Introducing social research methods : essentials for getting the edge / Janet M. Ruane.

Introducing Social Research Methods; About the Website; Contents; Chapter 1 How Do We Know What We Know? Science as a Superior Way of Knowing; FIRST TAKES; The Competition: Non-Scientific Ways of Knowing; Time-Based Knowing --
Traditional Knowledge; Credential-Based Knowing --
Authoritative Knowledge; More Risky Knowledge Sources --
Common Sense and Intuition; More Reasonable and Tangible Ways of Knowing: Rationalism and Empiricism; Science --
Providing an Accuracy Edge; Science as a Trustworthy Way of Knowing; Science is a Distinctive Way of Knowing; Empirical evidence. Systematic, Methodical RulesCommitment to Causal Analysis; Replication; Science is a Public Endeavor; Tentative; Science as an Exercise in Skepticism; Using Research Methods to Become Critical Consumers of Information; TAKE AWAYS; Sharpening the Edge: More Reading and Searching; Exercises; Notes; References; Chapter 2 The Language of Science and Research: Learning to Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk; FIRST TAKES; Units of Analysis; Variables; The Nuanced Language of Variables; Data; Correlations; The Causal Relationship; Styles of Research; The Quantitative/Qualitative Difference. The Inductive/Deductive DistinctionGoals of Research; Some Perfectly Valid Points; Talking the Talk; TAKE AWAYS; Sharpening the Edge: More Reading and Searching; Exercises; Notes; References; Chapter 3 Ethics: It's the Right Thing To Do; FIRST TAKES; Putting Ethics in Historical Context; Research Should Not Cause Harm to Subjects; Researchers Should Obtain the Informed Consent of Subjects; Competence; Voluntarism; Full information; Comprehension; Researchers Should Respect Subjects' Privacy; Sensitivity of Information; Research Setting; Disseminating Research Findings. Researchers Should Avoid Conflicts of InterestReinforcing the Ethical Route: Institutional Review Boards; Ethical Fusion; TAKE AWAYS; Sharpening the Edge: More Reading and Searching; Exercises; Notes; References; Chapter 4 Designing Ideas: What Do We Want to Know and How Can We Get There?; FIRST TAKES; The Research Plan; Coming up with the Right Question; Reviewing the Literature; The Case and Place for Theory; The Placement of Theory in the Research Process; The Levels of Theory Guiding or Resulting from Research; More Planning and Strategizing: Considering Questions and Timing. What's the Question? Causal vs. Non-Causal QuestionsCausal Questions; Non-Causal Questions; Timing is Everything; Cross-Sectional Research Designs; Longitudinal Research Designs; Fixed-Sample Panel Design; Repeated Cross-Sectional Design; Event-Based Designs; Questions About the Process; And Still More Planning; Planning to Maximize Research Validity; Measurement Validity; Internal Validity; External Validity; Conclusions; TAKE AWAYS; Sharpening the Edge: More Reading and Searching; Exercises; Notes; References; Chapter 5 Measure by Measure: Developing Measures --
Making the Abstract Concrete.

Includes bibliographical references and index.