Product Description
Understanding Social Research
Author: J Mouton
Format: Physical Hardcopy
This book explains the fundamental logic of social research in a new and simple way. It also describes in detail the standard stages in the research process and the methodological principles that underlie each of them.
The book is primarily aimed at students in the social, educational and human sciences, but researchers in the government; non-governmental organisations and research institutes will also find it useful.
Contents:
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PART ONE: DEVELOPING A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
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Chapter 1: Multiple worlds
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Chapter 2: Kinds of knowledge
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Chapter 3: Scientific knowledge
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Chapter 4: The nature of scientific research
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Chapter 5: Research as a journey
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Chapter 6: Research as the pursuit of truth (the epistemological dimension)
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Chapter 7: Research as methodical and systematic inquiry (the methodological dimension)
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Chapter 8: Research as a social practice (the sociological dimension)
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Chapter 9: The social world as the object of inquiry (the ontological dimension)
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Chapter 10: An integrated model of social science
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PART TWO: THE LOGIC OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS
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Chapter 11: The process of social research
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Chapter 12: The logic of research
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Chapter 13: Inductive and deductive reasoning in social research
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Chapter 14: Types of reasoning in social research
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PART THREE: STAGES IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS
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Chapter 15: Formulating the research problem (cases, variables and relationships)
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Chapter 16: Formulating the research problem (research objectives)
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Chapter 17: Research design
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Chapter 18: Conceptualisation (defining key concepts)
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Chapter 19: Conceptualisation (formulating research hypotheses)
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Chapter 20: Operationalisation
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Chapter 21: Sampling
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Chapter 22: Data collection (data sources, reactivity and control)
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Chapter 23: Data collection (sources of error)
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Chapter 24: Data collection (ensuring reliability)
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Chapter 25: Data analysis and interpretation
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Chapter 26: Writing the research report
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PART FOUR: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF SCIENCE
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Chapter 27: Scientific concepts
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Chapter 28: Definitions and empirical statements
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Chapter 29: Typologies, models and theories
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Chapter 30: Social science paradigms
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