Research Methods for Everyday Life: Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (Research Methods for the Social Sciences)

353 Pages·2009·2 MB·English

by  Deidre D. Johnson

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Research Methods for Everyday Life is a fresh and engaging introduction to the process of social research •
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and the variet y of research methods, highlighting quantitative and qualitative methods and ho w to O
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combine them. Taking readers step-by-step through each stage of the research process, the text includes N
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many opportunities for practicing essential sk ills, such as sampling , naturalistic obser vation, survey T
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collection, coding, analysis, and report writing. Coverage of quantitative methods includes measurement, N
correlational designs, basic experimental desig ns, and advanced experimental desig ns. Coverage of
qualitative methods includes desig n and analy sis, ethnography, and f ocus group interviewing. The
authors cover sampling techniques, how to choose a research design, and how to determine research
questions that inform public opinion and dir ect future studies. The book also covers disseminating of
research  ndings through writing and public presentations.
Authors VanderStoep and Johnston enrich their text with illustrative examples from actual research that
reinforce a clear understanding of social science research.

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Praise for n
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Research Methods for Everyday Life in
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“Anyone who has tried to integrate both qualitative and quantitative methodology in a research methods u
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course will be g rateful that ther e is  nally a t extbook that does this—and does it w ell, given the i
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combination of strengths of the two authors, VanderStoep and Johnston. I have been waiting for a book t
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like this, especially with such interesting and fresh examples from real research that will likely inspire and e
engage my students.” a
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—Barbara Hofer, PhD, associate professor, Psychology, Middlebury College d
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Scott W. VanderStoep, associate professor in the Depar tment of Psychology, Hope College, Holland, v
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Michigan, is the former director of the Carl Frost Center for Social Science Research at Hope College. He A
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is the coauthor of Learning to Learn: The Skill and Will of College Success and editor of Science and the Soul: p
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Christian Faith and Psychological Research. o
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Deirdre D. Johnston, professor in the Department of Communications, Hope College, Holland, Michigan, e
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and is the author of The Art and Science of Persuasion.
Blending Qualitative and
RESEARCH METHODS/EVALUATION
Quantitative Approaches
www.josseybass.com
Cover design by: Michael Rutkowski
SCOTT W. VANDERSTOEP DEIRDRE D. JOHNSTON
AND
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RESEARCH
METHODS FOR
EVERYDAY LIFE
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RESEARCH
METHODS FOR
EVERYDAY LIFE
Blending Qualitative and
Quantitative Approaches

S C O T T W. VA N D E R S T O E P

D E I R D R E D . J O H N S T O N

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Copyright © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
VanderStoep, Scott W.
Research methods for everyday life : blending qualitative and quantitative approaches /
Scott W. VanderStoep, Deirdre D. Johnston.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-470-34353-1 (alk. paper)
1. Social sciences—Research—Methodology. 2. Psychology—Research—Methodology.
3. Qualitative research. 4. Social sciences—Research—Statistical methods. 5. Psychometrics.
I. Johnston, Deirdre D. II. Title.
H62.V323 2008
001.4'2—dc22
2008037380
Printed in the United States of America
FIRST EDITION
PB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
About the Authors xiii
Preface xv
Introduction xvii
CHAPTER 1 UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH 1
The Research Process 3
Types of Research 7
Research Proposals 10
Research Ethics 12
Getting Acquainted with SPSS 20
Summary 23
Key Terms 24
CHAPTER 2 THE WHO, HOW, AND WHY OF RESEARCH 25
Who: Selecting a Sample 26
How: Selecting a Research Strategy 35
Why: Doing Research That Makes a Difference 43
Summary 44
Key Terms 45
CHAPTER 3 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: MEASUREMENT AND 47
DATA COLLECTION
Measurement: Turning Abstractions into Variables 48
Characteristics of Good Measures 59
Collecting Data 66
Summary 72
Key Terms 72
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vi
Contents
CHAPTER 4 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: DESCRIPTIVE AND 75
CORRELATIONAL DESIGNS
Basic Concepts 76
Causation and Prediction 77
Data Gathering 79
Data Analysis 92
Summary 103
Key Terms 104
CHAPTER 5 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: BASIC 105
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Experimental Validity 105
Types of Variables 106
Characteristics of Experiments 110
Types of Experimental Designs 120
Data Analysis 121
Summary 129
Key Terms 129
CHAPTER 6 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: 131
ADVANCED EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Basic Concepts 132
Repeated-Measures Designs 136
Complex Designs 141
Quasi-Experimental Designs 146
Data Analysis 150
Summary 161
Key Terms 162
CHAPTER 7 WHAT IS QUALITATIVE RESEARCH? 163
Telling a Story . . . Qualitatively 163
Two Worldviews on Research: Reality and Knowledge 165
Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Research 166
Critique of Quantitative Research 171
Crisis of Representation 178
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vii
Contents
Summary 179
Key Terms 180
CHAPTER 8 PLANNING YOUR QUALITATIVE STUDY: DESIGN, 181
SAMPLING, AND DATA ANALYSIS
Designing Qualitative Research 183
Summary 196
Key Terms 197
CHAPTER 9 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS: ETHNOGRAPHY, 199
PHENOMENOLOGY, CASE STUDY, TEXTUAL ANALYSIS,
AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Ethnography 200
Phenomenology 206
Case Study 209
Textual Analysis 210
Applied Research Methods: Action and Evaluation Research 215
Summary 218
Key Terms 219
CHAPTER 10 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH TOOLS: INTERVIEWING, 221
FOCUS GROUPS, AND OBSERVATION
The First Tool: Defi ning the Context 222
Qualitative Research Tools: How to Collect Data 224
Summary 242
Key Terms 242
CHAPTER 11 PRESENTING YOUR RESEARCH FINDINGS 245
Presenting Your Research with a Poster 246
Presenting Your Research in an Oral Presentation 247
Presenting Your Research in a Paper 250
Reducing Bias in Research Reporting 259
Summary 261
Key Terms 261
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viii
Contents
References 263
Appendix A A Sample Manuscript from a Quantitative Study 269
Appendix B A Sample Manuscript from a Qualitative Study 283
Glossary 301
Index 315
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