply quantitative methods to their own research projects.

Since it was first published more than twenty-five years ago, Asking Questions has become a classic guide for designing questionnaires¾the most widely used method for collecting information about people?s attitudes and behavior. An essential tool for market researchers advertisers, pollsters, and social scientists, this thoroughly updated and definitive work combines time-proven techniques with the most current research, findings, and methods. The book presents a cognitive approach to questionnaire design and includes timely information on the Internet and electronic resources. Comprehensive and concise, Asking Questions can be used to design questionnaires for any subject area, whether administered by telephone, online, mail, in groups, or face-to-face. The book describes the design process from start to finish and is filled with illustrative examples from actual surveys.

Written for students, researchers, consultants, professionals, and scholars, Logic Modeling Methods in Program Evaluation provides a step-by-step explanation of logic modeling and its importance in connecting theory with implementation and outcomes in program evaluation in the social sciences.  Logic Modeling Methods in Program Evaluation’s comprehensive approach:·        Shows how the logic model can be used to clarify assumptions, reach group consensus, and bridge between various disciplines;·        Identifies the specific components of logic modeling and discusses inputs, activities, outputs, short and long-term outcomes, contextual factors, and optional components and variations;·        Focuses on the critical role of consensus in the development of a logic model, including factors such as teaming, timing, and collaborative learning;·        Explores issues such as the most common mistakes in the development and implementation of logic models and the use of logic models in projects with different levels of complexity or different durations;·        Discusses how the logic model can be used to identify the range of outcomes to be examined and how summative questions can be prioritized;·        Includes a variety of illustrative case studies of simple, multi-year, and complex projects and demonstrates the use of the logic model to establish project goals and evaluate the project’s outcome.

“This is an excellent addition to the literature of integrated methodology. The author has skillfully integrated diverse ways of thinking about mixed methods into a comprehensive and meaningful framework. By providing detailed examples, she makes it easy for both the students and the practitioners to understand the intricate details and complexities of doing mixed methods research. On the other hand, by comparing, contrasting, and bridging multiple perspectives about mixed methods, she has made this book very relevant and useful to seasoned scholars of mixed methodology.”--Abbas Tashakkori, Frost Professor and coordinator, educational research and evaluation methodology, Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, Florida International University, founding coeditor, Journal of Mixed Methods Research

Youth Participatory Evaluation: Strategies for Engaging Young People is a groundbreaking book that provides step-by-step, playful, and accessible activities that have proven effective and can be used by evaluators, educators, youth workers, researchers, funders, and children’s and human rights advocates in their efforts to more effectively engage young people.

Evaluation Essentials Evaluation Essentials is an indispensable text that offers an introduction to program evaluation. Examples of program descriptions from a variety of sectors including public policy, public health, non-profit management, social work, arts management, education, international assistance, and labor illustrate the book's step-by-step approach to the process and methods of program evaluation. Perfect for students as well as new evaluators, Evaluation Essentials offers a comprehensive foundation in the core concepts, theories, and methods of program evaluation.

"Survey organizations should make this handbook an integral part of their training of telephone interviewers. It covers in a clear and direct manner all aspects of the interviewing process and incorporates the latest knowledge about what makes effective interviewers in today’s challenging survey environment."—David R. Johnson, professor of sociology, human development and family studies, and demography and former director of the Survey Research Center, Penn State University and the Bureau of Sociological Research, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The book provides a full complement of assessment technologies that enable leaders to measure and evaluate performance using qualitative and quantitative performance indicators and reference points in each of seven areas of organizational performance. While these technologies are not new, applying them in a comprehensive assessment of the performance of both academic and administrative organization in higher education is a true innovation. Assessing Organizational Performance in Higher Education defines four types of assessment user groups, each of which has unique interest in organizational performance. This offers a new perspective on who uses performance results and why they use them. These varied groups emphasize that assessment results must be tailored to fit the needs of specific groups, that “one-size-fits-all” does not apply in assessment. An assessment process must be robust and capable of delivering the right information at the right time to the right user group.

Written in easy-to-understand language, this important text provides a systematic and commonsense approach to developing instruments for data collection and analysis. This book can be used by both those who are developing instruments for the first time and those who want to hone their skills, including students, agency personnel, program managers, and researchers. This book provides a thorough presentation of instrument construction, from conception to development and pre-testing of items, formatting the instrument, administration, and, finally, data management and presentation of the findings. Throughout the book, the authors emphasize how to create an   instrument that will produce trustworthy and accurate data. To that end they have included guidelines for reviewing and revising the questionnaire to enhance validity and reliability. They also show how to work effectively with stakeholders such as instruments designers, decision-makers, agency personnel, clients, and raters or respondents.

Performance Evaluation is a hands-on text for practitioners, researchers, educators, and students in how to use scientifically-based evaluations that are both rigorous and flexible. Author Ingrid Guerra-López, an internationally-known evaluation expert, introduces the foundations of evaluation and presents the most applicable models for the performance improvement field. Her book offers a wide variety of tools and techniques that have proven successful and is organized to illustrate evaluation in the context of continual performance improvement.

Evaluator Competencies, based on research conducted by the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction (ibspti¨) identifies the competencies needed by those undertaking evaluation efforts in organizational settings. Classified into domains, these evaluator competencies have been rigorously validated, and are accompanied by practical descriptions in the form of performance statements associated with each competency. The authors discuss the challenges and obstacles in conducting such evaluations within dynamic, changing organizations, and provide methods and strategies for putting these competencies to use.

In this important book, the authors explore what answers mean in relation to how people understand the world around them and communicate with one another. They offer practical and theoretical insights that will prove invaluable when developing questionnaires.

The golden standard evaluation reference text Now in its second edition, Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications is the vital text on evaluation models, perfect for classroom use as a textbook, and as a professional evaluation reference. The book begins with an overview of the evaluation field and program evaluation standards, and proceeds to cover the most widely used evaluation approaches. With new evaluation designs and the inclusion of the latest literature from the field, this Second Edition is an essential update for professionals and students who want to stay current. Understanding and choosing evaluation approaches is critical to many professions, and Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications, Second Edition is the benchmark evaluation guide.Authors Daniel L. Stufflebeam and Chris L. S. Coryn, widely considered experts in the evaluation field, introduce and describe 23 program evaluation approaches, including, new to this edition, transformative evaluation, participatory evaluation, consumer feedback, and meta-analysis. Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications, Second Edition facilitates the process of planning, conducting, and assessing program evaluations. The highlighted evaluation approaches include: Experimental and quasi-experimental design evaluationsDaniel L. Stufflebeam's CIPP ModelMichael Scriven's Consumer-Oriented EvaluationMichael Patton's Utilization-Focused EvaluationRobert Stake's Responsive/Stakeholder-Centered EvaluationCase Study EvaluationKey readings listed at the end of each chapter direct readers to the most important references for each topic. Learning objectives, review questions, student exercises, and instructor support materials complete the collection of tools. Choosing from evaluation approaches can be an overwhelming process, but Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications, Second Edition updates the core evaluation concepts with the latest research, making this complex field accessible in just one book.

Essential management guidance for real-world applied research projects Managing Applied Social Research equips you with the skills, strategies, and knowledge you need to effectively manage research projects. Written by a team of nationally-known researchers, this book covers the systematic management of applied social research studies from 'soup to nuts,' providing researchers with an easy-to-follow process and the tools and templates for improving the quality, ethical conduct, and usefulness of the final products. The authors merge expertise adapted from the field of project management with their decades of experience in using established research methodologies and practices to offer readers; practical examples and insights gleaned from major research houses such as Rand, Urban Institute, Mathematica, American Institutes for Research, and others. Key concepts and methodologies are systematically unpacked, with detailed discussion of both theoretical bases and practical applications in the field. Written in plain English, the case studies and vignettes illustrate typical approaches to different scenarios, and the checklists, templates, and other tools provide guides for action. Starting from basic social research strategies, you'll build an understanding of applied research issues and how projects are best managed in a messy, imperfect world. From conceptualization and proposal through implementation, analysis, and reporting, this book helps you lead your projects to success. Learn the skills and concepts necessary to effectively manage applied research projects for the social science disciplinesAnticipate and prepare for common challenges and obstaclesUnderstand the various roles and their requisite tasks and responsibilitiesLearn strategies for making effective decisions about a study's scope, work, schedule, people, budget, and risks during each phase of the research studySocial science research is an essential well of information upon which society is run. Proper management is the key to any research project's success, and success becomes more critical in the field given the potential ramifications in terms of policy and its effects on real, everyday people. Managing Applied Social Research provides sound guidance and expert insight with an essential real-world focus.

An updated guide to the core concepts of program evaluation This updated edition of Program Evaluation in Practice covers the core concepts of program evaluation and uses case studies to touch on real-world issues that arise when conducting an evaluation project. This important resource is filled with illustrative examples written in accessible terms and provides a wide variety of evaluation projects that can be used for discussion, analysis, and reflection. The book addresses foundations and theories of evaluation, tools and methods for collecting data, writing of reports, and the sharing of findings. The discussion questions and class activities at the end of each chapter are designed to help process the information in that chapter and to integrate the information from the other chapters, thus facilitating the learning process. As useful for students as it is for evaluators in training, Program Evaluation in Practice is a must-have text for those aspiring to be effective evaluators. Includes expanded discussion of basic theories and approaches to program evaluationFeatures a new chapter on objective-based evaluation and a new section on ethics in program evaluationProvides more detailed information and in-depth description for each case, including evaluation approaches, fresh references, new readings, and the new Joint Committee Standards for Evaluation

Teacher inquiry helps improve educational outcomes Practitioner Teacher Inquiry and Research explores the concept and importance of the teacher practitioner, and prepares students in teacher education courses and programs to conduct research in the classroom. Author Carolyn Babione has extensive experience in undergraduate- and graduate-level teacher training and teacher inquiry coursework. In the book, Babione guides students through the background, theory, and strategy required to successfully conduct classroom research. The first part of the book tackles the "how-to" and "why" of teacher inquiry, while the second part provides students with real-life practitioner inquiry research projects across a range of school settings, content areas, and teaching strategies. The book's discussion includes topics such as: Underlying cultural and historical perspectives surrounding the teaching professionHidden stereotypes that limit teacher beliefs about power and voiceCurrent curriculum innovation and reflections on modern developmentsPractitioner Teacher Inquiry and Research successfully guides and encourages budding teachers to fully understand the importance of their involvement in studying and researching their classroom settings, giving a better understanding of how their beliefs and teaching practices impact classroom learning.

Asking Questions serves as a practical, introductory guide to questionnaire design. This classic book, first published more than 35 years ago, has been an essential tool for students and professionals on how to ask the right questions. The overall format and structure of the third edition will follow previous editions; however, significant updates and improvements will made throughout, making this the new edition up-to-date on the latest survey trends and more classroom friendly. Included are new chapters on 1) web surveys and multimode surveys and 2) polls and polling. There will also be new or expanded coverage on important survey design issues, such as integrating mode choice and sequencing of modes, cognitive models of response including satisficing, additional examples of questionnaires for different situations and contexts, new guidance on effective testing of survey items and how to ask demographic questions, and dis greater discussion and detail on using basic scalar questions. All illustrative examples, including most figures, will be updated. Student-friendly pedagogy, such as learning objectives, summary, key terms, and review questions, and web-based resources, such lecture slides and a test bank, will all be new to the third edition.