Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research [With CDROM] [Paperback]

Russell K. Schutt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1412969417 | ISBN-13: 978-1412969413 | Publication Date: November 2008 | Edition: 6 Pap/Cdr

The Fourth Edition of Russell Schutt’s successful social research text, Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research, links the "doing" of social research to important social issues, including research on the Internet and social relations, substance abuse, homelessness, and gender roles.

The Fourth Edition now includes a new chapter on evaluation research (Chapter 10) and a new, comprehensive qualitative data and content analysis chapter (Chapter 13). The qualitative analysis software integrated into the text and CD is now from HyperRESEARCH and an expanded, comprehensive Instructor’s Resource CD containing PowerPoint slide sets for each chapter, test questions, illustrations from the book for transparency masters, and much more is available.

Investigating the Social World is an engaging, accessible introductory text for research methods courses in sociology, criminal justice, social work, communication and journalism, and political science and public administration.

 

 

 

 

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It has the best balance between qualitative and quantitative methods of any book on the market. Very good on measurements and scientific methods. Good issues (interdisciplinary) on ethics."

(Cynthia J. Buckley )

"[Schutt’s] strengths: clear identification of key issues in research design (i.e. measurement, sampling and causation) as well as major data collection techniques. I will continue to use it."

(Deborah Bhattacharyya )

"Its chief virtue is its use of research examples to illustrate methodological concepts and its readability. My students have found Schutt’s book more engaging and accessible than other method texts. I will continue to use it because it works."

(Mark Shibley )

"Students find the prose both accessible and . . . interesting. One student commented recently, ‘For a textbook, especially a methods one, it is almost enjoyable to read.’"

(Adam Weinberg ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Russell K. Schutt, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Lecturer on Sociology in the Department of Psychiatry (Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center) at the Harvard Medical School. He completed his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. (1977) degrees at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Sociology of Social Control Training Program at Yale University (1977–1979). He has authored and co-authored texts on research methods with Sage Publications and other books on social service issues, including Homelessness, Housing, and Mental Illness (Harvard University Press, 2011). His recent journal articles and funded research have focused on the organization and effects of innovative public health and social service programs. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 564 pages
• Publisher: Pine Forge Press; 6 Pap/Cdr edition (November 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1412969417
• ISBN-13: 978-1412969413
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Russell K. Schutt, Ph.D. is Professor and Chair of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Lecturer on Sociology in the Department of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. He conducts research about homelessness, social functioning, mental illness, service systems, and social processes in work organizations and criminal justice agencies, with funding from federal, state and local agencies and service providers. In 2007, he received the Chancellor's Distinguished Service Award at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Learn more at http://www.faculty.umb.edu/russell_schutt/.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Using it for my undergraduate course..., July 27, 2011

By 

C.H. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research (Paperback)

After looking over several prominent textbooks for my undergraduate research methods course, I decided to use this one. I appreciate the difficulty of trying to convey the wide range of philosophical and methodological approaches within sociology to students, and I think the introductory chapters accomplish this reasonably well-though of course in a somewhat simplified form.

Weaknesses: Because the chapters refer to examples from previous chapters (a good thing, mostly), it is a bit difficult to rearrange the order in which you teach the chapters.

I suspect many social science instructors would sidestep some of the previous reviewer's concerns about "hard science." That said, the section on quantitative analysis tries to do too much in too few pages. I don't plan on using it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Book for Justice, January 8, 2012

By 

Michelle Lynn - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research [With CDROM] (Paperback)

The book was very through and detailed. The professor I had raved about it and has been using this book for years. It is a very easy read and is not as graduate study as I thought it would be. This book is usually meant for Junior Level students in college or universities. If you want to know about our social justice grab and read. A little lengthy!

3.0 out of 5 stars Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research, November 11, 2011

By 

Orrett Lawrence (Fort Rucker, AL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research (Paperback)

This book was useful for the course I was taking. It contents a lot of valuable information and uses enough examples to explain situations and topics.