Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Focused on the underlying logic behind social research, Methodological Thinking: Basic Principles of Social Research Design encourages readers to understand research methods as a way of thinking. The book provides a concise overview of the basic principles of social research, including the characteristics of research questions, the importance of literature reviews, variations in data generation techniques, and sampling. The Second Edition includes a revised chapter on research foundations, with focus on the philosophy of science and ethics; an emphasis on critical thinking; additional attention to evaluating research; and a new selection of briefer, multidisciplinary journal articles designed to be accessible to a wide variety of readers.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface to the First Edition(p. xi)
• Preface to the Second Edition(p. xv)
• Acknowledgments(p. xvii)
• About the Author(p. xix)
• Chapter 1 Exploring the World of Social Research Design(p. 1)
• Defining Social Research(p. 3)
• Social Research and Other Ways of Knowing(p. 4)
• The Study of Social Research Design(p. 5)
• Evaluating Social Research(p. 7)
• Methodological Thinking(p. 8)
• Learn How to Think Critically(p. 8)
• Treat All Knowledge as Tentative(p. 10)
• Think Both as a Scientist and an Artist(p. 10)
• Understand the Tools of Research(p. 11)
• Recognize Biases and Their Likely Consequences(p. 12)
• Studying Research Design as Methodological Thinking(p. 13)
• Methods in Theory and in Practice(p. 15)
• Chapter 2 Foundations(p. 17)
• Foundation I Data, Concepts, and Theory(p. 17)
• Data(p. 17)
• Variations in Content: Thinking/Feeling and Behavior(p. 18)
• Variations in Origins: Researcher Produced and Naturally Occurring(p. 18)
• Variations in Form: Words and Numbers(p. 19)
• Concepts(p. 19)
• Theory(p. 20)
• Questions About Cause(p. 21)
• Questions About Meaning(p. 21)
• Questions About Inequalities(p. 22)
• Foundation II Logic of Relationships Between Data and Concepts/Theory(p. 23)
• Deductive Logic(p. 23)
• Inductive Logic(p. 24)
• Logic and Research Design Decisions(p. 25)
• Foundation III Philosophies of Science(p. 26)
• Naturalist Philosophy(p. 26)
• Naturalist Assumptions About Social Research and Social Researchers(p. 27)
• Constructionist Philosophy(p. 28)
• Constructionist Assumptions About Social Research and Social Researchers(p. 28)
• The Qualitative Versus Quantitative Debate(p. 29)
• Foundations and Research Design(p. 32)
• Chapter 3 Research Questions(p. 35)
• Characteristics of Appropriate Research Questions(p. 35)
• Identifying Research Questions in Published Research(p. 38)
• Creating Research Questions(p. 40)
• Thinking Ahead: Developing Questions That Will Be Ethical and Practical to Study(p. 43)
• Research Questions and the Well-Being of Study Participants: Ethics(p. 43)
• The Harms of Social Research(p. 43)
• The Belmont Report as Historical Backdrop(p. 44)
• Research Questions and Researcher Characteristics(p. 46)
• Research and Personally Meaningful Topics(p. 46)
• Research and Working Styles(p. 47)
• Research Questions and Practicalities(p. 49)
• Revising Research Questions(p. 49)
• Evaluating Research Questions(p. 50)
• Research Questions and Research Design(p. 51)
• Chapter 4 Literature Reviews(p. 53)
• Defining The Literature(p. 53)
• Existing Knowledge as Tools for Research Design(p. 55)
• Previous Studies Define What New Research Is Needed(p. 56)
• Previous Studies Offer Guidelines for Research Design(p. 57)
• Previous Studies Offer Models for Writing About Social Research Design(p. 57)
• Defining the Relevant Literature(p. 58)
• Defining General Conceptual Boundaries(p. 59)
• Defining Specific Conceptual Boundaries(p. 59)
• Thinking About the Review Task(p. 61)
• Where to Look(p. 62)
• How to Look(p. 63)
• What to Look for(p. 64)
• How to Read(p. 65)
• What to Read for(p. 66)
• The Contents and Form of Literature Reviews(p. 66)
• Evaluating Literature Reviews(p. 67)
• Literature Reviews and Research Design(p. 68)
• Examples of Social Research Article Databases(p. 69)
• Chapter 5 Measurement(p. 71)
• Conceptualization and Conceptual Definitions(p. 72)
• Identifying Conceptual Definitions in Published Research(p. 73)
• Writing and Evaluating Conceptual Definitions in Deductive Research(p. 75)
• Operationalization and Operational Definitions(p. 76)
• Types of Operationalizations in Social Research(p. 76)
• Operationalizations as Criteria for Classifying What People Say(p. 76)
• Operationalizations as Criteria for Classifying What People Do(p. 77)
• Operationalizations as Criteria for Classifying the Content of Documents or Other Physical Objects(p. 77)
• Conceptualization and Operationalization in Research Led by Inductive Reasoning(p. 78)
• Measurement Problems in Social Research(p. 80)
• The Problem of Meaning SO The Problem of Multidimensionality(p. 81)
• The Problem of Interconnectivity(p. 81)
• The Problem of Measurement Imprecision(p. 81)
• Evaluating Measurement(p. 82)
• Evaluating Measurement Adequacy in Naturalist Research: Validity(p. 82)
• Evaluating Measurement Adequacy in Constructionist Research: Trustworthiness(p. 83)
• Evaluating Measurement in Published Research(p. 84)
• Measurement and Research Design(p. 85)
• Chapter 6 Data Generation Techniques(p. 87)
• Research Questions and Data(p. 87)
• Research Questions and Data Content(p. 88)
• Research Questions and Data Form(p. 88)
• Research Questions and Data Origins(p. 89)
• Data Generation Techniques(p. 90)
• Laboratory Experiments(p. 91)
• Verbal Reports(p. 93)
• Verbal Reports: Fixed-Question Surveys(p. 95)
• Verbal Reports: In-Depth Interviews(p. 97)
• Verbal Reports: Focus Groups(p. 98)
• Observation(p. 99)
• Document Analysis(p. 100)
• Planning Ahead(p. 101)
• Ethics(p. 101)
• Personal Safety(p. 103)
• Practicalities(p. 103)
• Data Analysis(p. 106)
• Data Generation Techniques and Research Design(p. 107)
• Chapter 7 Samples(p. 109)
• Populations and Samples in Social Research(p. 110)
• The Meaning of Population in Social Research(p. 110)
• Defining Relevant Populations in Research Design(p. 111)
• The Meaning of Sample in Social Research(p. 112)
• The Importance of Samples in Social Research(p. 113)
• Probability Samples(p. 116)
• Problems in Probability Sampling(p. 117)
• Nonprobability Samples(p. 120)
• Types of Nonprobability Sampling(p. 121)
• Designing High-Quahty Nonprobability Samples(p. 123)
• Evaluating Samples in Published Research(p. 125)
• Samples and Research Design(p. 126)
• Chapter 8 Summary: Thinking About Social Research Design(p. 127)
• Foundations of Research Design and Evaluation: Methodological Thinking(p. 129)
• Barriers to Critical Thinking(p. 130)
• Evaluating Research Design: Variations(p. 132)
• Research Characteristics(p. 133)
• Foundations(p. 133)
• Data Generation Techniques(p. 134)
• Report Purposes and Audiences(p. 135)
• Assessing Research Quality(p. 136)
• Characteristics of High-Quality Reports of Research Design(p. 137)
• Displaying Care in Communication(p. 137)
• Containing Appropriate Contents(p. 138)
• Containing Adequate Design Information(p. 139)
• Demonstrating Logical Coherence of Design Components(p. 140)
• Endings and Beginnings(p. 140)
• Appendix: Suggestions for Further Reading(p. 143)
• Appendix: Articles Used as Examples(p. 145)
• Mean Girls? Gender Portrayals in Teen Movies(p. 146)
• Alcohol References on Undergraduate Males' Facebook Profiles(p. 151)
• The Digital Identity Divide: How Technology Knowledge Impacts College Students(p. 155)
• Fitting in but Getting Fat: Identity Threat and Dietary Choices Among U.S. Immigrant Groups(p. 160)
• Bonds of Brotherhood: Emotional and Social Support Among College Black Men(p. 163)
• Changes in Adult Attachment Styles in American College Students Over Time: A Meta-Analysis(p. 167)
• The Prevalence of Stalking Among College Students: The Disparity Between Researcher- and Self-Identified Victimization(p. 170)
• From Foster Care to College: Barriers and Supports on the Road to Postsecondary Education(p. 173)
• Index(p. 177)