Research Design in Social Research
- David de Vaus - University of Queensland, Australia
Research Methods & Evaluation (General)
`A wonderful opportunity for research design students and practitioners to think more about the planning and process of research design' - Forum for Qualitative Social Research
This book is intended to show social science students the importance of attending to design issues when undertaking social research. One of the main problems in doing practical research is that design and structure are inappropriate for the uses of research. They often do not support the conclusions that are drawn from it. Several research methods books focus on data collection strategy and statistical analysis. While these issues are pertinent, this book argues that the core of research methods is the structure and design of the research. The book:
- provides students with a clear understanding of the importance of research design and its place in the research process.
- describes the main types of research designs in social research.
- explains the logic and purposes of design to enable students to evaluate particular research strategies
- equips students with the design skills to operate in real world research situations
The book is divided into five parts. Part One explores issues about types of research, research concepts, research questions, causality and basic issues in the design process. The remaining four parts focus on different types of research design. Experimental, longitudinal, cross-sectional and case-study methods are clearly and systematically examined, and their strengths and weaknesses are described.
The result is a one-stop critical guide to design in social research that students and researchers will find invaluable.
'With this book David De Vaus has written one of the best general research methods textbooks around. The use of different types of research design as the point of departure is a different and very helpful approach to take, especially since many textbooks confuse issues of method and design. The author outlines with great clarity a wide variety of issues, including testing theories, causation, data analysis, and the main considerations involved in using the different research designs covered. Both students and their instructors will find this an extremely valuable, well-written book' - Professor Alan Bryman, University of Loughborough
I like the clarity of exposition in this book. Issues are presented quite straightforward and then deeper discussion of different points follows. The same structure is repeated for each type of design. For me as an instructor it would make a good complement to S. Gorard’s manual (Research Design). De Vaus’ manual is organized in a more traditional way, discussing each “typical” research design in deep. However, I find that most of the examples are just quantitative and that implicitly contradict the explicit idea that qualitative and quantitative data and techniques are equally valuable and useful. Contradicting this statement, each typical design (except for case studies) has a chapter discussing statistical issues specific to that particular design. Implicitly, this also suggests that quantitative data and techniques are the usual, logical, or best way. For case studies, however, it seems that unstructured or qualitative data is the norm.
A useful tool to assist any new researcher embarking on a project. This has helped students find their way around the theory connected with social research.
Excellent guide to research methods. Essential reading for post graduate research students.
Very good Research Design book. Precise, concise and easily understandable. The best I could find for my needs.
An excellent book with a suberb mix of theory and pratice
This book professes to be a one-stop critical guide that demonstrates the importance of attending to design issues in social research. I would certainly agree that it is successful in delivering what it says. The book is divided into 5 parts. Part 1 focuses on issues with research types, concepts, questions, causality and basic issues in research design. This sets the background to the the following 4 parts that focus in more depth on each of the designs. De Vaus systematically examines the different research designs and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each. As an easy to use general research methods textbook, this is to be highly recommended for both students and novice researchers.
The book is a clear and thoughtful primer on research design, explaining and comparing the main approaches to social science research. I have found it works well as an entry level text for undergraduates and postgraduates beginning extended research projects.
We use this book for teaching empirical research as we feel that its content makes for good background reading in the fields of design, analysis and interpretation. As such, the most useful parties of the book are I through IV.
Solid an systematic overview of the research designs in the social sciences.
