Methodological Thinking 2/e

Donileen R. Loseke is a Professor Emeritus in the department of sociology at the University of South Florida. She received her BA and MA in psychology (California State University, Dominguez Hills) and her PhD in sociology (University of California, Santa Barbara). Her books include Narrative Productions of Meanings: Exploring the Work of Stories in Social Life; Methodological Thinking: Basic Principles of Social Research Design, 2e; The Battered Woman and Shelters, which won the Charles Horton Cooley Award from the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction; and Thinking About Social Problems. She also is the editor of Current Controversies on Family Violence (with Richard Gelles) and Social Problems: Constructionist Readings (with Joel Best). Numerous journal articles and book chapters report the findings of her empirical research projects, which have been on a variety of topics including evaluation research, social problems, criminal justice, social service provision, occupations, emotion, identity, and narrative and have used a variety of data generation techniques including field experiment, written survey, in-depth interview, ethnography, and document analysis. Among her editorial positions include former editor of the Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, advisory editor for Social Problems and Deputy Editor for Social Psychology Quarterly. She received the Mead Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction and was the Past- President of the Study of Social Problems as well as Past-President of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction.

1. Exploring the World of Social Research Design Defining Social Research The Study of Social Research Design Evaluating Social Research Methodological Thinking Studying Research Design as Methodological Thinking Methods in Theory and in Practice 2. Foundations Foundation I: Data, Concepts, and Theory Foundation II: The Logic of Relationships Between Data and Concepts/Theory Foundation III: Philosophies of Science The Qualitative Versus Quantitative Debate Foundations and Research Design 3. Research Questions Characteristics of Appropriate Research Questions Identifying Research Questions in Published Research Creating Research Questions Thinking Ahead: Developing Questions That Will Be Ethical and Practical to Study Revising Research Questions Evaluating Research Questions Research Questions and Research Design 4. Literature Reviews Defining "The Literature" Existing Knowledge as Tools for Research Design Defining the Relevant Literature Thinking About the Review Task The Contents and Form of Literature Reviews Evaluating Literature Reviews Literature Reviews and Research Design Examples of Social Research Article Databases 5. Measurement Conceptualization and Conceptual Definitions Operationalization and Operational Definitions Conceptualization and Operationalization in Research Led by Inductive Reasoning Measurement Problems in Social Research Evaluating Measurement Measurement and Research Design 6. Data Generation Techniques Research Questions and Data Data Generation Techniques Planning Ahead Data Generation Techniques and Research Design 7. Samples Populations and Samples in Social Research The Importance of Samples in Social Research Probability Samples Non-probability Samples Evaluating Samples in Published Research Samples and Research Design 8. Summary: Thinking About Social Research Design Foundations of Research Design and Evaluation: Methodological Thinking Evaluating Research Design: Variations Assessing Research Quality Characteristics of High-Quality Reports of Research Design Ending and Beginnings Appendix: Suggestions for Further Reading Appendix: Articles Used as Examples

Methodological Thinking is a highly accessible, practical guide to the often-intimidating process of designing a research project. An excellent starting point for an undergraduate course in social research fundamentals, full of useful examples and uncomplicated explanations of the starting stages of the research process. -- Adam Driscoll This concise, approachable book with clear examples from published articles is a useful supplement to long, detailed, technical methodology texts that students sometimes find overwhelming and inaccessible. -- Tracy L. Johns The second edition of Methodological Thinking has only improved upon the first edition, by focusing more attention on critical issues related to sampling and ethics, along with a broader examination of the epistemology underlying social science research. This book is useful as a "go-to" reference on designing social science research and is excellent as a primary text at all levels of college. -- Todd L. Matthews Methodological Thinking helps students move past their preconceptions of research to critically engage in research design while enhancing skills that will help them evaluate information in their daily lives. -- Joseph V. Ross