Paul Stoneman and Nigel Gilbert breathe new energy into this classic bestselling textbook providing clear, relevant advice and extensive coverage of all the research methods you need to understand today's society. Packed full of examples from across the social sciences, Researching Social Life sets out all of the challenges and opportunities of interpreting and conducting research with qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. The book follows the chronology of a typical research project, from initial conception through to the collection, management and analysis of data; it also includes material on how best to write up and disseminate your research. This pragmatic approach mirrors the reality of conducting research and allows the handpicked, internationally renowned contributors to embed real case studies from their own research in each chapter. The student-oriented pedagogy is carefully woven throughout the book and further supported by a cutting-edge website. Key tools include: In-depth worked examples Case studies Discussion questions Checklists Annotated further reading Practical top tips for doing research. With unparalleled breadth and depth this trusted and respected textbook is an essential guide for anyone engaging with social research.
Nigel Gilbert read for a first degree in Engineering, intending to go into the computer industry. However, he was lured into sociology and obtained his doctorate on the sociology of scientific knowledge from the University of Cambridge, under the supervision of Michael Mulkay. His research and teaching interests have reflected his continuing interest in both sociology and computer science (and engineering more widely). His main research interests are processual theories of social phenomena, the development of computational sociology and the methodology of computer simulation, especially agent-based modelling. He is Director of the Centre for Research in Social Simulation. He is also Director of the University's Institute of Advanced Studies and responsible for its development as a leading centre for intellectual interchange. He is the author or editor of several textbooks on sociological methods of research and statistics and editor of the Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation. Paul Stoneman is Lecturer in Sociology, University of Surrey.
FOUNDATIONS AND FIRST STEPS Conceptualising Social Life - Geoff Cooper and Robert Meadows Research, Theory and Method - Nigel Gilbert Formulating and Refining a Research Question - Nicola Green and Paul Stoneman Conducting Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences - Karen Bullock and Daniel McCarthy CHOOSING YOUR RESEARCH STRATEGY Quantitative Research - Paul Stoneman and Ian Brunton-Smith Grounded Theory and Inductive Research - Paul Hodkinson Mixed Methods - Victoria D. Alexander, Hilary Thomas, Ann Cronin, Jane Fielding and Jo Moran-Ellis Participatory Approaches to Social Research - Christina Silver Evaluation Research - Mike McGuire International Comparative Research - Linda Hantrais The Ethics of Social Research - Janet Boddy COLLECTING DATA Designing and Collecting Survey Samples - Patrick Sturgis Questionnaire Design - Charles Leddy-Owen Measuring Attitudes - Thomas J. Scotto Qualitative Interviewing - Nigel Fielding and Hilary Thomas Focus Groups - Ann Cronin Ethnography - Nigel Fielding The Internet and Research Methods - Christine Hine ANALYSING DATA Coding and Managing Data - Jane Fielding Analysing Survey Data - Paul Stoneman Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS) - Ann Lewins Thematic Analysis - Alexander Seal Narrative Analysis - Sarah Earthy, Alexandra Cuncev and Ann Cronin Applying Conversation Analysis and Membership Categorisation Analysis to Qualitative Data - Andrew King and Lorraine Locke Analysing Visual Materials - Victoria D. Alexander Digital Social Research - Christine Hine WRITING ABOUT SOCIAL RESEARCH AND ITS IMPACT Writing about Social Research - Nigel Gilbert The Impact of Social Research - Paul Stoneman and Nigel Gilbert
'Researching Social Life remains the classic, essential guide to social research methods with updated and innovative chapters brought together by a superb team of editors and contributors'. Lisa Dikomitis, Department of Social Sciences, University of Hull, UK. -- Lisa Dikomitis 'This is an excellent and easily accessible compendium of essential research techniques in the social sciences. It is a comprehensive introduction to the field of qualitative social research and a faithful companion during the first steps into empirical research'. Tino Mietz, Faculty of Humanities, Eberhard Karls Universitat Tubingen, Germany. -- Tino Mietz 'Unlike other method texts, this one tells students in clear, readable language how to conduct research in the real world. Students will appreciate the global perspective and the intuitive organization of the book'. Leeda Copley, Department of Sociology, Gerontology and Substance Abuse Studies, University of Central Oklahoma, US. -- Leeda Copley
