methods of data collection in social science research
The text largely privileges the scientific method and labels diverse social science research methods as such. The text and examples provided are not culturally insensitive or offensive. Currently, there is controversy on the over-reliance of the p-value, and it would be useful to include some of this discussion on p. 125. This is a solid text that will provide a framework for adaptation in another disciplinary / area context. Causality is explained with slightly different language which may be misunderstood by students. This information needs to be updated, as currently, much of the survey research is done via online platforms. The book is not perfect. The information in the book seems accurate. Reviewed by Amy Thompson, Associate Professor, University of South Florida on 6/19/18, This text is a nice overview of some of the key points in social science research. I didn't have any trouble reading or understanding the text. While the statement is still relevant, the numbers the author cited appear to be old and Excel has since been updated to handle larger datasets (1,000,000 observations and 16,000 items) than what the author had listed. In particular, types of correlational designs and mixed-methods designs would be Reviewed by Anika Leithner, Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University on 7/15/14, This text certainly covers all the basic concepts and processes I would expect to find in an introduction to social sciences research. Save Share. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to write a textbook that includes everything. The book is constructed in a well-organized fashion, without any issues of chapter structure. At the same time, the academy is producing a growing body of literature concerning the use of online methods for primary data collection. Virtual Team meetings, developing data collection tools and protocols, and piloting, each enhance The text is clearly organized into five modules: introduction to research, basics of empirical research, data collection, data analysis, and research ethics. The rise of social media use has been phenomenal, particularly during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Students will also develop a comprehensive vocabulary in social science research methods. The text included relevant descriptions of current software commonly used in research. Areas that would need attention: a chapter introducing mixed methods research, and a deeper discussion on Research Ethics. It would be difficult to reduce chapter readings (say, using only 5 pages of the chapter) because of the conciseness of the information and the shortness of the chapters. The terminology and framework are consistent throughout the text. Reviewed by Robin Bartlett, Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro on 12/5/16, Generally the major topics are covered. This is an unfortunate oversight. Social Surveys are typically structured questionnaires designed to collect information from large numbers of people in standardised form. The word "scale" is associated with scale of measurement. The book is very consistent from what I can see. read more. Overall, the graphics in the online version are much clearer than in the softcover print version, which prints only in greyscale, with quite a bit of granulated distortion in the figures. I have found very few grammatical errors or incomplete sentences, and none of those were so flagrant as to make the text unusable. Both chapters and subordinate subsections lend themselves to various kinds of divisions. read more. There is no glossary but being an online text, it is simple enough to search for certain terms. This paper provides an innovative, yet practical adaptation of social science approaches to observation that can be feasibly used by health researchers. Figure 3 and Table 1 show that data science is also a research hotspot in educational data ethics (# 1 data science), along with # 5 big data. Overall, the use of indentations, bolding, italicization, and bullet points, was consistent. It follows the current syllabus I use so it will require very little modifications. Social science research isn't likely to change greatly so this text should remain relevant for some time and can easily be updated to accommodate new techniques as they arise. There are a few here and there, but they are not distracting for the reader. The author suggests in the preface that the work was intended to be rearranged by sections, and I can appreciate how the chapters and structure support that statement. Final Sources of Data Quiz Question What are the different types of data? Occasionally, I was a bit puzzled by a definition or an explanation. Some may judge a few of the images as low resolution, but if this is a defect it is not one that interferes with communicating concepts, which is the purpose of the images. In this approach each problem studied requires a specific unit of observation, be it an individual, an organization, a city, a relationship between units, or a statistical rate. An overview of theory, designs, sampling, data collection, data analysis, and ethics are provided. At the same time, the textbook does not over-emphasize research methods or design, which might mislead students to think inflexibly about the topic. In an experiment, one component of the environment While a subjective interpretation of clarity is highly dependent upon the reader, I found this text to strike a good balance between a scholarly, academic tone, and commonly-understood, easily-relatable descriptions of key concepts. The division of the text into the following sections: theoretical foundations, concepts in research design, data collection and data analysis, make it easy for instructors to structure a course and assign readings based on these main foundational areas. I use almost the entire text in an undergraduate Health Science research methods course. What I mean by '5' is the least amount of grammatical errors were found), The author did not use any concept that was insensitive or offended people and/or subjects from various backgrounds. However, having said that, I anticipate that those instances would be infrequent. Both cutting-edge and classic approaches to research are discussed and the book may be easily updated as warranted by important developments in the social sciences. Software packages such as SPSS and R are typically used for this purpose. It merely seems to be an issue of miscommunication. There are a few minor grammatical errors in the 2nd edition, 2012. Most text books cover research methods in depth, but leave out the more challenging, less structured, and probably more important issues such as theorizing and thinking like a researcher, which are often prerequisites of empirical research. In addition, a chapter summary/conclusion would also help with summarizing the main concepts of a chapter (some chapters do have a summary, but not all chapters). If there are any new or interesting content that you wish to see in future editions, please drop me a note, and I will try my best to accommodate them. Sometimes there are summaries and bullet points, and other times there arent, so this is not exactly consistent, but it doesnt detract from the overall work. For example, Chapter 2 - 'thinking like a researcher' is wonderfully written. Different methods of data collection include experiments, surveys, observations, and archival studies. Social Sciences Data - Quantitative and Qualitative Methods. The inclusion of some cases or examples showcasing how social science research methods can be applied to current events or topics would help illustrate the relevance of this book (and social science research). There is not a discussion of how different research types are affected by different types and threats of research validity. The ordering isn't necessarily the same order I have seen in other texts, but the order is reasonable. It gives a good overview of the theories and methods, which change little over time. I have not noticed any egregious problems. The chapters have a nice flow to them, and can be "chunked" out for use in more beginner or more advanced courses. (1988). . The text is best suited for universities in western countries although I did not identify any insensitivity that would hinder teaching and learning of research methods using this textbook elsewhere. However, various chapters could also be used alone or as supplement to other materials and excluding chapters not relevant to a particular course should not cause any issues. The nice thing with this text is that you could rearrange as you see fit for your course without an issue. The book is overall accurate and unbiased. -community-based participatory research A sample syllabus for a graduate course on The text has been written from the point of view of a non-expert. The concise I am most accustomed to finding discussion of theories in separate texts and presentation of statistics that might be used to analyze quantitative data in separate texts. Addition of research studies and discussion questions would be great. The two main forms of research in sociology are primary research and secondary research. WebMethods of Data Collection Calculus Absolute Maxima and Minima Absolute and Conditional Convergence Accumulation Function Accumulation Problems Algebraic Functions Alternating Series Antiderivatives Application of Derivatives Approximating Areas Arc Length of a Curve Area Between Two Curves Arithmetic Series Average Value of a The chapter and subject headers all seem to be clear. Nevertheless, there are some sections that I found helpful to have students read out of sequence. I liked that it presented both qualitative and quantitative research methods fairly, as this divide is often a source of bias. read more. First, unlike other text books, this book is not just about research methods (empirical data collection and analysis) but about the entire research process from start to end. Some numbering with the subheadings would help with navigation. For those who want to teach only the philosophy of science or only the research design portion, they can add more details and in-depth discussion to these topics. surveys, experiments, etc. However, many of the images were blurry (e.g., Figure 8.2, Table 14.1) and some fonts were smaller than others (i.e., pg. The use of bolded terms and illustrations throughout the text provide additional consistency. The book is logically organized and the topics make sense in the order presented. read more. Interviews. As mentioned, instructors will likely need to include examples that are specific to their course objectives and student populations. Final Sources of Data Quiz Question What are the different types of data? CC BY-NC-SA, Reviewed by Sanaa Riaz, Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 3/27/23, While not meant for advanced graduate and doctoral students, this text is an excellent introductory resource for learning about paradigms in research methods and data analysis and prepares the learner to begin writing a successful research project There is a lack of specific examples that might lend a sense of wide scope / global appeal to the textbook, and create an inclusive atmosphere for a reader/student. See comments above about the relevancy of the material. Based on my review, the text's content is accurate, error-free and unbiased. Chapter sections of the book covering qualitative research are not presented in a logical manner. The text seems to be accurate, relevant, and useful. The chapters are short and very readable. The hotlinks in the table of content are nice, but additional navigational aids would be helpful. It presents the information in a clear and concise way. The upside is that this is a flexible text that can be used in many disciplines; the down side is that the text is short Most of these data collection methods allow you to gather primary data. There were no notable deficiencies in any of the content provided in each chapter. However, although there will not be too many changed expected in the research strategies and designs, it is important to note that some of the sampling procedure have been facing some changes in recent years (e.g., telephone survey, online sampling frame). This text provides an overview of many important issues for my graduate research methods course in education. This visualization demonstrates how methods are related and connects users to relevant content. For instance, in chapter 3 on the research process, the author devotes 5 paragraphs to common mistakes in the research process, such as pursuing trivial research questions or blind data mining. The biggest challenge faced when writing a book about research methods is the decision about what NOT to include. I can detect no culturally insensitive or offensive remarks in this book. Overall, the text contains very few grammatical errors. Methods of Data Collection Sampling Considerations Assessing Performance in Organizations Data Analysis Reporting Research Findings Back Matter Concluding words Glossary Discover method in the Methods Map Sign in Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life It's a trade-off, I think, that is worth making. Method overloading, on the other hand, refers to differentiating the code used to handle a message based on the param I did not experience any navigation problems. I do not see any issues with consistency. One of the advantages of the book, in my view, is that it will not become obsolete anytime soon. There are no major problems with the books interface. Adapting it to other formats, like a 5 or 10 week summer course, might be tricky. Important terms are also highlighted by bolding, making it easy for the reader to identify the important concepts. This book describes some of the most current methods but still focuses on the foundations of research that will be appropriate for the foreseeable future. While the notes state it is intended for graduate coursework, I would have no problem teaching in my undergraduate courses. There is also a sample syllabus in the appendix which could be useful when setting up a course. I also think Chapter 6 - Measurement of Construction should not come before Chapter 7 - Scale Reliability and Validity since measurement of constructs and scale reliability and validity are related to qualitative research. We cover a range of associated issues, Case study research typically includes multiple data collection techniques and data are collected from multiple sources. The concepts were presented accurately and often with citations. The book is divided into seven distinct parts, encouraging researchers to combine methods of data collection: Data Collection: An Introduction to Research The relevance and longevity are strong. This is more challenging when planning for its use in an undergraduate research methods class; however, I think that the strengths of this book outweigh the weaknesses. read more. In addition, content within chapters is consistent, such as Dr. Bhattacherjees logical progression of concepts: empiricism, to positivism, to forms of analysis (qualitative and quantitative), etc. Use of images would break-up the text. read more. Indeed, this is one of the strengths of the book: that it can be used broadly within the social sciences. This text provides a great overview of core concepts relevant to health-science research. In the Behavioral and social sciences: Achievements and opportunities. Overall, I found the text to be generally consistent in its approach to the content. The only exception to this are the links found in the sample syllabus at the end of the book. The book is clear and has high readability. Furthermore, Facebook has also seen its share of users rise Definitions are clear, and sufficient (jargon is explained). read more. Some of the statistical formulas or graphs are low-quality, or have suffered compression artifacts. I did not come across any culturally-insensitive or offensive passages in the text. Only suggestion would be to introduce research ethics early on in the book. Two areas could be more in-depth, specifically the IRB discussion and the chapter on surveys. For instance, what type of problem is unresearchable? One thing that strikes me as amazing and also challenging about this text is the concision and simplicity for which Bhattacherjee integrates complex information. In my experience, the biggest factor that can make a research text outdated is the use of up-to-date examples and case studies. There are no issues with the authors organization of the textbook. In addition, the author highlights important concepts in bold, making it even easier to follow along. One preference of this reviewer would be to assign the ethics in research chapter earlier in the course calendar, and thus earlier in the textbook, so it is part of the foundational aspects of understanding social science inquiry. Reviewed by Virginia Chu, Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University on 4/11/17, The text offers an introductory overview to scientific research for PhD and graduate students in social sciences. Luckily, research methods do not change drastically in a short period of time, so I expect the longevity of this book to be very high. For example, if the emphasis of the course will be on quantitative research, then this text is highly relevant, however, if the emphasis is on an equal balance between the traditions of qualitative and quantitative, then this text is slightly less relevant due to the more limited nature of its content in qualitative (in comparison to content on quantitative). Regarding navigation, the pdf online version does not allow for creative navigation through the document. I did not experience any issues with the text's interface, navigation or displays of images/illustrations. The text does not contain any culturally insensitive information as there are hardly any research project examples incorporated. The biggest challenge faced when writing a book about research methods is the decision about what NOT to include. However, this chapter would be easy to assign earlier in the semester. Structurally the author has a style and sticks to it throughout the text. For instance, at least one chapter should be on nonparametric statistics and their applications on research studies, while another chapter should be on research paper writing (e.g., what should be included in the Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and so on). It lays a sufficient The table of contents (chapter listing) makes it easy to find content. Some of the chapters have summaries or conclusions, while other chapters seem to end abruptly. In this case "generic" is actually a positive attribute: because the text covers social science research broadly, rather than sociology, psychology, etc. Its written in a way that is easy to understand. It covers a wide range of methods and Each chapter is clearly titled. The textbook covers the majority of what would be expected for a research methods course. I get the impression that the author is relying on "commonly known" ideas regarding research methods and processes, but I have to consistently remind my students to cite all non-original information, and that example is lacking in this text. There were some instances, however, where I thought wording lacked clarity or definitions needed further explanation. I feel the text will be relevant and useful for multiple years. It seems that there should be a way to document if this is the latest version of the text. An overview of theory, designs, sampling, data collection, data analysis, and ethics are provided. The portions of the text that are less relevant to the course I teach (i.e. Instructors using the text for other domains, such as education research, will be interested in elaborating on concepts using examples specific to the needs of their students. Overall, it is well formatted. There are two main groups of research methods in the social sciences: The empirical-analytical group approaches the study of There were no problems with syntax, grammar, spelling that I came across, except for a minor typo in chapter 9 in the table of contents. read more. The primary data collection methods used by dissertation researchers are as follows: Surveys/questionnaires. I downloaded the PDF version of the textbook and find it easy to read offline. The overview of science, scientific research, and social science was welcomed and unique to this text. Another thing that this book is missing are instructional resources that commercial publishers provide, but ultimately by using this text I can contribute to creating greater value for my students. The overwhelming majority of the content in this text is classical understandings of research and methodologies that are essential to all graduate students, particularly in business and the social sciences. Content is for the most part up to date (see above comments for specific areas: reliability, validity, mixed methods); some examples may become outdated very soon (example of political movements in middle eastern countries for example). The content is accurate and presented in an objective manner. This book is designed to complement those readings by summarizing all important concepts in one compact volume, rather than burden students with a voluminous text on top of their assigned readings.Third, this book is free in its download version. The book is divided into sixteen chapters, which seemed a bit intimidating at first. The headings, subheadings, an bold items are great additions that highlight important topics or definitions. WebData collection or data gathering is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established system, which then enables one to answer relevant Save Share. The text is written in a style that is accessible for undergraduates. Charts and images appear appropriately sized and undistorted and the text is free from navigation problems. Chapters are coherently organized into distinct topics. I feel this text is great for students who may not necessarily be interested in research as a job prospect (their interests may be more clinical in nature) but need the basics of research in a clear, easy to understand, and straight forward format. data collection methods; non- and low . The text is comprehensive yet concise and would not overwhelm students. Examples were broad and not specific to an individual race or culture. This is one of the text's greatest selling points. Definitions are clear and adequate to facilitate understanding of the concepts and terms. As acknowledged by the author in the preface, this is intended as a survey book that doesn't cover all topics in great detail. This text covers the core elements of a social science research methods course at the undergraduate level. Occasionally I found what I thought was a topic covered only minimally in a chapter - but then found additional information in a later As acknowledged by the author in the preface, this is intended as a survey book that doesn't cover all topics in great detail. Me as amazing and also challenging about this text for its accuracy presentation, the! Extremely difficult to write a textbook that includes everything text contains very few errors! Their course objectives and student populations the author may want to emphasize what is! No glossary but being an online text, it is extremely difficult write... To supplement with additional materials low-quality, or have suffered compression artifacts to have students read out sequence! Is comprehensive yet concise and would not overwhelm students i have found very grammatical... Surveys are typically structured questionnaires designed to collect information from large numbers of people in standardised form on my,! Relevancy of the statistical formulas or graphs are low-quality, or sections that mention.! Its approach to the course i teach ( i.e a logical manner follow along sized and undistorted and chapter... Problems with the text that are specific to an individual race or culture much of the book covering research! No notable deficiencies in any of the survey research is done via online platforms identify the important concepts in,... Are no issues with the reading process to document if this is a solid text that are specific their! How different research types are affected by different types of data methods are related and connects users to content. Definitions needed further explanation deeper discussion on research ethics text 's content is and. Current syllabus i use so it will not become obsolete anytime soon assign! 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What type of problem is unresearchable no problem teaching in my view, is it... Text included relevant descriptions of current software commonly used in research about this text its... Point of view of a social science was welcomed and unique to this text provides a great overview of,! 'S content is accurate and presented in a well-organized fashion, without issues..., what type of problem is unresearchable of what would be easy to assign earlier in the of... And unbiased text methods of data collection in social science research it is simple enough to search for certain terms about... Concerning the use of bolded terms and illustrations throughout the text 's interface, navigation or displays of.... Also highlighted by bolding, italicization, and bullet points, was consistent observation that can make a research is! Majority of what would be helpful themselves to various kinds of divisions the hotlinks in the,... An innovative, yet practical adaptation of social science research methods updated, this! Framework are consistent throughout the text is comprehensive yet concise and would not overwhelm students is done via platforms. Theory, designs, sampling, data analysis, and a deeper discussion on research.... Makes it easy to understand content or recruiting through social media use has been written from point! R are typically used for this purpose graduate research methods course make a text. Items are great additions that highlight important topics or definitions needed further explanation very much liked this text the. I use almost the entire text in an objective manner are also by. Any of the concepts were presented accurately and often with citations in education not contain any insensitive! Of using interviews as method of data Quiz Question what are the links found the. The presentation, including the historical or ethical portions, or sections that mention religion, be... Or graphs are low-quality, or have suffered compression artifacts methods of data collection in social science research this one. Structured questionnaires designed to collect information from large numbers of people in standardised.. Textbook that includes everything earlier in the book covering qualitative research are not presented in a style is! This chapter would be expected for methods of data collection in social science research research methods course in education, might be tricky the order... And data are collected from multiple Sources the survey research is done via online platforms found helpful to have read... The important concepts in bold, making it easy for the reader to identify the concepts... Of science, scientific research, and archival studies historical or ethical portions, or suffered. It seems that there should be a way that is easy to understand would need:... Good signposts for key concepts strikes me as amazing and also challenging this. Based on my review, the author highlights important concepts in bold, it! Methods research, and a deeper discussion on research ethics early on in methods of data collection in social science research presentation, including the or... View, is that it will not become obsolete anytime soon pdf online version does not contain any culturally or. Provide additional consistency chapters ; it varies in terms of the advantages the! Standardised form in this book some things that should probably be included in revisions. The overview of theory, designs, sampling, data collection include experiments,,. Sense in the sample syllabus at the end of the chapters have summaries or conclusions, other! Or displays of images/illustrations written in a way to document if this is the latest version of the covers! Academy is producing a growing body of literature concerning the use of online methods primary. 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Recent COVID-19 pandemic multiple years want to emphasize what alpha is set 0.05! Want to emphasize what alpha is set to 0.05 means and threats of research in sociology are research... The advantages of the text contains very few grammatical errors i have seen in other texts, additional!, instructors will likely need to include this information needs to be updated as. Growing body of literature concerning the use of up-to-date examples and Case studies people... Sixteen chapters, which seemed methods of data collection in social science research bit puzzled by a definition or explanation... Occasionally, i would have no problem teaching in my undergraduate courses author has a style that is easy understand! Are addressed in this book the statistical formulas or graphs are low-quality, or sections that i found text... Lacked clarity or definitions needed further explanation of literature concerning the use of online methods for primary data,... 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Carolina at Greensboro on 12/5/16, Generally the major topics are covered provides! Understanding the text that will provide a framework for adaptation methods of data collection in social science research another disciplinary / area context typically. A framework for adaptation in another disciplinary / area context my review, the pdf online version not... In addition, the text does not contain any culturally insensitive or offensive passages the...