Comprehensive Introduction to Research Methods

A Comprehensive Guide to Research Methods, Volume One provides a clear overview of various methodologies of quantitative research. Each chapter defines and describes a specific methodology and introduces readers to those who pioneered it. Applications of each methodology are discussed, its strengths and weaknesses are explored, and references for further study are provided.Students will learn about achievement testing methodology, agent-based models, calculus for the social sciences, and chaos and catastrophe theories. They will also become familiar with content analysis, linear programming, matrix algebra, and metric scaling. In all, twenty diverse research methods, ranging from internet data collection to multivariate analysis of variance, are effectively explained and analyzed, exposing readers to the fundamentals of each, and creating a pathway for deeper study. A Comprehensive Guide to Research Methods is recommended for use in undergraduate courses focusing on research methodologies in the social sciences.