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	Table of Contents Overview Selected Social Research Methods Web Sites Help Introduction Navigating this site Reading this site Internet searching Aids Part One: Thinking as a Researcher Chapter 1. Understanding Scientific Inquiry Introduction Alternatives to Scientific Inquiry Scientific Inquiry Limits of Scientific Inquiry The Research Process Aids Chapter 2. The Sudan Fertility Survey: An Introduction to Research Introduction The Research Question Designing the Study Collecting the Data Analyzing the Data Interpreting the Results Generalizing the Results Aids Chapter 3. Learning the Language of Research Introduction Concepts and Variables Theory Hypotheses Logic of Scientific Inquiry Cause and Effect Aids Part Two: Planning Research Chapter 4. Selecting a Question to Investigate Introduction Your initial research question Reviewing the literature Preparing references Refining your list of references Searching the Internet Your final research question Aids Chapter 5. Creating a Research Design Design and the purpose of the research Quantitative and qualitative data Design alternatives Aids Chapter 6. Developing Measures Overview Steps in measurement An illustration Level of measurement Validity Reliability Relationship between validity and reliability Reactivity Ethical considerations Aids Chapter 7. Constructing Composite Measures: Scales and Indexes Introduction Scales Likert scales Bogardus social distance scales Guttman scales Indexes Additional considerations Typologies Measurement error Aids Chapter 8. Selecting a Sample Introduction Probability sampling Simple random sample Systemic random sample Stratified random sample Cluster sample Creativity in sampling Weighted samples Problems to watch for Nonprobability sampling Sample size Aids Part Three: Creating Data Chapter 9. Designing Experiments Introduction Seeking causal relationships Alternative explanations Internal validity The classical experiment Quasi-experimental designs External validity Further variations Strengths and limitations Aids Chapter 10. Surveys and Questionnaire Construction Introduction Characteristics of surveys Planning a survey Questionnaire construction The final questionnaire Qualitative surveys Internet-based surveys Response rate Strengths and limitations Improving survey results Aids Chapter 11. Interviewing Introduction Steps in interviewing Conducting interviews Completing post interviewing tasks Telephone interviews Validity and reliability issues Sources of error Aids Chapter 12. Using Available Data Introduction Sources Analyzing available records Secondary analyses Content analysis Strengths and limitations Social indicators Aids Chapter 13. Observing Behavior Introduction Causal observation Participant observation: Overview Conducting a participant observation study Establishing validity Generalizing Personal requirements Case studies Focus groups Strengths and limitations Aids Chapter 14 Performing Evaluation Research Introduction Illustration Distinctive features Conducting an evaluation Qualitative evaluations Problems to watch for Ethical concerns Aids Chapter 15. Using a MultiMethod Design and Conducting Rapid Rural Appraisals Multimethod approach Rapid rural appraisal Strengths and limitations Ethical issues Aids Part Four: Analyzing Data Chapter 16. Preparing Data for Analysis Introduction Hand versus compute analysis Coding Data entry Aids Chapter 17. Conducting Univariate Analyses Frequency distributions Analyzing single variables Presenting univariate data Central tendency Variability Standard deviation and the normal distribution Computer analysis reminder Aids Chapter 18. Tabular Bivariate and Multivariate Analyses Introduction Bivariate analysis: nominal variables Bivariate analysis: ordinal variables Statistical tests for association Aids Chapter 19. Performing Inferential Statistical Analyses Samples and populations Probability theory and statistical inference Inferring a population mean Tests of statistical significance Tests of differences between means Coefficient of correlation Caution with association Chi square Other tests of significance Caution in using statistical test results Aids Part Five: Telling What You Did Chapter 20. Reporting Your Research Introduction Improving your writing Guidelines for clear writing Writing your report Final checking Oral presentations Using the mass media Aids Glossary Web Site Index References