Social Research: Philosophy, Politics and Practice

Social Research provides a wide-ranging and critical introduction to the principles of social and educational research.

Social research takes many forms and is carried out under a wide variety of conditions. It is characterized not only by a diversity of methods, but also by differing views about goals. This book draws together a key set of readings which addresses the major issues around values and practice in social research. Topics explored include: the relationship between quantitative and qualitative methods; positivism, and the role of the natural sciences as a model for social research; the purposes of research - knowledge of the social world, or its transformation?; issues of race, gender and power in social research; the politics and ethics of data collection; the validity and relevance of social research.

Offering a broadly based assessment of current concerns, the book will be of value to all students of social research methods, and to those undertaking social research in the social sciences, education, nursing and related fields.

Social Research is a set book for The Open University course DEH313 Principles of Social and Educational Research.