Revealing Our Social World: Fundamentals of Social Research

Revealing Our Social World: Fundamentals of Social Research explores the myriad reasons social scientists conduct research and how published findings have the power to inform laws and social policies, influence therapeutic practices, and develop social theory. The text underscores the importance of quality research and the use of the scientific method to avoid the pitfalls of casual observation.

The text features five dedicated sections. Section I introduces foundational information about social research, defining its components, outlining the research process, speaking to ethical considerations, and demonstrating the connections between paradigms, social theory, and methods. In Section II, students learn the preparatory steps to take before conducting research in the field. Dedicated chapters cover probability sampling and sample design and qualitative research. Sections III and IV focus on quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis, respectively. The final section of the text explores big data, machine learning, audio, image, video, and social media analytics, and more.

Providing students with a comprehensive and valuable introduction, Revealing Our Social World is an excellent resource for courses in social research.

Mark Plume earned his Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Southern California. He has taught sociology for more than 25 years and is currently a professor at Reynolds Community College, where he teaches traditional and online courses in introductory sociology, marriage and family, and anthropology. He also teaches a number of sociology classes including research methods at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Plume's professional specialties in sociological study include aging, addiction, family, and research methods. He is an avid scuba diver and travels the world looking for the perfect reef and wreck. Dr. Plume and his wife live in central Virginia.

R.J. Hoeser is an instructor of sociology at John Tyler Community College. He holds a Master's degree in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University and has extensive experience in analyzing large quantitative data sets using various means of statistical methods and summarizing findings. Professor Hoeser's research interests involve examining racial inequality and masculinity performance and interaction in video game play. He is a member of the American Sociological Society.