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Intro -- Preface -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- Hypotheses from Heaven -- Into the Fog Without a Compass -- The Cart Before the Horse -- Picking Only the Sweet Fruits -- Unresearchable Problem Statements -- The Rule of Action -- Organisation of This Book -- References -- Chapter 2: Scientific Knowledge and Practice -- The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge and Practice -- Scientific Statements -- Empirical Statements, Norms, and Practice -- More on Testing of Scientific Statements -- Our Social Construction of the World -- Science and Knowledge Development -- The Contested Truth -- From an Understanding of Knowledge to Social Science Practice -- References -- Chapter 3: Social Science as Reconstruction of Social Phenomena -- The Study of Social Facts and Phenomena -- Explanations in Social Science -- Social Science as Reconstruction of Social Patterns and Processes -- The Elements of Reconstruction -- Backgrounds -- Concepts -- Theories and Hypotheses -- Models -- Data Construction -- From the Building Stones of Reconstruction to the Logic of Reconstruction -- References -- Chapter 4: The Logic and Methodological Rules of Reconstruction -- Hypothetical-Deductive Research Logic: Explaining by Laws -- Abductive Research Logic: Uncovering Social Mechanisms -- Hermeneutic Research Logic: Interpretative Understanding of Social Phenomena -- Critical Theory -- Discourse Analytical Research Logic: Hegemonic and Alternative Frameworks of Understanding -- A Comparison of the Research Logics -- References -- Chapter 5: Design of Research Projects -- Research Purposes, Data Construction, and the Phases of the Design Process -- Research Designs and Purposes -- Theory- and Hypothesis-Testing Purposes -- Concept- and Theory-Developing Purposes and Questions -- Theoretically Interpretative Purposes.

1. Research Ethics and Integrity in Social Sciences in Africa -- 2. A Critical Discussion on the Relevance of Biosocial Science Research Ethics Codes and Principles for Social Science Researchers in Africa -- 3. Research Ethics Governance – An African Perspective -- 4. African Social Science Research Ethics and Integrity -- 5. Ethics Review Framework and Guidelines for Social Science Research -- 6. A risk framework for research in social sciences -- 7. Human Dignity Protection in Social Science Research in Africa: The State and Role of National Research Guidelines -- 8. Vulnerability -- 9. Informed Consent In Africa – Integrating Individual And Collective Autonomy -- 10. Engaged Research: An African Macro-Ethics Perspective -- 11. Equity, Equality and Justice in Biosocial Science Research in Africa -- 12. Social Responsibility and Health Related Research -- 13. An African Perspective of Benefits in Social Science Research -- 14. Protecting Future Generations Through Social Responsible Research Ethics Practices -- 15. Data Sharing: Protecting Privacy and Confidentiality Amidst the Big Data Debate - Implications for Social Science Research -- 16. Promoting Research Integrity and Avoiding Misconduct - Perspectives On and From Africa -- 17. Unethical Authorship Deals: Concepts, Challenges and Guidelines -- 18. Building Research Ethics Capacity in Africa

"This book presents various recently developed and traditional statistical techniques, which are increasingly being applied in social science research. The social sciences cover diverse phenomena arising in society, the economy and the environment, some of which are too complex to allow concrete statements; some cannot be defined by direct observations or measurements; some are culture- (or region- ) specific, while others are generic and common. Statistics, being a scientific method - as distinct from a 'science' related to any one type of phenomena - is used to make inductive inferences regarding various phenomena. The book addresses both qualitative and quantitative research (a combination of which is essential in social science research) and offers valuable supplementary reading at an advanced level for researchers."--

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY One of the aims of the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is to identify and foster methodological innovation in the UK. The aim of this project was to identify methodological innovations outside the UK and draw NCRM's attention to them. The project sought out research practices that have not yet filtered through to typical research methods courses or that impact on the research process in novel ways. These usually entailed (i) technological innovation, (ii) the use of existing theoretical approaches and methods in new ways and (iii) interdisciplinary. The project's focus on innovative research practices ranged from data collection to analysis and covered disciplines such as (social) psychology, sociology, social work, socio-legal studies, political science (including public health and public policy) and international studies, (social) geography (area studies, demography, environmental and urban planning), (social) anthropology, (socio-)linguistics, education, communication studies, economic and social history, economics (management and business studies), science and technology studies, statistics, methods and computing. The work was conducted between October 2008 and March 2009 and written up in April and May 2009. The project gathered evidence by reviewing previous reports, carrying out desktop research, conducting an e-mail survey with academics, practitioners, research methods experts and others (N=215) - registering data entries in the form of nominations of experts, institutions and links to explore (N=670) - and holding interviews with gatekeepers (N=36) and telephone interviews with nominated experts (N=40). The project concluded, firstly, that innovative methodologies usually entail the use of one or more technological innovation(s) (visual, digital or online). This could be the advent of new software or the development of online methods and the use of the Internet to conduct research. Secondly, innovative methodologies often entail crossing disciplinary boundaries. This is observed in combinations of disciplines and methods such as in ethnography, anthropology and psychology. Thirdly, innovative methodologies often entail the use of existing theoretical approaches and methods in reformed or mixed and applied ways. This is observed in participatory methods, action research, professional work, social and consultancy work. Finally, innovative methodologies reside both inside traditional academic institutions (universities) and outside (research centres, institutes, consultancy agencies and organisations), yet even in the latter methods developers and experts usually have academic backgrounds and previous or current affiliations, status or posts. Overall, psychology figured prominently in methodological innovations and developments followed by survey methodology, ethnography, sociology and management. These developments were classified into mixed (N=8), qualitative (N=7) and quantitative (N=7) types of research. The institutional structures identified as 'hosting' these developments are primarily Academic followed by both Academic and Professional, then Research Centres and finally Professional and Consultancy institutions. The majority of the innovations are a consequence of working across disciplinary boundaries, followed by developments within methods and disciplines and then by developments in technology. Innovations were mainly spotted in North America – the USA and Canada – Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. The report includes summary descriptions of the methodological innovations located by the project. As a follow up to this project a workshop will be organised to bring together some of the developers and experts identified of these innovations. The workshop is planned to be adjacent to the NCRM Research Methods Festival to be held in July 2010.

This textbook presents ethical guidelines for conducting research in the social sciences, focused on Indonesia. As a country with a fast-growing research environment, the real-life cases of ethical issues that arise in Indonesia can teach both aspiring and established researchers how to approach the complexity of research ethics and dilemmas. With technological advancement affecting how research is conducted, the necessary ethical guidelines for research are also evolving. The instantaneous nature of information movement has made confidentiality in research data more critical than before, and any negligence in protecting research participants has an unprecedented scope of damage. The methods book synthesises hundreds of worldwide ethical guidelines and past issues that social science researchers will find highly relevant. Arranged chronologically to represent each research stage-from research preparation to post-research-the book prepares researchers to mitigate ethical crises. Relevant to all social scientists, both emerging and established, conducting research in Indonesia, this co-published textbook between Springer and OBOR is also relevant to researchers beyond the archipelago. It is also an indispensable teaching resource for lecturers in research methods and ethics across social science disciplines.

Cover Page -- Title Page -- Mihi Whakatau -- Introduction -- Part I: The Big Picture -- 1. The Purposes of Research -- 2. Science and Social Science -- 3. Research with Māori: Learning from Kaupapa Māori Research -- 4. Doing Cross-cultural Research in New Zealand -- 5. Feminist Social Science Research in New Zealand -- 6. Politics and Ethics: Ethical Research Following the Canterbury Earthquakes -- Part II: The Basics -- 7. Literature Review -- 8. Research Design -- 9. Collecting and Analysing Quantitative Data -- 10. Collecting and Analysing Qualitative Data -- 11. Writing about Your Research -- Part III: Techniques of Social Research -- Quantitative Methods -- 12. Research with National Surveys -- 13. Evaluation -- 14. Longitudinal Research -- 15. Official Statistics -- 16. Secondary Sources -- 17. Predictive Modelling -- Qualitative Methods -- 18. Visual Ethnography -- 19. Historical Research: Pulling Together a History of New Zealand's Teenagers -- 20. Focus Groups -- 21. Action Research: Peer Researchers, Refugees and the Canterbury Earthquakes -- 22. Observation and Ethnographic Fieldwork -- 23. Using Conversation Analysis -- Mixed Methods -- 24. The Incredible Complexities and Tensions of Researching with Māori: A Mixed Methods Autoethnography -- 25. Distress Purchases: A Mixed Methods Study -- 26. Nature in Children's Environments: A Mixed Methods Study -- Conclusion: Many Paths to Understanding -- References -- Index -- Copyright Page

Researchers engaged in the social & political sciences tend to examine issues of identity using singular approaches, eschewing an interdisciplinary method. Classical research approaches have direct connections with the structure of human consciousness that serve as the framework for the empirical methods of classification & understanding, & many connections exist between & within the approaches in various scientific disciplines. Adapted from the source document.

Researchers engaged in the social & political sciences tend to examine issues of identity using singular approaches, eschewing an interdisciplinary method. Classical research approaches have direct connections with the structure of human consciousness that serve as the framework for the empirical methods of classification & understanding, & many connections exist between & within the approaches in various scientific disciplines. Adapted from the source document.

AbstractTo the extent that intersectionality is becoming a common term in mainstream social science, it is as a methodological justification to separate out different racial, ethnic, gender, class, and other social groups for empirical analysis. One might call this the "intersectionality hypothesis," and in its best incarnation, it is about getting the facts right and finding the differences that matter. But an intersectional analysis in the social sciences often involves more than this. An intersectional approach also leads to potentially different interpretations of the same facts, or what we term a different social explanation. It is not only the intersection of categories that defines an intersectional project, then, but the theoretical framing that informs the analysis and interpretation of the subject under study. This framing often leads to an analysis of multiple and even conflicting social dynamics that enable certain kinds of social understanding that are otherwise invisible when scholars focus on a single set of social dynamics. Because the social theoretical aspects of research on intersectionality are rarely discussed, relative to the more methodological and ontological aspects of intersectionality, this is our main subject matter in this article. We focus on the process of developing social explanations rooted in the intersection of multiple social dynamics in several examples from our own research and across a variety of topics in social science research.

This volume surveys the resurgence of the social scientific study of ideas in politics. Leading scholars from a variety of subdisciplines in political science and sociology provide a general overview of the theoretical, empirical, and methodological issues raised by social science research on ideas and politics.

Covers the advances for quantitative researchers with practical examples from social sciences. This title includes twelve chapters that cover various issues - providing practical tools using the free R software.

The aim of the present study is to throw some lighton the revolutionary contribution of SPSS in current socialsciences research. SPSS (Statistical Package for the SocialSciences) is a widely used program for statisticalanalysis in social science. Computer technology haspermeated every phase of research and experimentation in thesocial sciences; and within related fields such as business andeducation, the computer has become an indispensable tool,from marketing research and consumer behavior to trendanalysis and forecasting. Clearly, it is this single aspect ofcomputing that has enabled social scientists to grasp the trulycomplex nature of human behavior and social organizations.Nevertheless, social scientists have come to involve thecomputer in nearly every component of their research, fromthe literature search, to the implementation of experiments,and to the writing of the manuscript on a word processor. Thecapability of SPSS is truly astounding. SPSS is also used bymarket researchers, health researchers, survey companies,government, education researchers, marketing organizations,data miners, and others. In addition to statistical analysis,data management (case selection, file reshaping, creatingderived data) and data documentation (a metadata dictionarywas stored in the data file) are features of the base software.The package enables the researchers to obtain statisticsranging from simple descriptive numbers to complex analysesof multivariate matrices along with plotting the data inhistograms, scatter plots, and other ways. The SPSS hasreduced the requirement for researchers to be able toundertake several of the calculations that area unit needed forapplied math analyses. Researchers collect massive quantitiesof knowledge, from surveys, experiments and different types ofobservation. An applied math computing package provides aconvenient means that to store this information, and derivedescriptive and inferential statistics. The applied mathPackage for the Social Sciences (SPSS) could be a wide usedall-purpose ...

1. Intimate encounters : making video diaries about embodied everyday life / Charlotte Bates -- 2. Atmosphere of arrival/departure and multi-angle video recording : reflections from St. Pancras and Gare du Nord / Paul Simpson -- 3. The mobile life of screens : digital imaging on school journeys in Helsinki / Kim Kullman -- 4. Witnessing craft : employing video ethnography to attend to the more-than-human craft practices of taxidermy / Merle Patchett -- 5. Close encounters : using mobile video ethnography to understand human-animal relations / Katrina M. Brown and Esther Banks -- 6. Jumps, stutters, blurs and other failed images : using time-lapse video in cycling research / Katrina Jungnickel -- 7. Creative video ethnographies : video methodologies of urban exploration -- 8. Working with sound in video : producing an experimental documentary about school spaces / Michael Gallagher -- 9. "Everything is going on at the same time" : the place of video in social research installations / Britt Hatzius and Nina Wakeford -- 10. Life off grid : considerations for a multi-sited, public ethnographic film / Jonathan Taggart and Phillip Vannini.