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Chapter 1: Introduction to Research Methods
Learning objectives.
At the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Define the term “research methods”.
- List the nine steps in undertaking a research project.
- Differentiate between applied and basic research.
- Explain where research ideas come from.
- Define ontology and epistemology and explain the difference between the two.
- Identify and describe five key research paradigms in social sciences.
- Differentiate between inductive and deductive approaches to research.
Welcome to Introduction to Research Methods. In this textbook, you will learn why research is done and, more importantly, about the methods researchers use to conduct research. Research comes in many forms and, although you may feel that it has no relevance to you and/ or that you know nothing about it, you are exposed to research multiple times a day. You also undertake research yourself, perhaps without even realizing it. This course will help you to understand the research you are exposed to on a daily basis, and how to be more critical of the research you read and use in your own life and career.
This text is intended as an introduction. A plethora of resources exists related to more detailed aspects of conducting research; it is not our intention to replace any of these more comprehensive resources. Feedback helps to improve this open-source textbook, and is appreciated in the development of the resource.
Research Methods for the Social Sciences: An Introduction Copyright © 2020 by Valerie Sheppard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
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A Student's Guide to Methodology
- Edition: Third Edition
- By: Peter Clough & Cathy Nutbrown
- Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
- Publication year: 2012
- Online pub date: January 16, 2024
- Discipline: Sociology , Criminology and Criminal Justice , Business and Management , Communication and Media Studies , Education , Psychology , Health , Social Work , Political Science and International Relations
- Methods: Methodology , Research questions , Survey research
- DOI: https:// doi. org/10.4135/9781529682564
- Keywords: attitudes , citizenship , language , mothering , special education , students , teaching Show all Show less
- Print ISBN: 9781446208625
- Online ISBN: 9781529682564
- Buy the book icon link
The Third Edition of this hugely popular text provides students with straightforward principles and frameworks for understanding methodology. Peter Clough and Cathy Nutbrown are adept at making methodology meaningful for beginners and more advanced readers alike. Their book clearly demonstrates how methodology impacts upon every stage of the research process, and gives readers all of the tools that they need to understand it. New to this edition are the following: New boxes and guidance on research ethics in every chapter More international examples and perspectives Up to date coverage of online research methods More examples from real students A new companion website, featuring Powerpoint slides for lecturers
Front Matter
- About the Authors
- Acknowledgments
- Preface: How to Read this Book
Part 1: RESEARCH IS METHODOLOGY
- Chapter 1: What is research?
- Chapter 2: What is methodology?
Part 2: THE PERVASIVE NATURE OF METHODOLOGY
- Chapter 3: Looking: seeing beyond the known
- Chapter 4: Listening: issues of voice
- Chapter 5: Reading: purpose and positionality
- Chapter 6: Questioning: the focus of research
Part 3: MAKING RESEARCH PUBLIC
- Chapter 7: Research design: shaping the study
- Chapter 8: Reporting research: telling the story
- Chapter 9: Research action: next steps
- Appendix 1: Research Planning Audit
- Author index
- Subject index
Back Matter
- Author Index
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