《SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS》

Chapter One The Logic of Social Inquiry1

Sociology as a Science1

Some Characteristics of Social Sciences2

The Structure of Scientific Revolution4

The Research Cycle6

The Art of Social Research9

Chapter Two Formulating a Research Question11

Sociological Topics11

Social Problems12

Descriptive Questions12

Basic Approach of Sociologists13

Dependent Variable, Independent Variable, Unit of Analysis14

Sociological Problems16

From Sociological Topic to Sociological Problem17

Types of Empirical Research18

Sociological Journals19

Chapter Three Sampling21

The Logic of Sampling21

Some Basic Types22

Logic of Statistical Inference25

Sampling Design25

Probability Sampling Designs26

Non-Probability Sampling Designs30

Choosing a Sample Design31

Chapter Four Measurement33

General Nature of Measurement33

Levels of Measurement35

Methods of Scaling38

Validity and Reliability43

Chapter Five Unstructured Interviewing and Questionnaire Construction45

Methods of Data Collection45

Unstructured Interviewing46

Questionnaire Construction51

A Final Note54

Chapter Six Participant Observation57

Participant Observer57

Participant Observation57

A Participant or an Observer58

Procedures60

Some Advantages and Limitations of Participant Observation66

Chapter Seven Experiments69

Experimental Designs69

Classical Experimental Design70

Quasi-Experimental Designs73

Sources of Internal Validity76

Sources of External Validity78

Some Advantages and Limitations of the Experimental Approach79

Chapter Eight Survey Research81

Characteristics of Survey Research81

Preparing a Survey81

Logic of Survey Research82

Data Matrix84

Analysis of Survey Data85

Some Advantages and Limitations of Survey Research92

Chapter Nine Telephone and Other Surveys95

Introduction95

Personal Interviews95

Mail Questionnaires97

Telephone Surveys98

Treatment of Missing Cases in Surveys102

Chapter Ten The Use of Existing Data in Social Research105

Introduction105

Secondary Analysis of Survey Data106

Official Statistics107

Public Documents109

Private Documents110

Content Analysis111

Triangulation113

Chapter Eleven Some Comments on Data Processing115

Overview of the Computer115

Some Key Concepts116

Coding and Entering Data118

Input Deck119

Overview of SPSS120

SPSS Program Language120

File Manipulation122

Concluding Comment123

Chapter Twelve Reporting Research Findings125

Some Ethical Considerations125

Planning a Research Report125

Style of Writing128

Concluding Remarks on Theory and Method128

Bibliography131

Appendix One Selected Sociological Journals135

Appendix Two A Table of Random Numbers137

Index149