Summary
Contents
Subject index
‘This is an impressively detailed, clearly written book.. It is a book that I would like students to read’ - Clive Seale, Goldsmiths College, London. Social Research: Theory, Methods and Techniques presents an understanding of social research practice through appreciation of its foundations and methods. Stretching from the philosophy of science to detailed descriptions of both qualitative and quantitative techniques, it illustrates not only ‘how’ to do social research, but also ‘why’ particular techniques are used today. The book is divided into three parts: Part One: Illustrates the two basic paradigms - quantitative and qualitative - of social research, describing their origins in philosophical thought and outlining their current interpretations. Part Two: Devoted to quantitative research, and discusses the relationship between theory and research practice. It also presents a discussion of key quantitative research techniques. Part Three: Examines qualitative research. Topics range from classical qualitative techniques such as participant observation, to more recent developments such as ethnomethodological studies. Overall, the author offers an engaging contribution to the field of social research and this book is a reminder of the solid foundations upon which most social research is conducted today. As a consequence it will be required reading for students throughout the social sciences, and at various levels.
Causality and Experimentation
Causality and Experimentation
- The concept of cause 88
- Empirical corroboration of the causal relationship 90
- Covariation analysis and experimentation 91
- Experiments in the social sciences 94
- Laboratory experiments and field experiments 97
- Experiments and quasi-experiments 102
- A final note: advantages and limitations of experimentation 111
The chapter begins with a discussion of the concept of cause, which is both crucial in all scientific reasoning and extremely difficult to translate into empirical terms. Next, we describe ‘experiments’, the main tool, developed by the physical sciences, to ascertain cause and effect relationships and how they may (or may not) be applied in the field of social science. The remaining parts of the chapter illustrate the various experimental designs used in social research.
The Concept of Cause
Since ancient times, humans have wondered about the causes of ...
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