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Researching Social Life
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Researching Social Life

Fourth Edition
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January 2016 | 624 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Paul Stoneman and Nigel Gilbert breathe new energy into this classic bestselling textbook providing clear, relevant advice and extensive coverage of all the research methods you need to understand today’s society.

Packed full of examples from across the social sciences, Researching Social Life sets out all of the challenges and opportunities of interpreting and conducting research with qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.

The book follows the chronology of a typical research project, from initial conception through to the collection, management and analysis of data; it also includes material on how best to write up and disseminate your research. This pragmatic approach mirrors the reality of conducting research and allows the handpicked, internationally renowned contributors to embed real case studies from their own research in each chapter.

The student-oriented pedagogy is carefully woven throughout the book and further supported by a cutting-edge website. Key tools include:

  • In-depth worked examples
  • Case studies
  • Discussion questions
  • Checklists
  • Annotated further reading
  • Practical top tips for doing research.

With unparalleled breadth and depth this trusted and respected textbook is an essential guide for anyone engaging with social research.


 
FOUNDATIONS AND FIRST STEPS
Geoff Cooper and Robert Meadows
Conceptualising Social Life
Nigel Gilbert
Research, Theory and Method
Nicola Green and Paul Stoneman
Formulating and Refining a Research Question
Karen Bullock and Daniel McCarthy
Conducting Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences
 
CHOOSING YOUR RESEARCH STRATEGY
Paul Stoneman and Ian Brunton-Smith
Quantitative Research
Paul Hodkinson
Grounded Theory and Inductive Research
Victoria D. Alexander, Hilary Thomas, Ann Cronin, Jane Fielding and Jo Moran-Ellis
Mixed Methods
Christina Silver
Participatory Approaches to Social Research
Mike McGuire
Evaluation Research
Linda Hantrais
International Comparative Research
Janet Boddy
The Ethics of Social Research
 
COLLECTING DATA
Patrick Sturgis
Designing and Collecting Survey Samples
Charles Leddy-Owen
Questionnaire Design
Thomas J. Scotto
Measuring Attitudes
Nigel Fielding and Hilary Thomas
Qualitative Interviewing
Ann Cronin
Focus Groups
Nigel Fielding
Ethnography
Christine Hine
The Internet and Research Methods
 
ANALYSING DATA
Jane Fielding
Coding and Managing Data
Paul Stoneman
Analysing Survey Data
Ann Lewins
Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS)
Alexander Seal
Thematic Analysis
Sarah Earthy, Alexandra Cuncev and Ann Cronin
Narrative Analysis
Andrew King and Lorraine Locke
Applying Conversation Analysis and Membership Categorisation Analysis to Qualitative Data
Victoria D. Alexander
Analysing Visual Materials
Christine Hine
Digital Social Research
 
WRITING ABOUT SOCIAL RESEARCH AND ITS IMPACT
Nigel Gilbert
Writing about Social Research
Paul Stoneman and Nigel Gilbert
The Impact of Social Research

Really good for PGRs as they begin to think about how to go about designing the research

Professor DONNA PANKHURST
Department of Peace Studies, Bradford University
March 8, 2016

This is an excellent, thorough and up-to-date text book that will be very useful to students learning about the research process.

Dr Colin Alasdair Stewart Cameron
Faculty of Health, Social Work & Educ, Northumbria University
March 4, 2016

The latest edition continues to be a very good practical tool for students to develop their undergraduate dissertation projects!

Dr Neli Demireva
Department of Sociology, University of Essex
April 29, 2016

A great volume for beginners and advanced learners in the field of empirical research methods. The book gives readers all needed essentials and goes way beyond.

Professor Philipp Pohlenz
Faculty of Humanities, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg
June 2, 2016

A good publication with clear sign-posting elements to help support the students learning. It is easily accessible with concepts clearly evident to help focus the students their knowledge basis around the research process.

Dr Azora Josephine Hurd
Social Work, Gloucestershire University
February 29, 2016
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Sample Materials & Chapters

Ch 1: Conceptualising Social Life