Social Research Methods

"The main strength of this text is coverage of both quantitative and qualitative methodology from a broad range of fields. The examples are often my students' favorite thing to discuss in class." -- Erica B. Gibson "Bernard does an excellent job of not only showing how to practice research, but also provides a detailed discussion of broader historical and philosophical contexts that are important for understanding research." -- Julian Kilker "The book includes a thorough presentation of quantitative and qualitative methods, including formulas and statistics for quantitative methods. Bernard is one of very few methods authors who includes and explains statistical methods, not just the methods used. Moreover, the book is very comprehensive and uses lots of examples to explain the material in depth." -- Monika Ardelt "The depth of detailed descriptions (foundations of social research; interviewing, participant observation, field notes, and data analysis) go beyond other texts that I'm aware of, and the organization is superb. The text contains strong descriptions of positivist versus humanistic traditions and splits in social research. It also includes great detail on how to successfully operationalize research variables. The discussion on theory as a "mechanism" and how to choose problems is easily understood and effective. Moreover, the author's emphasis on making personal interest a high priority in choosing a research topic is critical and primary." -- Benedict J. Colombi 'There is considerable detail on the history and philosophical foundations of social and behavioural research, ranging from the 'what' to the 'how-to' of social research. To make sure the message of each chapter is clearly communicated [Bernard] employs a wealth of examples and reading lists. He also provides the reader with a description of key concepts employed in each chapter.' -- Maryam Nazari & G.E. Gorman * Online Information Review *