Doing Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences: An Integrated Approach to Research Design, Measurement and Statistics
This original textbook provides a comprehensive and integrated approach to using quantitative methods in the social sciences.
Thomas R Black guides the student and researcher through the minefield of potential problems that may be confronted, and it is this emphasis on the practical that distinguishes his book from others which focus exclusively on either research design and measurement or statistical methods.
Focusing on the design and execution of research, key topics such as planning, sampling, the design of measuring instruments, choice of statistical text and interpretation of results are examined within the context of the research process.
In a lively and accessible style, the student is introduced to research design issues alongside statistical procedures and encouraged to develop analytical and decision-making skills.
An ideal text for students across the social sciences, including education, Doing Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences covers a wide range of examples and activities providing a solid foundation in research design, measurement and statistics.
Rating: 
(out of 4 reviews)
List Price: $ 82.95
Price: $ 45.61
Posted in
Review by T R Black for Doing Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences: An Integrated Approach to Research Design, Measurement and Statistics
Rating:
This book is aimed at students in the social sciences, education and related subjects who have only a basic background in statistics and quantitative research design. The emphasis is on the design and execution of research projects, and includes issues of planning and sampling, measurement, choice of statistical model, and interpretation of results. Frequently, the topics research design, measurement and statistics tend to be covered in three separate texts and any links are left to the struggling student or novice researcher, who too often finds it difficult to integrate these. The aim of this book is to encourage researchers to consider all the assumptions and their interactions when making decisions during the planning of research. They need to take into account the interrelationships between ‘technologies’ when designing the structure of the study, creating measuring instruments, collecting data, selecting statistical tools, and interpreting the results. Therefore, the statistical tests are not just after-the-fact, but are used as part of the planning process to help make such decisions as sample size and desired reliability of instruments.The titles of the chapters are: Part I: Introduction to Research Design 1 The Nature of Enquiry 2 Beginning the Process 3 Initial Sources of Invalidity and Confounding 4 Basic Designs 5 Identifying Populations and Samples 6 Additional Sources of Confounding by the Measurement Process and Interactions 7 Refining the DesignsPart II: Measurement Design 8 Principles of Measurement and Collecting Factual Data 9 Measuring Attitudes, Opinions and Views 10 Measuring Achievement 11 Evaluating Data Quality: Determining Instrument Reliability and ValidityPart III: Turning Data into Information Using Statistics 12 Descriptive Statistics Using a Spreadsheet 13 Probability and Statistical Significance 14 Power of Statistical Tests Part IV: Ex Post Facto, Experimental, and Quasi-experimental Designs: Parametric Tests 15 Comparing Two Groups: t-test 16 One-way Analysis of Variance: ANOVA 17 Factorial Designs 18 Randomised Block Designs and Analysis of CovariancePart V: Non-Parametric Tests: Nominal and Ordinal Variables 19 Nonparametric Tests: One- and Two-Sample 20 Nonparametric Tests: Multiple- and Related-SamplesPart VI: Describing Non-causal Relationships 21 Correlation and Association 22 Regression
Review by Masaki Matsumura for Doing Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences: An Integrated Approach to Research Design, Measurement and Statistics
Rating:
There should be a table of contents of this book on theweb. If I had known it, I would not have ordered this book.The title and the contents of this book are really mismatching. I thought the book was about more practical applications of quantitative research methods to the social sciences. In reality, however, the book is about elementary-level statistics assisted by a simple computer software, accompanied by an introduction to social research methodology.
Review by Momu for Doing Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences: An Integrated Approach to Research Design, Measurement and Statistics
Rating:
Unfortunately, this text was required for a quantitative course. Again, unfortunately, it was published in 1999 and the information on the use of Excel was not applicable to 2007. In addition, the content was not easy to follow. The feedback from other classmates was similiar to my experience. By the way this was for a graduate course.
OH
Review by Karen-Project Mgmt Prof for Doing Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences: An Integrated Approach to Research Design, Measurement and Statistics
Rating:
We used this textbook in a quantitative research methods course, and it was not fun. The professor, who has a doctorate in statistics and works in stats every day actually told us not to read certain chapters because they were confusing. She provided alternative materials.
I am also very expert at using Excel, but I found Black’s Excel exercises to be difficult to follow and poorly set up.
If you have another alternative, I’d opt for that instead of Black.