Designing Social Science Research

Description

This book presents different research designs, their respective purposes and merits as well as their underlying assumptions. Research designs are characterised by a certain combination of knowledge aims and strategies for data production. An adequate design is the key to carrying out a successful research project. Nevertheless, the literature on design is scarce, compared to the literature on methods. This book clarifies the basic distinction between variable-oriented designs and case designs, and proceeds to integrated, comparative and intervention-oriented designs. A step-by-step guide to the design process and the choices to make is also included. The book's clear style makes it an excellent guide for master students and PhD students doing their first research exercises, while it is also useful for more experienced researchers who want to broaden their design repertoire and keep up to recent innovations in the field of research design. Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 1-9 Scientific Knowledge and Practice (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 11-27 Social Science as Reconstruction of Social Phenomena (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 29-51 The Logic and Methodological Rules of Reconstruction (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 53-72 Design of Research Projects (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 73-96 Variable-Centred Designs (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 97-113 Case Designs (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 115-140 Integrated Designs (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 141-160 Comparative Designs (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 161-177 Intervention-Oriented Designs (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 179-192 The Design Process (Oddbjørn Bukve)....Pages 193-214 Back Matter ....Pages 215-219