Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research Book

The Fourth Edition of Russell Schutt's successful social research text, Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research, links the "doing" of social research to important social issues, including research on the Internet and social relations, substance abuse, homelessness, and gender roles. Each chapter presents an interesting research question and demonstrates how the methods introduced in that chapter can be used to help answer the research question posed. This book not only emphasizes research techniques but also equips students with the critical skills necessary to evaluate research done by others. Six important features distinguish Investigating the Social World from other methods texts on the market: Integration of substance and method. Real-life data in research examples engage students in the excitement of research and help them to confront the realities of the research process. Validity as a unifying theme throughout the book. Validity is introduced in the first chapter and revisited throughout the text, while the major dimensions of validity (measurement, generalizability, and causal validity) are explored in subsequent chapters. Up-to-date treatment of methodological concepts. Integrated throughout are up-to-date treatments of searching the literature and the Web, including step-by-step procedures and helpful screen shots. Integration of research ethics with the pertinent methodological topics. Ethics is introduced in Chapter Two and addressed in each chapter on methods of data collection, helping students to understand ethical decision making in the context of the research process. Balance between quantitative and qualitative methods. Key techniques used in both quantitative and qualitative research are explored and key alternatives in qualitative data analysis are introduced. Innovative exercises and student supplements. This text includes an extensive set of interactive exercises on CD-ROM, innovative group exercises, carefully developed and class-tested exercises using SPSS and HyperRESEARCH analysis software, and a thorough introduction to the research proposal process. A valuable Web-based Student Study Site with exercises and research activities is also available. New to the Fourth Edition: Chapter 3, Theories and Philosophies for Social Research, reviews major theoretical alternatives and introduces philosophical debates about methods that underlie qualitative and quantitative alternatives. A new comprehensive chapter on evaluation research (Chapter 10) and a new, comprehensive qualitative data and content analysis chapter (Chapter 13) have been added. All content from former chapter on Multiple Methods now integrated into other chapters. The qualitative analysis software integrated into the text and CD is now from HyperRESEARCH. All exercises, including a set of interactive exercises on the student disk, have been updated. An expanded, comprehensive Instructor's Resource CD containing PowerPoint slide sets for each chapter, test questions, illustrations from the book for transparency masters, and much more is now available. Investigating the Social World is an engaging, accessible introductory text for research methods courses in sociology, criminal justice, social work, communication and journalism, and political science and public administration. Read More