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An Introduction to Research, Analysis, and Writing
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An Introduction to Research, Analysis, and Writing
Practical Skills for Social Science Students

June 2015 | 376 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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This accessible guide walks readers through the process of completing a social science research project. Written specifically to meet the needs of undergraduate research classes, it introduces students to a complete skill set, including: planning, design, analysis, argumentation, criticizing theories, building theories, modeling theories, choosing methods, gathering data, presenting evidence, and writing the final product. Students can use this text as a practical resource to navigate through each stage of the process, including choices between more advanced research techniques. 
 
1. The Way Ahead
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Goals of This Book

 
Preview of the Rest of the Book

 
Chapter Summary

 
 
2. Research Process
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
What is Research?

 
What are the Objectives and Products of Research?

 
What are the Approaches to Research?

 
Project Life Cycle

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
3. Research Ethics and Laws
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
What are Ethics?

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
4. Scoping, Justifying, Designing, Planning
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
Scoping

 
The Value of Your Research

 
Feasibility

 
Developing a Research Question

 
Describing, Justifying, Planning, and Proposing the Research

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
5. Reading and Reviewing
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
Sources

 
How to Read Efficiently

 
Content Analysis

 
Reviews

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
6. Analysis
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
What is Analysis?

 
Why Do We Analyze?

 
How are We Told to Analyze?

 
How Should We Analyze?

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
7. Arguing and Explaining
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
Definitions

 
Logical Arguments

 
True Arguments

 
Strong Versus Weak Arguments

 
Fallacious Arguments

 
Biases

 
Dialectic Arguments

 
Describing and Critiquing Arguments

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
8. Theorizing and Modeling
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
Theories

 
Hypotheses

 
Models

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
9. Methods
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
Methods and Methodologies

 
Historical Research

 
Case Study

 
Survey Research

 
Direct Observation in the Field

 
Experimental Research

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
10. Evidence and Data
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
Observations and Data

 
Operationalization

 
Measurement

 
Classifying Data

 
Datasets

 
Uses of Data

 
Evidence

 
Causality and Correlation

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 
 
11. Writing
Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 
Opening Vignette

 
Planning the Writing of Your Whole Product

 
Style

 
Structure

 
Chapter Summary

 
Questions and Exercises

 

Supplements

Instructor Teaching Site

Password-protected Instructor Resources: Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. 

easy to follow, brilliant tailor made to the needs of the students book.

Dr Aslan Tanekenov
Sociology, Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research (KIMEP)
May 17, 2022
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It is a nice general overview of key concepts related to academic research.

Dr Mary Gill
Sch Of Communication Arts, Buena Vista University
February 12, 2016
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Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

For instructors

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SAGE Research Methods Promotion

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.

With SAGE Research Methods, researchers can explore their chosen method across the depth and breadth of content, expanding or refining their search as needed; read online, print, or email full-text content; utilize suggested related methods and links to related authors from SAGE Research Methods' robust library and unique features; and even share their own collections of content through Methods Lists. SAGE Research Methods contains content from over 720 books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks, the entire “Little Green Book,” and "Little Blue Book” series, two Major Works collating a selection of journal articles, and specially commissioned videos.

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