Doing Social Science Research

Doing Social Science Research gives an introductory overview of the process of social research, from research design to data collection and analysis. It provides students and teachers with a mix of resources to help them to get to grips with the main methods of social research. These resources include a set of self-directed activities designed to get students using research methods, as well as a set of readings to support these activities. The readings also provide critical discussions and examples of the range of research methods.

The text offers a comprehensive introduction to the full range of research methods in the social sciences, such as:

Survey research

Experimental research

Statistical analysis

Interview research

Ethnographic research

Qualitative data analysis

Discourse analysis

The text clearly explains what these methods involve, as well as their basic relationship to arguments in the philosophy of social science. It will provide students and researchers with essential guidance on how to select the most appropriate method in their own research, as well as understanding and evaluating research conducted by others.

Doing Social Science Research will be an invaluable resource for students taking introductory courses in social research at both postgraduate and undergraduate level. It is a set text for the Open University's Social Science Postgraduate Foundation Module (D820 The Challenge of the Social Sciences).