Constructing Social Research: The Unity and Diversity of MethodThe primary goal of this book is to show unity within the diversity of activities called social research. What the study of census data, the study of one person at a time, monitoring today's events, or reconstruction of social life centuries ago all have in common is that regardless of their case material, they construct representations of social life through a dialogue of ideas (theory) and evidence (data). To illustrate, Ragin points out the important continuities in three major forms of social research: qualitative study of commonalities; comparative research on diversity; and quantitative research on relationships among variables. |
Contents
What Is Social Research? | 5 |
The Goals of Social Research | 31 |
Ideas and Evidence | 55 |
Using Qualitative Methods to Study Commonalities | 81 |
Using Comparative Methods to Study Diversity | 105 |
Using Quantitative Methods to Study Covariation | 131 |
The Promise of Social Research | 155 |
Computing Correlation Coefficients | 167 |
| 177 | |
| 183 | |
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Common terms and phrases
advance theory analysis analytic frames analytic induction aspects assess calorie consumption causal conditions Chapter cial column combinations common comparative approach comparative methods comparative research concepts Consider construct representations correlation coefficient countries dence dependent variable develop deviation scores dialogue of ideas documentary film ethnic examine example expectancy focus give voice GNP per capita goals of social groups historical Hochschild hypothesis ideas and evidence images important income interpretation investigation involves job satisfaction journalists marijuana outcome patterns of covariation phenomena political possible predictions qualitative methods qualitative research racial racial segregation Ragin relationships relevant representations of social representing social research strategies research subject researchers construct rows searcher similarities and differences small number social research social science social scientific representations social scientists social theory Sometimes specific stayers tell about society testing theories theoretical sampling tion truth table types understanding unions yes yes yes Z scores
Popular passages
Page 177 - Smith. 1988. General Social Surveys, 1972-1988: Cumulative Codebook. Chicago: National Opinion Research Center.