The Fundamentals of Social Research
The Fundamentals of Social Research
Guy D. Whitten, Texas A & M University
Steven A. Tuch, George Washington University, Washington DC
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This textbook provides an introduction to the scientific study of sociology and other social sciences. It offers the basic tools necessary for readers to become both critical consumers and beginning producers of scientific research on society. The authors present an integrated approach to research design and empirical analyses in which researchers can develop and test causal theories. They use examples from social science research that students will find engaging and inspiring and that will help them to understand key concepts. The book makes technical materials accessible to students who might otherwise be intimidated by mathematical examples. This new text, with the addition of sociologist Steven A. Tuch to the author team, follows the successful format, approach, and pedagogical features in Paul M. Kellstedt and Guy D. Whitten's bestselling text, The Fundamentals of Political Science Research, now in its third edition. Workbooks in Stata, SPSS, and R, three of the most popular statistical analysis programs, are available as separate purchases to accompany this textbook, enabling students to connect the lessons of this book to hands-on applications of the software.
- Emphasizes how design and analysis are intertwined components of research with examples drawn from actual survey data and published research
- Makes technical material accessible to students who might otherwise be intimidated by mathematical concepts
- Teaches how social scientists approach the issue of causal relationships with an integrated framework for assessing causality
- Three workbooks, in Stata, SPSS, and R, are available for separate purchase to enable students to apply the lessons and techniques learned in each chapter in a statistical software setting
Reviews & endorsements
‘Kellstedt, Whitten, and Tuch provide an accessible, sophisticated text. With well-chosen examples, they show why a full understanding of research design, theory construction, and causal inference is essential for effective use of our modern toolkit of data analysis techniques.’ Stephen L. Morgan, Johns Hopkins University
‘A comprehensive and well-written introduction to the techniques and logic of social research. The logic and application of a wide range of methodological techniques are explained eloquently and clearly, and the examples used cut across social science disciplines. This book should be widely used in methods courses across the social sciences.' George Wilson, University of Miami
‘This valuable textbook is unique for two reasons: first, it seamlessly integrates theory, research design, and data analysis, providing students with the foundation required to develop empirically grounded research projects that can make theoretical progress in social science. Second, it is accessible and engaging, drawing students in and showing them how stimulating and exciting social research can be.’ Michael Hughes, Virginia Tech
Product details
September 2022Hardback
9781107128835
312 pages
260 × 183 × 19 mm
0.81kg
Available
Table of Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1. The Scientific Study of Society
- 2. The Art of Theory Building
- 3. Evaluating Causal Relationships
- 4. Research Design
- 5. Survey Research
- 6. Measuring Concepts of Interest
- 7. Getting to Know Your Data
- 8. Probability and Statistical Inference
- 9. Bivariate Hypothesis Testing
- 10. Two-Variable Regression Models
- 11. Multiple Regression
- 12. Putting it all Together to Produce Effective Research
- Appendix A. Critical Values of Chi-square
- Appendix B. Critical Values of t
- Appendix C. The Λ Link Function for Binomial Logit Models
- Appendix D. The Φ Link Function for Binomial Probit Models
- References
- Index.
