Using an intuitive six-step model, readers learn how to craft a research question and then identify a logical process for answering it. Conversational writing and multi-disciplinary examples illuminate the model's simplicity and power, effectively connecting the "hows" and "whys" behind social science research. Students using this book will learn how to turn their research questions into results.
Industry Reviews
"An extremely well organized text covering basics of research design and methods that consistently uses the six steps in the text and in examples to assure that students understand." -- Anne Rothstein "As Spickard explains, students tend to fear and shy away from research and particularly statistics courses. This textbook is designed in such a manner that it engages the student and keeps the student's attention through case illustrations and an easy-to-read format." -- Manuel Zamora "It incorporates much of what must be pieced together from multiple resources into one text. The six-step strategy breaks the process down into manageable units, and it is clear to me how each step contributes to the overall process." -- Terry Webster "It's a textbook with lots of unique features, such as question-method match, data type-analytical tool match, as well as ethical theory-practice match. It's easy to follow and it acts as a textbook and a practical guide for undergraduate students. Chapters are organized as cooking recipes and examples are interesting and inspiring." -- Lei Zhang "Scholarly but not threatening to students who are scared of the word "research". The layout, language, and images make a challenging subject easier to understand and much less overwhelming." -- Timothy Gunnells "Research is hard. This text helps explain a complicated process and guides students through research design in simpler terms. As an instructor, I appreciate authors who understand the challenges associated with teaching research methods courses." -- Marquita Walker "While many research design texts struggle with integrating statistical applications within the broader design process, this text is a notable exception." -- Ryan McGill "A logical and thoughtfully designed text that brings together a preferred approach with the right amount of rigor." -- Robert H Buckham "A refreshing, holistic view of introductory research methods." -- Stephanie Morgan "This is an excellent introductory text for students that are interested in quantitative analysis. A nice feature of the book is that incorporates the increasingly important aspect of ethics in data collection and analysis." -- Andreas Kern "Clear, concise, conversational introduction to the basic principles and activities of research. Useful for students of research at any stage, and especially appropriate for students who are new to the design and performance of research projects." -- Neil Coulter ? "Aimed at being easy to understand and to take some of the 'scary' out of the research process." -- Jessica Rack "Concise, comprehensive, and practical; its emphasis on ethics is clearly relevant within the context of studying human behavior within societies around the world." -- Patrick Webb "James Spickard's SAGE's Research Basics: Design to Data Analysis in Six Steps provides students the ability, confidence, and skill set to take a complex subject and make it theirs by owning it. How you ask? The text addresses the 'fear' of research and its 'flight' aspect; yet, by providing a moment to laugh and self-reflect both instructor and student become authentic partners in research methods for community change." -- Janine Spinola Taylor
