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Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary > Communication studies > Research methods
A workbook on the process of writing research and the journey a dissertation researcher has to take. Underlying themes are scholarship, thinking and writing. Aimed at students completing Master's degrees, doctoral candidates and also supervisors of research.
For many years Research at grass roots: for the social sciences and human services professions supported social sciences researchers and human services professionals with a comprehensive, local and easy-to-use research guide. The work in this updated and expanded edition continues to assist novice researchers as well as more experienced researchers, postgraduate students and academics with a range of methodological decisions required in planning, designing, executing and reporting on their research endeavours. Although many salient features of the previous four successful editions have been retained, exciting new features have been added, including material to support lecturers who teach research courses. The unique structure of the book, consisting of different sections highlighting methodological decisions common to both the qualitative and quantitative approaches, those unique to qualitative and quantitative research and those which combine these approaches, have been developed from decades of work with postgraduate students and practitioner-researchers. New content includes a focus on the growing impetus of ethical conduct in research with human participants; debates and developments in the field of big data sets; and the latest trends in thematic and narrative inquiry, as well as contemporary data collection methods.
Social science researchers in the global South, and in South Africa particularly, utilise research methods in innovative ways in order to respond to contexts characterised by diversity, racial and political tensions, socioeconomic disparities and gender inequalities. These methods often remain undocumented – a gap that this book starts to address. Written by experts from various methodological fields, Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a comprehensive collation of original essays and cutting-edge research that demonstrates the variety of novel techniques and research methods available to researchers responding to these context-bound issues. It is particularly relevant for study and research in the fields of applied psychology, sociology, ethnography, biography and anthropology. In addition to their unique combination of conceptual and application issues, the chapters also include discussions on ethical considerations relevant to the method in similar global South contexts. Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences has much to offer to researchers, professionals and others involved in social science research both locally and internationally.
Research matters is an introductory research title aimed at undergraduate students. In an accessible and comprehensive manner, it explains research in its entirety to the novice researcher. The book aims at equipping the inexperienced researcher with the necessary skills and confidence to tackle the research process. The chapters provide a theoretical underpinning and an overview of the three most common research paradigms and how these paradigms impact on the way in which researchers conduct their research. Qualitative and quantitative methods are covered in detail as are the practicalities of referencing, proposal and report writing, and determining the limitations of research. The important topic of ethics in research is also included.
This best-selling text pioneered the comparison of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research design. For all three approaches, John W. Creswell and new co-author J. David Creswell include a preliminary consideration of philosophical assumptions, key elements of the research process, a review of the literature, an assessment of the use of theory in research applications, and reflections about the importance of writing and ethics in scholarly inquiry. New to this Edition: Updated discussion on designing a proposal for a research project and on the steps in designing a research study Additional content on epistemological and ontological positioning in relation to the research question and chosen methodology and method Additional updates on the transformative worldview Expanded coverage on specific approaches such as case studies, participatory action research, and visual methods Additional information about qualitative and quantitative data analysis, social media, online qualitative methods, and mentoring and reflexivity in qualitative methods Incorporation of action research and program evaluation in mixed methods and coverage of the latest advances in the mixed methods field Additional information about causality and its relationship to statistics in quantitative methods Incorporation of writing discussion sections into each of the three methodologies An invaluable guide for students and researchers across the social and behavioural sciences.
Taking a multidisciplinary approach, this comprehensive Handbook comprises contributions from international researchers of diverse educational and research backgrounds. Chapters present methodological issues within marketing research, sharing the researchers' experiences of what does and does not work, as well as discussing challenges and avenues for innovation. Divided into four parts covering quantitative and qualitative research approaches, mixed-methods approaches, and critical issues regarding how research is conducted, the Handbook offers guidance for all marketing researchers. This guidance includes insights on scale development, necessary condition analysis, experimental design, visual research methods, phenomenology and mobile ethnography. Chapters also consider recent advances in marketing research methods, legal aspects of marketing research, research ethics and how a forensic science framework can be used in marketing research. Generating wider methodological debates, this Handbook will be a valuable resource for researchers and students of marketing, as well as scholars interested in research methods in the business and management field. Its practical recommendations will also be beneficial for marketing practitioners interested in research.
This innovative Handbook explores the complexity of cultural, conceptual and definitional issues surrounding research into organisational culture, outlining the varied frameworks and theories that underpin the field. International contributors present a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research methods that can be used in organisational culture measurement. They explore topics of special contemporary interest, such as high performance cultures, corporate entrepreneurship, organisational culture in nonprofits and safety culture, unpacking the textured relationships between leadership style, organisational culture and organisational outcomes. Highlighting key implications for organisational values and ethical climate, the Handbook provides practical guidance on how to move from culture assessment to action and improvement. Offering a critical outline for measurement approaches and tools, this Handbook is crucial reading for researchers and students of organisation studies, particularly those focusing on culture and leadership of organisations. It also provides practical insights for business consultants and senior management teams, proposing methods and frameworks for developing positive organisational cultures to improve the productivity, performance and quality of businesses.
This timely Handbook of Research Methods on Gender and Management exemplifies the multiplicity of gender and management research and provides effective guidance for putting methods into practice. Through a range of international perspectives, contributors present an essential resource of diverse research methods, including illustrative examples from corporate, public and entrepreneurial sectors. Chapters offer clear guidance, considering opportunities and challenges of differing approaches to research and exploring their ethical implications in practice. Outlining autoethnographical, practical, critical and methodological approaches to research, the Handbook illustrates a broad base from which to build a research project in gender and management. This cutting-edge Handbook is crucial reading for scholars of gender and management, highlighting useful methods and practices for accessing key scholarly insights. It will also benefit graduate students in need of a guided entry into the field of gender and management.
This stimulating and challenging book provides a guide to reflexivity and reflexive practice, explaining its relevance to research in management, organisation studies and the social sciences. Rooted in the latest research, case studies and the author's personal experience, the book builds a new perspective on reflexive practice involving bodily, emotional, rational and relational insights. Paul Hibbert draws on personal experience, using the examples of his doctoral research and an advanced collaborative research project as case studies, to demonstrate how reflexive practice plays out in a range of research contexts. Each chapter includes dialogue points to encourage the reader to form their own opinions in response to the author's point of view. Offering prospects for research that incorporates personal learning, growth and development, How to be a Reflexive Researcher also explores avenues of future research on reflexivity and reflexive practice. The book concludes that reflexive practice is not simply a research skill but is instead integral to the scholarly way of life. Providing a comprehensive treatment of reflexive practice, this book will be a useful guide for scholars and students of business and management and the social sciences more broadly, especially those with an interest in qualitative and interpretive research approaches.
Providing an authoritative assessment of the current landscape of spatial analysis in the social sciences, this cutting-edge Handbook covers the full range of standard and emerging methods across the social science domain areas in which these methods are typically applied. Accessible and comprehensive, it expertly answers the key questions regarding the dynamic intersection of spatial analysis and the social sciences. The chapters are split into insightful sections dedicated to foundational background material, methods, social science applications and the challenges on the horizon, using state-of-the-art coverage of the traditional and novel spatial methods. Leading scholars in the field use a range of applications to illustrate the diverse ways in which spatial analysis methods can inform research in the field of social sciences. Furthermore, the Handbook discusses the key challenges to that research including uncertainty, reproducibility and replicability. This Handbook of Spatial Analysis in the Social Sciences will be an excellent informative resource for scholars in the fields of geography, social sciences and public health. Established and early career researchers of the social sciences alike will appreciate the detailed overview of the methods and applications as well as the ability to expand their methodological knowledge.
Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. With contributions from global leading scholars, this Research Agenda offers an interdisciplinary collection of ideas investigating gender and leadership; where we are today and where we are going. Using critical perspectives, chapters challenge the way we think about gender and leadership by questioning the status quo. Providing cutting edge discussion from authors of diverse genders, races, ages, ethnicities, and religions, this book provides analysis of the key issues and methodologies in modern leadership research. Forward thinking, it examines current guidelines and provides insight towards an equitable and positive change in leadership. Leadership scholars and graduate students interested in business leadership as well as gender and management more broadly will find this not only an informative but an illuminating read.
This Handbook provides an in-depth discussion on doing cross-cultural research more ethically, sensibly and responsibly with diverse groups of people around the globe. It focuses on cross-cultural research in the social sciences where researchers who are often from Western, educated and rich backgrounds are conducting research with individuals from different socio-cultural settings that are often non-Western, illiterate and poor. Covering both theoretical perspectives as well as practical ways to conduct research in cross-cultural settings, the contributors explore research work across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America. Chapters provide keen insights into Indigenous research methods and approaches to cross-cultural research with a range of different groups of Indigenous peoples, highlighting the ethical and methodological challenges for researchers conducting cross-cultural research. Top scholars in the field suggest practical tips and information on lessons they have learnt to make this a useful tool kit for early-career researchers and students. This will be a critical read for students of development studies, transnational studies and anthropology who are interested in pursuing cross-cultural research in diverse settings. It is also an invigorating read for researchers who conduct cross-cultural research as well as those who work with people from ethnic minorities and refugees.
Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Herbert Kritzer presents a clear introduction to the history, methods and substance of empirical legal research (ELR). Quantitative methods dominate in empirical legal research, but an important segment of the field draws on qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews and observation. In this book both methodologies are explored alongside systematic data analysis. Offering an overview of the broad ELR literature, the institutions of the law, the central actors of the law, and the subjects of the law are each addressed in this highly readable account that will be essential reading for legal researchers. Key features include: Summaries of the history of empirical legal research A clear introduction to methods in empirical legal research Coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methods and research A readable guide to the impact and rationale of different methodologies. This relatively short book provides an invaluable quick introduction for students, scholars, legal professionals and policy professionals.
Capturing years of innovation within contemporary action research, Hilary Bradbury highlights where action research for transformations (ART) is directed: towards responding to climate change and achieving global sustainability goals. Paying particular attention to social justice, the book brings together the human and social sciences, exploring the impact action research can make. Chapters introduce a metamodel and quality choicepoints around which pioneering techniques are displayed. Illustrated with rich personal cases throughout, the book examines agents of change who are also subjects of change. With a strong relational focus, the book also utilizes these cases to show how a broad uptake of ART for policy, health and social care, education, and management looks in practice. This book will be a vital tool for social science researchers looking to better understand social science as a participatory practice, as well as the methods and importance of action research. Community organizers, policy makers and activists seeking to become more active in realizing a more sustainable world will also find this to be an invigorating read.
Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. This enlightening Research Agenda considers the latest developments within the world of work, arguing that the time is right to address the variety of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices and arrangements. Helping readers to deepen their theoretical understanding of HRM systems and processes, this Research Agenda brings insights from strategic human capital and theories that have been outside the main focus of strategic HRM researchers. Chapters look at attribution theories, the role of human and social capital in strategic HRM, as well as institutional or social forces that affect firm choices of HRM practices and outcomes. The book takes us beyond a best practice view by examining online labour platforms, the liquid workforce, networked organizations, and the management of human resources in entrepreneurial firms. Exploring the varying forms of HRM systems and practices, this book will be a key resource for scholars and PhD students in the fields of human resource management and strategic management.
Taking the Fear Out of Data Analysis provides readers with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand, perform, and interpret quantitative data analysis effectively. Acknowledging that people often dislike statistics and quantitative methods, this book illustrates that statistical reasoning can be a fun and intuitive part of our lives. Key Features: Split into three sections covering how to understand data, preparing data for analysis and carrying out the analysis Blends theory with practical examples in a logical and straightforward manner to guide readers in making sense of statistical inference Offers universal knowledge that can be applied to a variety of software applications with limited technical complexity to aid the learning process Short and concise chapters focusing on the essence of the topics covered, such as analytical techniques that are typically used in behavioral and social science research Significantly revised and updated, this textbook is an essential text for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in fields such as information systems, international business and marketing. It will also be beneficial for practitioners involved in data science, data analytics, and market research.
Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. In this carefully drafted work, Ernst Hirsch Ballin uncovers the foundations of legal research methods, an area of legal scholarship distinctly lacking in standardisation. Offering a critical overview of the theories underlying methodological research, as well as the methods themselves, the book explores how such methods differ along critical, empirical, and fundamental lines, and how, by building on these approaches, legal research may contribute to well-considered developments in the law. Such explorative research, the author argues, is crucial in overcoming crises and restoring trust in the law. Key features include: an exploration of the common object of legal research: law in the sense of legal rules, decisions, principles and values special emphasis on the legal-grammatical category of personhood and on constitutional foundations a consideration of law as a normative language intended to guide behaviour a consideration of the theoretical underpinnings of legal research methods. This Advanced Introduction will greatly benefit legal scholars who seek to understand the object and methods of their work, as well as law and philosophy students looking to grasp the theoretical and methodological foundations of law and legal development.
This innovative Handbook explores the complexity of cultural, conceptual and definitional issues surrounding research into organisational culture, outlining the varied frameworks and theories that underpin the field. International contributors present a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research methods that can be used in organisational culture measurement. They explore topics of special contemporary interest, such as high performance cultures, corporate entrepreneurship, organisational culture in nonprofits and safety culture, unpacking the textured relationships between leadership style, organisational culture and organisational outcomes. Highlighting key implications for organisational values and ethical climate, the Handbook provides practical guidance on how to move from culture assessment to action and improvement. Offering a critical outline for measurement approaches and tools, this Handbook is crucial reading for researchers and students of organisation studies, particularly those focusing on culture and leadership of organisations. It also provides practical insights for business consultants and senior management teams, proposing methods and frameworks for developing positive organisational cultures to improve the productivity, performance and quality of businesses.
How can an organisation, public or private, ensure that it always operates in top form and, at the very least, meets the objectives for which it was established? The answer lies in the availability of factually correct, dependable and appropriate data. Obtaining such data is what this publication is about. Introduction to research offers a step-by-step approach to the fundamentals of research. Introduction to research guides the novice researcher through the research process, including how to choose the appropriate research methodology and how to adhere to the standards for conducting ethical research. It provides a synopsis of the entire research process, including the formulation of a research proposal. Introduction to research is aimed at all students and researchers, across a variety of disciplines.
This stimulating book considers the ways in which historical jurisprudence deserves to be rethought, arguing that there is much more to the history of legal thought than the ideas, and ideology, of the nineteenth and early twentieth century jurists, such as Karl von Savigny and Sir Henry Maine. In doing so, Geoffrey Samuel looks at the history of legal thought, method and reasoning from the position of three questions that will help readers to reflect on the nature of legal knowledge. First, what has legal knowledge been in the past? Secondly, taking a cue from the work of Thomas Kuhn, have there been scientific revolutions in the history of law? Thirdly, do jurists today know more about law as a body of knowledge than jurists of the past? In other words, does the history of law reveal a body of cumulative knowledge? This nuanced book shows how, in re-examining legal knowledge from a diachronic perspective, historical jurisprudence can be rethought as a domain concerned with contemporary legal epistemology. Ambitious in its scope, Rethinking Historical Jurisprudence will be a key resource for students and scholars in the fields of legal philosophy, legal theory and history and research methods in law.
This timely Handbook contains a wide-ranging overview of the diverse research methods used within international law. Providing an insightful examination of how international legal knowledge is analysed and adopted, this Handbook offers the reader a deeper understanding on the role and place of research methods in international legal theory, reasoning and practice. Split into five parts, the chapters cover key topics across doctrinal, empirical, socio-legal, interdisciplinary research methods and methodology. The contributors also apply their knowledge and insight to explore the relationship between different research methods and their role in international legal theory, reasoning and practice. Covering a range of diverse subjects yet written in a methodical style, the contributors furthermore engage with rethinking international law methods. This comprehensive Handbook will be invaluable for researchers in international law, as well as being an excellent resource for graduate and doctoral students.
Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Drawing on historical, normative, theoretical, and economic methodologies, Pier Giuseppe Monateri offers a fresh critical analysis of various dimensions of comparative law methods. Comprehensive and engaging with a multidisciplinary approach, this Advanced Introduction spans the fields of comparative legal studies, law and finance and global law. Key features include: uses analysis of current issues to offer a genuinely advanced perspective use of theory for evaluating methods and approaches in comparative law a comprehensive treatment of the main themes and approaches in comparative law discussions. This insightful Advanced Introduction will be an excellent resource for both law students and scholars alike. It will also be a useful guide for those working in international law, as well as law clerks and legal advisors. Professor Emeritus, Kent Law School, UK |
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