Social Research
A Practical Introduction
- Bruce Curtis - University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Cate Curtis - University of Waikato, New Zealand
The text provides a mixed methods approach that challenges historical divisions between quantitative and qualitative research. It adopts a multidisciplinary approach to social science research, drawing from areas such as sociology, social psychology and social anthropology.
Explicitly addressing the concerns of emergent researchers it provides both a 'how to' account of social research and an understanding of the main factors that contextualize research by discussing 'why do' social scientists work this way.
Throughout the twelve comprehensive chapters procedural (how to) accounts and contextual (why do) issues are usefully applied to major themes and substantive questions.
These key themes include:
(1) Research design
(2) The practices of research and emergent researchers: Beyond ontology, epistemology and methodology
(3) The impact of technology on research
(4) Putting the research approach in context.
A superb teaching text this book will be relished by lecturers seeking an authoritative introduction to social research and by students who want an accessible, enriching text to guide and inspire them.
This is a very interesting book on research methods, particularly for teachers. The main elements of the social research process are clearly presented but in an original way: every chapter is about a different research method or approach but all of them have the same structure. This structure includes the more usual sections on how-to-do but also other sections as “Some issues in research” and “Putting the approach in context” that I find especially valuable. The eleven research approaches selected, explained and discussed form a very relevant methodological overview and the classification of this methods based on the concepts “case-centric vs. variable-centric” gives a new perspective about them.
Valuable text
Useful text for students undertaking a research module.
Good book, provides insight into social research
well written and structured book.
Useful insights on areas such as epistemology and ethics. Also the chapter on secondary research which is often given less of a porofile in research texts.
This would of value to the student requiring a foundation in social research and is also accessible to students from level 4 onwards.
A very student friendly book. I found the chapter on focus groups particularly useful.
An important and very informative methods text book that gives the comments of overview of a wide range of the main approaches to social science research. This is an accessible text however it is not simplistic or patronising but rather is a theoretically informed. An excellent practical guide to social science research.
This course is for doctors and dentists, typically, where the world of education and social science is new to them. The text will provide a useful source to support their thinking and planning of their own Masters research project.
There is a wealth of methodology texts available but this text provides practice points which will be sueful to this audience. And notably, the focus grp chapter is detailed - other texts can be somewhat limited on this method.
