Research Methods and Society: Foundations of Social Inquiry

Designed to help readers acquire basic skills in the methods of social science research, this book contains excerpts from professional journal articles, scholarly books, and popular press. It uses a straightforward writing style to present essential information, without eliminating key concepts, tools, and their applications. Concrete, everyday examples and hands-on practice activities reinforce fundamental concepts that will be useful in future careers and life. Chapter topics cover foundations of social research; variables and measurement; designing social research; indirect methods; surveys; populations, samples and sampling; preparing the data and basic data analysis; preparing the report; and applying principles of science learning to everyday learning. For a better understanding of the research findings presented to us in magazines, newspapers, television reports, and elsewhere.