Basic Research Methods: An Entry to Social Science Research

243 Pages·2010·1.485 MB·English

by  Gerard Guthrie

contents i
Basic Research Methods
ii Basic ReseaRch Methods
contents iii
Basic Research Methods
An Entry to Social Science Research
Gerard Guthrie
iv Basic ReseaRch Methods
Copyright © Gerard Guthrie, 2010
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
First published in 2010 by
Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd
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Published by Vivek Mehra for SAgE Publications India Pvt Ltd, typeset in 11/13pt Charter BT by
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
guthrie, gerard.
Basic research methods: an entry to social science research/gerard guthrie.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Social sciences—Research. 2. Social sciences—Research—Methodology. I. Title.
H62.g847 300.72—dc22 2010 2010011342
ISBN: 978-81-321-0457-5 (PB)
The Sage Team: Elina Majumdar, Sushmita Banerjee, Vijay Sah and Trinankur Banerjee
contents v
For Karina
vi Basic ReseaRch Methods
contents vii
Contents
List of Tables and Figures xiii
List of Boxes xv
Preface xvii
Acknowledgements xix
SECTION 1 THE PROBLEM
1 approaches to Research
1.1 The PAPA Model of Research 4
1.2 Stages of Research 6
1.3 Some Actual Research Projects 8
1.4 Research Accuracy 10
1.5 Summary 12
1.6 Annotated References 13
2 Research ethics
2.1 Codes of Ethics 15
2.2 Permissions to Research 16
2.3 Responsibilities 18
2.4 Confidentiality 20
2.5 Feedback 20
2.6 Participatory Research 21
2.7 Summary 22
2.8 Annotated References 23
3 Research Proposal and Literature Review
3.1 Research Proposal 25
3.2 Literature Review 28
3.3 Levels of Analysis 29
3.4 Using the Library and Internet 30
3.5 Abstracting 32
3.6 Word Processing 33
3.7 Plagiarism 35
viii Basic ReseaRch Methods
3.8 Summary 35
3.9 Annotated References 37
4 Research Methodology
4.1 Research Hypotheses 38
4.2 Objective and Subjective 41
4.3 Positivism and Post-positivism 43
4.4 Commonsense and Pragmatism 44
4.5 Mixed Methods 45
4.6 Triangulation 46
4.7 Summary 48
4.8 Annotated References 49
SECTION 2 DATA COLLECTION
5 Sampling
5.1 Justification 53
5.2 Sample Size 54
5.3 Haphazard Sampling 56
5.4 Pure Random Sampling 57
5.5 Systematic Sampling 60
5.6 Non-response 62
5.7 Weighting 63
5.8 Summary 64
5.9 Annotated References 65
6 Case Study Method
6.1 Sampling Principles 66
6.2 Sample of One 67
6.3 Total Population 68
6.4 Theory and Data 70
6.5 Start-up 73
6.6 Researcher’s Role 74
6.7 Summary 74
6.8 Annotated References 76
7 Survey Method
7.1 Sampling Principles 77
7.2 Types of Survey 78
7.3 Implementation Options 80
contents ix
7.4 Survey Protocols 81
7.5 Managing Surveys 83
7.6 Increasing Response Rates 83
7.7 Summary 84
7.8 Annotated References 85
8 experimental Method
8.1 Attributes and Variables 87
8.2 Cause-and-effect 89
8.3 Control 90
8.4 Types of Experimental Design 91
8.5 Quasi-experimental and Ex Post Facto Research 93
8.6 Validity of Experiments 96
8.7 Summary 96
8.8 Annotated References 97
9 available Data
9.1 Sampling Principles 99
9.2 Validity and Reliability 100
9.3 Content Analysis 101
9.4 Presenting Text 102
9.5 Using Numerical Data 104
9.6 Relevance 106
9.7 Summary 106
9.8 Annotated References 107
10 Observation
10.1 Observer Roles 108
10.2 Validity and Reliability 109
10.3 Sampling Techniques 111
10.4 Recording Observations 112
10.5 Testing Theory 113
10.6 Presenting Observational Data 114
10.7 Summary 114
10.8 Annotated References 117
11 Interviews
11.1 Unstructured Interviews 119
11.2 Semi-structured Interviews 120
11.3 Structured Interviews 122
11.4 Narrative 123