Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems
- Copyright page
- Contents
- About the Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I General Concerns and Orientations in the Study of Social Problems
- Chapter 1 The Challenges of Conceptualizing Social Problems
- Chapter 2 Research Methods
- Chapter 3 Participatory Action Research and Social Problems
- Chapter 4 Public Policy and Social Problems: Recent Trends in the Formal Control of Individual Behavior
- Chapter 5 Social Problems in Global Perspective
- Chapter 6 Bridging Social Movements and Social Problems
- Chapter 7 Public Sociology and Social Problems
- Chapter 8 Service Sociology and Social Problems*
- Chapter 9 Astrosociology: Social Problems on Earth and in Outer Space
- Chapter 10 Prospects for the Sociological Study of Social Problems*
- Part II Historical and Theoretical Issues in the Study of Social Problems
- Part III Problems of Discrimination and Inequality
- Part IV Problems of Institutions
- Index
- References
Chapter 2 - Research Methods
from Part I - General Concerns and Orientations in the Study of Social Problems
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 March 2018
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems
- Copyright page
- Contents
- About the Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I General Concerns and Orientations in the Study of Social Problems
- Chapter 1 The Challenges of Conceptualizing Social Problems
- Chapter 2 Research Methods
- Chapter 3 Participatory Action Research and Social Problems
- Chapter 4 Public Policy and Social Problems: Recent Trends in the Formal Control of Individual Behavior
- Chapter 5 Social Problems in Global Perspective
- Chapter 6 Bridging Social Movements and Social Problems
- Chapter 7 Public Sociology and Social Problems
- Chapter 8 Service Sociology and Social Problems*
- Chapter 9 Astrosociology: Social Problems on Earth and in Outer Space
- Chapter 10 Prospects for the Sociological Study of Social Problems*
- Part II Historical and Theoretical Issues in the Study of Social Problems
- Part III Problems of Discrimination and Inequality
- Part IV Problems of Institutions
- Index
- References
Summary
I begin this chapter with an overview of research methodology as an essential part of investigating and creating knowledge about social problems. I argue that research methods emerge from and support different theoretical traditions in social problems. Quantitative and qualitative methods are then introduced and compared in the context of their shared emphasis on empirical research. I then describe three major data collection methods used in the social sciences: survey interviews, in-depth interviews, and ethnography. Each method is discussed in terms of its conceptual framework and its approach to data collection and analysis.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems , pp. 23 - 38Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2018
References
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