The primary goal of this book is to show unity within the diversity of activities called social research. What the study of census data, the study of one person at a time, monitoring today's events, or reconstruction of social life centuries ago all have in common is that regardless of their case material, they construct representations of social life through a dialogue of ideas (theory) and evidence (data). To illustrate, Ragin points out the important continuities in three major forms of social research: qualitative study of commonalities; comparative research on diversity; and quantitative research on relationships among variables.
Table of contents:
PART ONE: ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
What Is Social Research?
The Goals of Social Research
The Process of Social Research
Ideas and Evidence
PART TWO: STRATEGIES OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
Using Qualitative Methods to Study Commonalities
Using Comparative Methods to Study Diversity
Using Quantitative Methods to Study Covariation
Afterword - with Mary Driscoll
The Promise of Social Research
Table of contents:
PART ONE: ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
What Is Social Research?
The Goals of Social Research
The Process of Social Research
Ideas and Evidence
PART TWO: STRATEGIES OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
Using Qualitative Methods to Study Commonalities
Using Comparative Methods to Study Diversity
Using Quantitative Methods to Study Covariation
Afterword - with Mary Driscoll
The Promise of Social Research