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Book Title: An Introduction to Research Methods in Sociology

Author: Valerie A. Sheppard

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Book Description: This textbook provides a broad overview of research methods utilized in sociology. It will be of particular value for students who are new to research methods.

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This textbook, written in an approachable style, provides a broad overview of research methods utilized in sociology. It will be of particular value for students who are new to research methods.  The textbook is divided into 17 chapters, which lead the student from the most basic of concepts, such as “What is research?” through the various stages of planning for a research project, including why and how to write a literature review.  Chapters are specifically designed to be compact, are enhanced with topic-specific examples, and conclude with a “Key Takeaways” section. These approaches help maintain the student’s focus and enhances comprehension of the various concepts, approaches, and methodological considerations required to undertake a research project.

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Research Methodology in Sociology

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Despite rated second only to America in the national sociology stakes by the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC’s) 2010 International Subject Benchmarking Review, UK sociology has a track record of being more concerned, and confused, about research methodology than other social sciences. At the heart of this paradox is that today’s ‘big tent’ discipline is still recovering from being the new kid on the block. British sociology, and therefore British sociological research, developed ‘late’ (Chapter 8). This institutional framework determined what research was done, how it was conducted, and which ‘methods’ became routinised, when the small and relatively new discipline of sociology suddenly expanded in the 1960s. It was the combination of a small base with an extraordinarily large and rapid university expansion, at a unique point in intellectual history, which shapes our perceptions and practice of sociological research, and our uncertainties about it.

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Introduction

Social sciences, social reality and the false division between theory and method: some implications for social research

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Payne, G. (2014). Research Methodology in Sociology. In: Holmwood, J., Scott, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Sociology in Britain. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137318862_19

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Research Methods for the Social Sciences: An Introduction

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Valerie Sheppard, JIBC

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Table of Contents

• Accessibility Statement
• About This Book
• Chapter 1: Introduction to Research Methods
• Chapter 2: Ethics in Research
• Chapter 3: Developing a Research Question
• Chapter 4: Measurement and Units of Analysis
• Chapter 5: The Literature Review
• Chapter 6: Data Collection Strategies
• Chapter 7: Sampling Techniques
• Chapter 8: Data Collection Methods: Survey Research
• Chapter 9: Analysis Of Survey Data
• Chapter 10: Qualitative Data Collection & Analysis Methods
• Chapter 11: Quantitative Interview Techniques & Considerations
• Chapter 12: Field Research: A Qualitative Research Technique
• Chapter 13: Unobtrusive Research: Qualitative And Quantitative Approaches
• Chapter 14: The Research Proposal
• Chapter 15: Sharing Your Research
• Chapter 16: Reading and Understanding Social Research
• Chapter 17: Research Methods in the Real World
• List of Links

Ancillary Material

About the book.

This textbook provides a broad overview of research methods utilized in sociology. It will be of particular value for students who are new to research methods.

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Valerie Sheppard , JIBC

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