Principles of Methodology
Research Design in Social Science
- Perri 6 - Queen Mary, University of London, UK
- Christine Bellamy - Nottingham Trent University, UK
In this intelligent and accessible book, Perri 6 and Chris Bellamy explore the relationship between the philosophical principles of the social sciences and the methods at our disposal to study the social world. They examine how we can design achievable and valid research projects by looking closely at the choices that all researchers and students face when designing a research project.
Much of the existing literature glosses over the often difficult inter-relationship between practical research design and the theoretical underpinnings of methodology. However, this text addresses such issues head on, and in the process helps the reader to better understand each stage of the research process.
Coverage includes:
" How do we ask valid research questions?
" How do we develop a research design to best answer our questions?
" What is the difference between 'methodology' and 'methods'?
" How do we formulate research concepts?
" How do we select and access a sample?
" What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative approaches?
" How do we handle our data?
This book is essential reading for any student or new researcher on a research methods course and who is faced with the prospect of understanding the research process for themselves or designing their own research project.
'This is not just another methods book – it is ground-breaking in its comprehensiveness about what methodology is and what it is not.'
'I would recommend this book to any member of the SRA whether in academia, local government, central government or market research; in short anyone concerned with collecting data about the social world and trying to make sense of it.'
Not focused enough on the nature of qualitative small scale research in education.
I have found this book not compatible with the aims of my comparative public policy class.
Friendly and no-nonsense approach to methodology, I think student will really benefit from it.
Too advanced for course as currently offered. Would be excellent for research design course prior to dissertation.
Research design has been the main issue worrying first time researchers especially those doing writing a dissertation for the first time. This book answers most of your pertinent questions and gives you the step by step methods to design and conduct your research.
This book is more advanced than I had hoped for
A well written, helpful text for both undergraduates and postgraduates.
Easy to read undertstandble pricnicples of research methodology which are subject transferrable
A good book on a central subject
