Social Research Methods, Fourth Edition, is designed for students at the beginning of their journey in social research. The text guides students through all the steps of the research process, from formulating a question to writing up their report. Written by a team of active research practitioners, the text encourages students to develop a set of practical research skills in line with contemporary Australian and New Zealand social research practices. Using both theory and practical examples to illustrate the relevance of research methods in their future careers, Social Research Methods equips students with the tools required to develop a clear understanding of the nature of research and to gain an appreciation of the wide range of methods available. Australian and New Zealand-specific case studies are used liberally throughout the text to provide direct examples of how the methods are employed within the social sciences. Social Research Methods aims to inspire students to continue their engagement with social research by presenting the requisite introductory skills within a framework of exciting, up-to-date, relevant research.
Professor Maggie Walter is a sociologist whose research is focused on race relations, inequality, research methods and methodologies. She is a Professor of Sociology and the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor of Aboriginal Research and Leadership at the University of Tasmania.
PART 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF GOOD SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 1. The Nature of Social Science Research 2. Research Design 3. The Research Process 4. Ethics and Social Research 5. Sampling PART 2: QUANTITATIVE METHODS AND THE POWER OF THE NUMBERS 6. Surveys 7. Population-level Analysis 8. Descriptive Statistical Analysis using SPSS 9. Quantitative Research Methods PART 3: QUALITATIVE METHODS AND MEANING-MAKING 10. Qualitative Interviewing Methods 11. Content Analysis 12. Discourse Analysis 13. Analysing Qualitative Data 14. Doing Evaluation Research 15. Ethnography 16. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-based Research 17. Internet Research and Digital Media Methods 18. Writing for Research