Principles and Methods of Social Research

<p>Through a multi-methodology approach, <i>Principles and Methods of Social Research, Fourth Edition </i>covers the latest research techniques and designs and guides readers toward the design and conduct of social research from the ground up. Applauded for its comprehensive coverage, the breadth and depth of content of this new edition is unparalleled.</p><p>Explained with updated applied examples useful to the social, behavioral, educational, and organizational sciences, the methods described are relevant to contemporary researchers. The underlying logic and mechanics of experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental research strategies are discussed in detail. Introductory chapters cover topics such as validity and reliability furnish readers with a firm understanding of foundational concepts. The book has chapters dedicated to sampling, interviewing, questionnaire design, stimulus scaling, observational methods, content analysis, implicit measures, dyadic and group methods, and meta-analysis to cover these essential methodologies. Notable features include an emphasis on understanding the principles that govern the use of a method to facilitate the researcher’s choice of the best technique for a given situation; use of the laboratory experiment as a touchstone to describe and evaluate field experiments, correlational designs, quasi experiments, evaluation studies, and survey designs; and coverage of the ethics of social research including the power a researcher wields and tips on how to use it responsibly.</p><p>The new edition features: </p><ul> <p> </p> <li>Increased attention to the distinction between conceptual replication and exact replication and how each contributes to cumulative science.</li> <p> </p> <li>Updated research examples that clarify the operation of various research design operations.</li> <p> </p> <li>More learning tools including more explanation of the basic concepts, more research examples, and more tables and figures, such as additional illustrations to include internet content like social media.</li> <p> </p> <li>Extensive revisions and expansions of all chapters.</li> <p> </p> <li>A fuller discussion of the dangers of unethical treatment to research participants.</li> </ul><p>Principles and Methods of Social Research, Fourth Edition is intended for graduate or advanced undergraduate courses in research methods in psychology, communication, sociology, education, public health, and marketing, and further appeals to researchers in various fields of social research, such as social psychology and communication.</p> <p>Acknowledgements and Dedication</p><p>Preface</p><p>Part I<br>Introduction to Social Research Methods</p><p>Chapter 1. Basic Concepts<br>Science and Daily Life<br>From Theory, Concept, or Idea to Operation<br>Role of Theory in Scientific Inquiry<br>Conclusion and Overview<br>References</p><p>Chapter 2. Internal and External Validity<br>Causation<br>Distinguishing Internal and External Validity<br>Basic Issues of Internal Validity<br>Basic Issues of External Validity<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 3. Measurement Reliability<br>Classical Measurement Theory<br>Contemporary Measurement Theory<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 4. Measurement Validity<br>Types of Measurement Validity<br>The Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix<br>Threats to Measurement Validity<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p><b>Part II. </b></p><p>Research Design Strategies: Experiments, Quasi-Experiments, and Nonexperiments</p><p>Chapter 5. Designing Experiments: Variations on the Basics<br>Basic Variations in Experimental Design<br>Expanding the Number of Experimental Treatments<br>Block Designs: Incorporating a Nonexperimental Factor<br>Repeated Measure Designs and Counterbalancing<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 6. Constructing Laboratory Experiments<br>Steps for Constructing an Experiment<br>Types of Experimental Manipulations<br>Manipulation and Attention Checks<br>Assignment of Participants to Conditions: Randomization Procedures<br>Realism and Engagement in an Experiment<br>Role-Playing Simulations and Analogue Experiments<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 7. External Validity of Laboratory Experiments<br>Generalizability Across Participants<br>Experimenter Expectancy and Bias<br>Three Faces of External Validity<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 8. Conducting Experiments Outside the Laboratory<br>Research Settings and Issues of Validity<br>Constructing a Field Experiment<br>The Internet as a Site for Experimental Research<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 9. Quasi-Experiments and Applied Research<br>Quasi-experimental Methods in Applied Contexts<br>Quasi-experimental Designs<br>The Use of Archival Data in Longitudinal Research<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 10. Nonexperimental Research: Correlational Design<br>Bivariate Correlation and Regression<br>Multiple Regression<br>Using Regression to Test Mediation<br>Uses and Misuses of Correlational Analysis<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 11. Advanced Multivariate Correlational Design<br>Multilevel Models<br>Structural Equation Models<br>Modeling Longitudinal Data<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Part III</p><p>Data Collecting Methods</p><p>Chapter 12. Survey Studies: Design and Sampling<br>Selection vs. Assignment<br>Census and Survey Basics<br>Random Sampling<br>Nonrandom Sampling<br>Other Sampling Issues<br>Types of Survey Studies<br>Missing Data<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 13. Systematic Observational Methods<br>Three Aspects of Naturalism<br>Observer Involvement in the Naturalistic Setting<br>Coding Observations<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 14. Content Analysis<br>Content Analysis Basics<br>Conducting a Content Analysis<br>Summary of the General Paradigm<br>Representative Examples<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 15. Interviewing<br>Modes of Administration<br>Developing the Interview<br>Conducting the Interview<br>Group Interviews and Focus Groups<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 16. Construction of Questionnaires and Rating Scales<br>Questionnaires<br>Constructing Rating Scales<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 17. Scaling Stimuli: Social Psychophysics<br>Scaling Stimuli<br>Stimulus Scaling Techniques<br>Multidimensional Scaling Models<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 18. Indirect and Implicit Measures of Cognition and Affect<br>Indirect Measures<br>Information Processing: Attention and Memory<br>Priming: Processing Without Awareness or Intent<br>Social Psychophysiology<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 19. Methods for Assessing Dyads and Groups<br>Dyadic Designs<br>Designs to Study Group Structures<br>Designs to Study Multiple Groups<br>Measuring Group Process and Outcomes<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Part IV</p><p>Concluding Perspectives</p><p>Chapter 20. Synthesizing Research Results: Meta-Analysis<br>Replicability of Findings<br>Meta-Analysis<br>Stages in the Meta-Analysis Process<br>Interpreting the Meta-Analysis<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Chapter 21. Social Responsibility and Ethics in Social Research<br>Ethics of Research Practices<br>The Regulatory Context of Research Involving Human Participants<br>Ethics of Data Reporting<br>Ethical Issues Related to the Products of Scientific Research<br>Conclusion<br>References</p><p>Glossary</p>