Unlock the secrets of social research with Keith F. Punch′s expertly crafted guide!
This fourth edition dives deep into the essentials of research, covering theory, ethics, data collection, and analysis. With chapters dedicated to developing research questions, conducting literature reviews, and writing up findings, this book empowers you to master both quantitative and qualitative methods.
You will
· How to develop genuine empirical questions to guide your research.
· Practical tips for collecting and analysing various types of data.
· Real-life applications and examples to ground your understanding.
· Strategies for effective research writing and presenting your findings.
Perfect for undergraduate and postgraduate students, this book lays a solid foundation for anyone embarking on their research journey.
Mixed Methods research is a growing methodology among scholars; however, it is so new that few set guidelines and procedures exist concerning the effective integration of qualitative and quantitative data. As a result, the author maps out the research process starting with formulating a question and ending with data integration. Most importantly, he takes the time to explain the various functions of qualitative and quantitative methodologies as well as their strengths and weaknesses in any research setting to give the researcher adequate information to see if thier study is truly mixed.
The reading is dry. In fact, I wouldn't pick this book up unless a person is planning to conduct this form of research. In that case, it's excellent. It takes the reader step by step through the mixed methods process, and explains terms, data collection and analysis processes, and ways to integrate the two original methodologies to enhance the strengths of the research while minimizing the weaknesses. In addition, since this form of research is still on the cusp of academic acceptance, it provides the foundation and rationale needed to defend its use.
"The more difficult problem concerns the correspondence between verbal responses and behaviour, the relationship between what people say, what they do and what they say they do, and the assumption that language is a good indicator of thought and language."
"It is difficult to summarize what has not yet been written."