Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research, Third Edition

by Russell K. Schutt

This groundbreaking textbook uses real-world research examples and data to provide a revealing introduction to social science statistics. The Third Edition of this widely adopted text effectively links social issues and sociological concepts with statistical techniques. Realizing that students may lack a substantial math background, or suffer from "math anxiety syndrome," the material in this book is presented using straightforward prose that emphasizes intuition, logic, and common sense rather than rote memorization. Throughout the text instructors are provided with resources to support effective illustrations showing how statistical concepts are used to interpret social issues, guides for reading and interpreting the research literature, SPSS demonstrations, and a rich variety of exercises. The user-friendly, informal style of this innovative text has been widely applauded by students and instructors alike. Highlights of the Third Edition A number of important changes have been made to this edition in response to the valuable comments received from the many instructors adopting the Second Edition and from other interested instructors and students. Clearer and More Concise Presentation of Topics Revisions to Chapter 13: Testing Hypotheses about Two Samples Supplemental Electronic Materials Real-World Examples and Exercises General Social Survey 1998 Datasets Supplemental Tools on Important Topics SPSS Version 11.0 is available packaged with the text. Please contact Pine Forge Press at (800) 818-7243 for more information.  

Genres: Sociology, Research, Nonfiction, Textbooks, College, Academic, School

445 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[April Lowrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zzzzzzz. Had to read it for school.

[Atınç Gürçay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for starters.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is decent, but not great.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad for a methods textbook!

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for a class. Some of the material is admittedly interesting, but there's just too much fluff. Definitely can do without 40% of the pages. I think in the beginning of the book it tells you about searching through journals online and stuff -- that just is not necessary, not to mention that most readers are likely going to be more tech-savvy than the author himself.

Some people in the class complained that some things were too rigorous in the book or something, but I disagree. They say it's "obvious" or something, and shouldn't have to be tested -- well then why are you still getting a shit grade then? Anyway, every science has to be pedantic and rigorous for it to be taken seriously. If you came into sociology thinking it'd be a walk in the park compared to a harder science like physics, think again -- each domain has its own specific challenges that are, in fact, genuinely challenging. I might even say that the book doesn't reach that level, though it does have a lot of fluff.

That said, it's not dense. It's very readable even by textbook standards. I'd give it 2.5 for that, which would make me round to 3, but the statistician in me (relevant to sociology!) tells me I should round to even. So, 2/5.

It also has a lot of example research, so there's that.

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first few chapters of this book were pretty promising and did a good job at engaging me, but by the end he's telling you how to use WinZip. Seriously dude? There's more filler material like that towards the end, information that's basically completely worthless. I would give the first couple to first several chapters 4 stars, and then the later ones like 1 or 0. I read the book cover to cover (well, except for the table of contents and the index) and it seemed to get progressively worse. He just tries to cover so much information. Sometimes he goes into way too much detail and sometimes there is not even close to enough specific information to be useful for actually learning about the concepts or how research is really conducted. Adding to my ire is the fact that the most I'll be able to sell it back for is like $5.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is as good as any for an introduction to sociological methods at the graduate level. The text is not too simple, and the concepts are well-presented. Overall a good entry into the methodologies of the field.

[Elyas Sobhan]

Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to research methods.

[Debby Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a bit unnecessarily redundant. Required reading for Research Methods.