Designing social research : the logic of anticipation / Norman Blaikie.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [267]-286) and index.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables xi
Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction 1
Purpose of the Book 1
The Audiences 3
Writing the Book 4
Structure of the Book 6
The Nature of Science in the Social Sciences 7
Key Concepts 8
A Manifesto for Social Research 10
1 Preparing Research Designs 12
Introduction 13
Research Designs 15
Research Proposals 27
Conclusion 32
Further Reading 34
2 Designing Social Research 35
Introduction 36
Common Views of Research Design 36
Common Classifications of Research Designs 39
An Alternative View 40
Getting Started 45
Researcher's Stance 50
Further Reading 54
3 Research Questions and Purposes 56
Introduction 57
Research Questions 58
Research Purposes 69
Further Reading 77
4 Strategies for Answering Research Questions 79
Introduction 80
Four Research Strategies 81
Ontological and Epistemological Assumptions 92
Research Paradigms 96
Research Strategies, Questions and Purposes 104
Research Strategies and the Researcher's 106
Stance
Choosing a Research Strategy 107
Further Reading 109
5 Concepts, Theories, Hypotheses and Models 110
Introduction 111
The Role of Concepts 111
Concepts and Research Strategies 123
The Role of Theory 124
The Role of Hypotheses 147
The Role of Models 148
Theories, Models and Research Strategies 153
Further Reading 156
6 Sources and Selection of Data 158
Introduction 159
Types of Data 160
Forms of Data 161
Sources of Data 163
Selection of Data 171
Case Studies 186
Further Reading 197
7 Methods for Answering Research Questions: 199
Data Gathering and Analysis
Introduction 200
Timing Data Collection 201
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 204
Differences between Quantitative and 213
Qualitative Methods
Generalizing in Qualitative Research 216
Mixed Methods 218
Research Strategies and Methods 227
Further Reading 228
8 Sample Research Designs 230
Introduction 230
Research Design 1 Environmental Worldviews 231
and Behaviour among Students and Residents
Research Design 2 Age and Environmentalism: A 240
Test of Competing Hypotheses
Research Design 3 Gender Differences in 243
Environmentalism: Towards an Explanation
Research Design 4 Motivation for 248
Environmentally Responsible Behaviour: The
Case of Environmental Activists
Postscript 255
Afterword 257
Appendix: Examples of Reseach Topics, Problems 258
and Questions
Notes 262
References 267
Index 287