Research Design & Method Selection
Making Good Choices in the Social Sciences
- Diana Panke - University of Freiburg
Heavily grounded in helping students make the best choices for their projects, this book explores how to develop and work with theory, research questions, and method selection to build solid, logical proposals and move from research concepts to fully realized designs.
Rather than rushing initial planning stages or reverse engineering questions from preferred methods, it encourages students to challenge unconscious biases around method selection and analysis and provides step-by-step guidance on choosing a method that is in-line with the question being explored. Focused on the role of the researcher within research design, it stresses the need to consider the theoretical underpinnings of research and not just practical issues when designing a project.
It provides a sophisticated toolkit to understand:
- The critical issues associated with both qualitative and quantitative methods
- The approach that works best for specific research questions
- How design choices can affect practice.
Perfect for upper undergraduate and postgraduate students, this book will instil confidence and good decision making to ensure constructively informed design and practice.
This text provides user friendly illustrations, exercises and practical research tips. It consolidates understanding by simplifying what can, at times, be deemed as complex methodological issues.
This textbook provides graduate students with tools to make sound decisions while planning, conducting and analysing research. It guides students in asking appropriate research questions, applying theory, choosing among quantitative or qualitative methods through the analysis and writing the manuscript.
This textbook is a detailed guide on how to set up a research project. It is an excellent tool for students studying social research methods as well as for practitioners working with research in the government, NGO, and corporations.
An essential text to support graduate students and novice researchers think critically about the multiple decisions required in designing a rigorous research study.
Very helpful resource book that helps to clarify research methods that is written in easily understood language.
Very useful for initial research method clarification, and students find it helpful in their early methodology selection.
Excellent book and it is insightful for my students.
Excellent resource for students to go deeper into the topic; well written and described issues
I found this book immensely readable. It does not oversimplify or terrify a new post-graduate researcher seeking to identify what they don't know and consolidate what they do know. An ideal book for a reading list for those starting their doctoral training or those teaching postgraduates about research and researching.
Very clear introduction to social science research with good diagrams and clearly written content.
