Investigating research methods
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Investigating research methods
（Sociology in action）
Unwin Hyman, 1990
Available at 1 libraries
Description and Table of Contents
Description
The aim of this book is to help students become practising sociologists. They need to understand how research has been done by other sociologists, be able to evaluate that research and to carry out a personal sociological enquiry using different research methods. The book aims to equip them with the necessary skills to cope with the different elements of assessment at A level and A/S level, and with basic skills of note-taking and revision. With these aims in mind, section 1 provides, through examples, a basic grounding in methodology. It dicusses the different methods used by sociologists, their relative strengths and weaknesses and in what circumstances different methods are appropriate. The emphasis throughout this section is on encouraging students to ask questions about research and to judge its usefulness for themselves. It is felt that students need to be able to evaluate published research examples constructively before they are able to conduct their own research. There is no attempt to discuss broader theoretical considerations, although these issues are central to a discussion of methodology and it is assumed that the student has some background theoretical knowledge.
Section 2 builds upon the understanding developed by Section 1 and guides students through ways in which they themselves can practise sociology. By providing worked examples of manageable pieces of research, students are given practice in the skills needed for carrying out their own research. Section 3 concentrates more explicitly on the demands of examination assessment at A level and A/S level. Guidance, activities and examples are provided to help students master the skills of reading and note-taking, essay writing and answering stimulus-response questions and preparing for the final examination. It is envisaged that the book will be used by students rather than just read chronologically. It may be that some sections are more useful than others at different stages of their course.
Table of Contents
- Part 1 Understanding and evaluating sociological research: method A observation - a Glasgow gang observed, James Patrick, the "tearoom trade", Laud Humphreys, questions on observation, checklist on o bservation, projects
- method B social surveys - poverty in the United Kingdom, Peter Townsend, friendship networks and social support, Peter Willmott, questions on social surveys, checklist on social surveys, projects
- method C informal interviews - from here to maternity, Ann Oakley, violence aga inst wives, Dobash and Dobash, questions on informal interviews, checklist on informal interviews, projects
- method D secondary data - statistics - inequalities in health, Townsend and Davidson,mass media - Glasgow university media group - war and peace news, personal documents - Leicester university "young people's image of attending football - a preliminary analysis of essays by Liverpool school children"
- method E using more than one method - the making of a moonie - choice or brainwashing, Eileen Barker, exam questions on sociological methods . Part 2 Doing your own sociological research: introduction - stages in carrying out your research
- points to consider in choosing your method
- education - research questions, research example
- stratification - research questions, research example
- health, welfare and poverty - research questions, research examples
- presenting your enquiry. Part 3 Skills for a sociology course: reading and note-taking
- writing essays and stimulus questions
- preparing for your exams
- addreses for examination boards.
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