Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences
Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences

Author: Alexander L. George

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2005-04-15

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 0262262894

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The use of case studies to build and test theories in political science and the other social sciences has increased in recent years. Many scholars have argued that the social sciences rely too heavily on quantitative research and formal models and have attempted to develop and refine rigorous methods for using case studies. This text presents a comprehensive analysis of research methods using case studies and examines the place of case studies in social science methodology. It argues that case studies, statistical methods, and formal models are complementary rather than competitive. The book explains how to design case study research that will produce results useful to policymakers and emphasizes the importance of developing policy-relevant theories. It offers three major contributions to case study methodology: an emphasis on the importance of within-case analysis, a detailed discussion of process tracing, and development of the concept of typological theories. Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences will be particularly useful to graduate students and scholars in social science methodology and the philosophy of science, as well as to those designing new research projects, and will contribute greatly to the broader debate about scientific methods.

Handbook of Computational Social Science, Volume 1
Handbook of Computational Social Science, Volume 1

Author: Uwe Engel

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2021-11-10

Total Pages: 417

ISBN-13: 1000448584

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The Handbook of Computational Social Science is a comprehensive reference source for scholars across multiple disciplines. It outlines key debates in the field, showcasing novel statistical modeling and machine learning methods, and draws from specific case studies to demonstrate the opportunities and challenges in CSS approaches. The Handbook is divided into two volumes written by outstanding, internationally renowned scholars in the field. This first volume focuses on the scope of computational social science, ethics, and case studies. It covers a range of key issues, including open science, formal modeling, and the social and behavioral sciences. This volume explores major debates, introduces digital trace data, reviews the changing survey landscape, and presents novel examples of computational social science research on sensing social interaction, social robots, bots, sentiment, manipulation, and extremism in social media. The volume not only makes major contributions to the consolidation of this growing research field but also encourages growth in new directions. With its broad coverage of perspectives (theoretical, methodological, computational), international scope, and interdisciplinary approach, this important resource is integral reading for advanced undergraduates, postgraduates, and researchers engaging with computational methods across the social sciences, as well as those within the scientifi c and engineering sectors.

The SAGE Handbook of Social Research Methods
The SAGE Handbook of Social Research Methods

Author: Pertti Alasuutari

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2008-02-25

Total Pages: 650

ISBN-13: 1473971268

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The SAGE Handbook of Social Research Methods is a must for every social-science researcher. It charts the new and evolving terrain of social research methodology, covering qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods in one volume. The Handbook includes chapters on each phase of the research process: research design, methods of data collection, and the processes of analyzing and interpreting data. The volume maintains that there is much more to research than learning skills and techniques; methodology involves the fit between theory, research questions research design and analysis. The book also includes several chapters that describe historical and current directions in social research, debating crucial subjects such as qualitative versus quantitative paradigms, how to judge the credibility of types of research, and the increasingly topical issue of research ethics. The Handbook serves as an invaluable resource for approaching research with an open mind. This volume maps the field of social research methods using an approach that will prove valuable for both students and researchers.

The SAGE Handbook of Case-Based Methods
The SAGE Handbook of Case-Based Methods

Author: David Byrne

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Published: 2009-07-01

Total Pages: 561

ISBN-13: 1412930510

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This handbook provides a clear examination of case-oriented research. It defines case-based social research as a subfield of methodology.

Research Training for Social Scientists
Research Training for Social Scientists

Author: Dawn Burton

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2000-03-15

Total Pages: 522

ISBN-13: 1446235513

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With indispensable advice for students from all social science backgrounds, this handbook provides the core conceptual and practical skills to embark on succesful research. The organization of the book reflects the knowledge that is required in order to become a competent and effective researcher. It follows the life-cycle of the research project: it begins with a discussion of ethical and philosphical issues; presents guides to both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis; provides help on using computers in research; and includes advice on how to write up and present a research project. Based on the UK Economic and Social Research Council advice on the training which students should undertake in preparation for postgraduate research, this book will be invaluable for all beginning researchers.

Case Study Research
Case Study Research

Author: John Gerring

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2016-12-24

Total Pages: 441

ISBN-13: 1316857808

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Case Study Research: Principles and Practices provides a general understanding of the case study method as well as specific tools for its successful implementation. These tools are applicable in a variety of fields including anthropology, business and management, communications, economics, education, medicine, political science, psychology, social work, and sociology. Topics include: a survey of case study approaches; a methodologically tractable definition of 'case study'; strategies for case selection, including random sampling and other algorithmic approaches; quantitative and qualitative modes of case study analysis; and problems of internal and external validity. The second edition of this core textbook is designed to be accessible to readers who are new to the subject and is thoroughly revised and updated, incorporating recent research, numerous up-to-date studies and comprehensive lecture slides.

A Handbook for Social Science Field Research
A Handbook for Social Science Field Research

Author: Ellen Perecman

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2006-01-24

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 141291681X

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This text contains a collection of essays and bibliographies providing both novice and experienced scholars with invaluable and accessible insights, as well as references to a select list of critical texts pertaining to a wide array of social science methods and practices useful when doing fieldwork.

Handbook of Case Study Research in the Social Sciences
Handbook of Case Study Research in the Social Sciences

Author: Peter Rule

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Published: 2024-10-03

Total Pages: 369

ISBN-13: 1803920327

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In this Handbook, Peter Rule and Vaughn M. John bring together international experts to provide a thorough overview of case study research in the social sciences. Analysing both historical and contemporary examples, the Handbook contains a comprehensive grounding for both experienced and novice researchers in case study theory and methodology, drawing out the challenges as well as the prospects for its development.

Handbook on Research Assessment in the Social Sciences
Handbook on Research Assessment in the Social Sciences

Author: Tim C. E. Engels

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Published: 2022-04-28

Total Pages: 560

ISBN-13: 9781800372542

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This Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of current developments, issues and good practices regarding assessment in social science research. It pays particular attention to the challenges in evaluation policies in the social sciences, as well as to the specificities of publishing in the area. The Handbook discusses the current societal challenges facing researchers, from digital societies, to climate change and sustainability, to trust in democratic societies. Chapters provide ways to strengthen research assessment in the social sciences for the better, by offering a diverse range of experiences and views of experts from all continents. The Handbook also outlines major data sources that can be used to assess social sciences research, as well as looking at key dimensions of research quality in the social sciences including journal peer review, the issue of identifying research quality, and gender disparities in social science research. This book will be an essential read for scholars interested in research assessment in the social sciences. It will also be useful to policy makers looking to understand the key position of the social sciences in science and society and provide appropriate frameworks for key societal challenges.

Handbook for Research Students in the Social Sciences
Handbook for Research Students in the Social Sciences

Author: Graham Allan

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2020-07-24

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 1000107868

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This book discusses how to undertake a research degree, study and research skills and strategic approaches to research. It is intended to help research students, working full- or part-time in the social sciences, to be as effective as possible in the pursuit of their degrees.