Doing Survey Research - 2nd edition

Summary: This short, practical book prepares students to conduct their own survey research, analyze data, and write up the results, while learning to read and interpret published research.

Features

• Combines statistics and survey research methods in a single book.
• Shows how to write a questionnaire, generate a sample, analyze data, and write up the results.
• Students get to apply what the ...show morey learn by reading and interpreting excerpts from published research.
• Teaches how to interpret statistics and make decisions about which statistics to use, without requiring any calculations.
• Author has taught survey research methods for 30 years and is the President of the Pacific Sociological Association (2005-2006).

• Ch. 1, ''Why We Do Research,'' elaborates on the idea of ''cause and effect'' and illustrates more clearly the basic tenet that correlation does not mean causation.
• Ch. 1 also contains an expanded discussion of other research methods with a presentation of the disadvantages and advantages of quantitative, qualitative, experimental, and focus group methods, to help put the goals of survey research in the context of other kinds of research methods.
• Ch. 2, ''Finding Ideas to Research,'' includes more material on the ethics of doing research, in particular with questionnaires and Internet surveys.
• The section on literature reviews in Ch. 2 provides additional details about how to read research and write up a summary of the information gleaned from the studies.
• Ch.3, ''Designing Research,'' adds a section about measuring variables using scales and indexes, some of which previously was in Ch. 4.
• Ch. 4, ''Developing a Questionnaire,'' includes new information about designing surveys for online web-based platforms. The chapter now concludes with additional examples about the wording of questionnaire and opinion poll items, ordering questions on surveys, and how these connect to ethical issues related to questionnaire design and the reporting of findings.
• Ch. 5, ''Sampling,'' updates a few examples illustrating random sampling.
• Changes in the four chapters on statistics (Ch. 6-Ch. 9) clarify several statistical points and examples from actual research.
• Ch.10, ''Presenting Results, Making Conclusions, and Writing Reports,'' expands the sections on literature reviews, abstracts, ethics, and the presentation of research. By giving additional examples from research, students will have a better idea about the components of a research report and how to present them more clearly and accurately.

Edition/Copyright: 2ND 06
Cover: Paperback
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
Published: 07/29/2005

View Table of Contents

Preface.

1. Why We Do Research.

Everyday Thinking.
Scientific Thinking.
The Purposes of Scientific Research.
Research Methods.

2. Finding Ideas to Research.

Generating Topics.
Searching for Research.
Literature Reviews.
Theory and Reasoning.
The Ethics of Research.

3. Designing Research: Concepts, Hypotheses, and Measurement.

Variables and Hypothesis.
Levels of Measurement.
Scales and Indexes.
Accuracy and Consistency in Measurement.

4. Developing a Questionnaire.

Using Questionnaires in Survey Research.
Conceptualizing the Task.
Measuring Attitudes and Opinions.
Measuring Behavior.
Demographics.
Formatting the Questionnaire.
Online Survey Design.
Pilot Testing the Questionnaire.
Coding Questionnaires.
Ethical Concerns in Questionnaire Design.
Finding Respondents.

5. Sampling.

Some Basic Sampling Concepts.
Probability Sampling.
Nonprobability Sampling.
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies.
Sample Size.

6. Presenting Data: Descriptive Statistics.

Presenting Univariate Data.
The Normal Curve and Z-Scores.

7. Analyzing Data: Bivariate Relationships.

Presenting Nominal and Ordinal Data In Tables.
Testing Bivariate Relationships.

8. Analyzing Data: Comparing Means.

T-Tests.
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
Differences not Strength.

9. Analyzing Data: Multiple Variables.

Elaborating Relationships: Control Variables.
Multiple Relationships.

10. Presenting Results, Making Conclusions, and Writing Reports.

Interpretations and Conclusions.
Audiences and Reports.
The Journey Finishes.

Appendix.
References.
Index.

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