Author(s): Carl Davidson

NZ Non Fiction

Print on demand title, approx 6 weeks to obtain. Social Science Research in New Zealand, 2nd edition, is intended for anyone coming to the many paths of social science research for the first time, and will be of particular interest to: students in introductory research methods courses (whether in psychology,sociology, anthropology, nursing studies, social work, etc.) postgraduate students embarking on their first major research project, whose methodological, theoretical and practical research background is only beginning to develop, and who will find the ‘reality check’ approach as engaging as it is comforting distance education students people who need to deal with research outcomes in their work an informed general audience. In this updated edition of their popular textbook, Carl Davidson and Martin Tolich present an integrated view of social science research: its underlying philosophy, goals, ethics and methods. Part 1 provides background knowledge about the historical and philosophical bases of social science research. In Part 2 the editors set out the basic steps that occur in the course of any research project, and in each of the chapters of Part 3 there is a candid presentation of the research process by contributors who are all well known in the New Zealand social science research community. The range of contributors means that the book is interdisciplinary in nature and the New Zealand context examines the questions of who we are and how we can be studied. Practical guidance is given throughout the text and its appendices on matters such as questionnaire construction, levels of measurement, statistical data analysis and sampling error calculation. The question of ethics is raised and discussed at length, as is the use of computers in social science research. A comprehensive bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and an index provide useful reference material.