New Strategies in Social Research: An Introduction and Guide

by Derek Layder

This book provides a new and innovative introduction to the methodology of social research. The aim of the author is to provide a bridge between recent theoretical debates in the social sciences and methodological issues. It is not just a 'how to' book for social researchers, or simply a description of research techniques. Rather, the work seeks to develop new strategies of research by marrying new perspectives in social analysis to problems of concrete research. The result is a text which is accessible yet sophisticated. Apart from developing an original argument about research, the book is also designed as a resource text for students and more experienced researchers interested in developing theory from their own field research. It contains overviews of grounded theory and middle-range theory; a research resource map; strategies for developing theory; and guidelines and checklists for field research at the end of chapters.

232 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1992

Reviews

[Titus Hjelm]

What a brilliant and underappreciated book. Although it starts from a Grounded Theory perspective, it grows into a fascinating account of theory-method connections. In fact, it is the only book on GT that I think makes sense. Written at the height of the macro-micro debate (Giddens features on many pages), Layder turns the sometimes abstract debate into a methodological question and doing so provides lots of food for thought for anyone planning a research project. I wish there was an updated edition.