Published: February 2012
Page Count: 236
ISBN (Digital): 978-1-4533-2889-7

Principles of Sociological Inquiry: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Version 1.0
By Amy Blackstone

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Key Features

Learning objectives at the start of every section.
Key take-aways and exercises concluding each section.
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In Principles of Sociological Inquiry: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods, Blackstone stresses the importance of understanding research methods in order to pursue an advanced degree. As an active researcher herself, Blackstone is acutely aware of the need for a balanced approach of both qualitative and quantitative methods of sociological inquiry. Therefore, the three overriding objectives of this textbook are: Relevance, Balance, and Accessibility. Blackstone emphasizes the relevance of research methods for the everyday lives of its readers, undergraduate students.

1.1 Research Methods for Everyday Life

1.2 How Do We Know What We Know?

1.3 Science, Social Science, and Sociology

1.4 Why Should We Care?

1.5 Design and Goals of This Text

Chapter 2: Linking Methods With Theory

2.1 What’s Theory Got to Do With It?

2.2 Micro, Meso, and Macro Approaches

2.3 Paradigms, Theories, and How They Shape a Researcher’s Approach

2.4 Inductive or Deductive? Two Different Approaches

2.5 Revisiting an Earlier Question

Chapter 3: Research Ethics

3.1 Ethics in Sociological Research

3.2 Research on Humans

3.3 Specific Ethical Issues to Consider

3.4 Ethics at Micro, Meso, and Macro Levels

3.5 The Practice of Science Versus the Uses of Science

Chapter 4: Beginning a Research Project

4.1 Choosing a Topic

4.2 Starting Where You Already Are

4.3 Is It Empirical?

4.4 Is It Sociological?

4.5 Is It a Question?

4.6 Next Steps

Chapter 5: Research Design

5.1 How to Design a Research Project

5.2 Goals of the Research Project

5.3 Qualitative or Quantitative? Some Specific Considerations

5.4 Triangulation

5.5 Components of a Research Project

Chapter 6: Defining and Measuring Concepts

6.1 Measurement, Conceptualization, and Operationalization

6.2 Measurement

6.3 Conceptualization

6.4 Operationalization

6.5 Measurement Quality

6.6 Complexities in Measurement

Chapter 7: Sampling

7.1 Who or What?

7.2 Populations Versus Samples

7.3 Sampling in Qualitative Research

7.4 Sampling in Quantitative Research

7.5 A Word of Caution: Questions to Ask About Samples

Chapter 8: Survey Research: A Quantitative Technique

8.1 Why Survey Research?

8.2 Survey Research: What Is It and When Should It Be Used?

8.3 Pros and Cons of Survey Research

8.4 Types of Surveys

8.5 Designing Effective Questions and Questionnaires

8.6 Analysis of Survey Data

Chapter 9: Interviews: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

9.1 Why Interview Research?

9.2 Interview Research: What Is It and When Should It Be Used?

9.3 Qualitative Interview Techniques and Considerations

9.4 Quantitative Interview Techniques and Considerations

9.5 Issues to Consider for All Interview Types

Chapter 10: Field Research: A Qualitative Technique

10.1 Why Field Research?

10.2 Field Research: What Is It and When to Use It?

10.3 Pros and Cons of Field Research

10.4 Getting In

10.5 Field Notes

10.6 Analysis of Field Research Data

Chapter 11: Unobtrusive Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

11.1 Why Unobtrusive Research?

11.2 Unobtrusive Research: What Is It and When to Use It?

11.3 Pros and Cons of Unobtrusive Research

11.4 Unobtrusive Data Collected by You

11.5 Analyzing Others’ Data

11.6 Reliability in Unobtrusive Research

Chapter 12: Other Methods of Data Collection and Analysis

12.1 Why Additional Methods?

12.2 Focus Groups

12.3 Experiments

12.4 Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis

Chapter 13: Sharing Your Work

13.1 Research as Public Activity

13.2 Deciding What to Share and With Whom to Share It

13.3 Presenting Your Research

13.4 Writing Up Research Results

13.5 Disseminating Findings

Chapter 14: Reading and Understanding Social Research

14.1 Sociology in Everyday Life

14.2 Reading Reports of Sociological Research

14.3 Being a Responsible Consumer of Research

14.4 Media Reports of Sociological Research

14.5 Sociological Research: It’s Everywhere

Chapter 15: Research Methods in the Real World

15.1 Applying What You’ve Learned

15.2 Doing Research for a Living

15.3 Doing Research for a Cause

15.4 Public Sociology

15.5 Revisiting an Earlier Question: Why Should We Care?

Instructor’s Manual

The Instructor’s Manual guides you through the main concepts of each chapter and important elements such as learning objectives, key terms, and key takeaways. Can include answers to chapter exercises, group activity suggestions, and discussion questions.

PowerPoint Lecture Notes

A PowerPoint presentation highlighting key learning objectives and the main concepts for each chapter are available for you to use in your classroom. You can either cut and paste sections or use the presentation as a whole.

Test Item File

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Amy Blackstone

University of Maine

Amy Blackstone is Professor of Sociology at the University of Maine. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, her research includes studies of workplace harassment, childfree adults, and civic engagement. Her work has appeared in a variety of journals and edited volumes, including Gender & Society, American Sociological Review, Contexts, and Families as They Really Are. Dr. Blackstone’s research has been featured in media outlets including New York Times, Washington Post, Salon, NPR, TODAY Show, Dr. Phil Primetime, and other national and international venues. She is author of Childfree by Choice: The Movement Redefining Family and Creating a New Age of Independence (Dutton, 2019). Blackstone has received the University of Maine’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award in Teaching/Advising. She received her PhD in Sociology at the University of Minnesota and her BA in Sociology at Luther College.