Research Guides: Social Sciences Research Methods: Research Methods

Introductions to quantitative & qualitative methodologies

The following sources provide explanations, examples and procedures about various methodologies used in the social sciences research.

Sage Research Methods This link opens in a new window
(SRM) is the major tool for exploring various methodologies. SRM includes the Little Green and Little Blue book series, articles, case studies, databases and videos covering quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research methodologies.

Research Design

Research Design : Creating Robust Approaches for the Social Sciences (in SRM)
"The book combines being a good read for experienced researchers who want to remind themselves of how to design good quality, rigorous, research, with being an excellent introduction for those new to the field in how to plan and execute inherently useful research for any evidence base."
Dictionary of Social Research Methods
"This dictionary offers succinct, clear, expert explanations of key terms from both method and methodology in social research."
When to Use What Research Design
"Systematic, practical, and accessible, this is the first book to focus on finding the most defensible design for a particular research question."

Quantitative Methods

Analyzing Quantitative Data : An Introduction for Social Researchers
"The book guides readers through the steps of data analysis, from organizing raw data to utilizing descriptive statistics and tests of significance, drawing valid conclusions, and writing research reports."
Basic statistics for social research
Introduction to "core general statistical concepts and methods" in the social sciences.

Designing and Conducting Survey Research by Louis M. Rea; Richard A. Parker
Practical guidance in constructing, administering, and analyzing surveys. Emphasis on SPSS.

Doing Surveys Online (in SRM)
How-to guide covers "the entire process of using surveys, from systematically recruiting respondents, to designing the internet survey, to processing the survey data and writing it up."

Qualitative Methods

Fundamentals of Qualitative Research
A "concise yet rigorous description of how to design and conduct fieldwork projects and how to examine data in multiple ways for interpretive insight."
Qualitative Research for the Social Sciences (in SRM)
Covers "the full range of qualitative methodologies" along with "step-by-step coverage of the research process, addressing issues of analyzing data, presenting completed research, and evaluating research."
Qualitative Research Practice
"The essential reference for anyone undertaking or studying qualitative research. It covers a diversity of methods and a variety of perspectives and is a very practical and informative guide for newcomers and experienced researchers alike."
SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Collection (in SRM)
"Systematically explores the approaches, techniques, debates and new frontiers for creating, collecting and producing qualitative data."

sources cited

Thank you to Emily Keller, Political Science and Public Policy Librarian at the University of Washington Libraries who allowed me to copy parts of of her Social Science Research Methods guide for this page.