Confidence in social science research diminished in the 2010s when several published research results failed to replicate. This "replication crisis" increased awareness that findings need to be substantiated, but academic researchers have little incentive to engage in repeating others' research. College students can advance their…

Reviews two recent books: Charles Tilly's 1985 work, "Big Structures, Large Processes, Huge Comparisons," and the 1984 volume edited by Theda Skocpol, "Vision and Method in Historical Sociology." Concludes that historians who still harbor negative images of historical sociologists would benefit by gaining a more accurate…

Written by a social worker for social work students, this is a nuts and bolts guide to statistics that presents complex calculations and concepts in clear, easy-to-understand language. It includes numerous examples, data sets, and issues that students will encounter in social work practice. The first section introduces basic concepts and terms to…

This text explains how to use the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), one of the most popular statistical analysis software packages available. It explains how to use SPSS through examples of a variety of statistical procedures. A brief rationale is presented for the use of each of the statistical procedures addressed in the book,…

This book provides an overview of family planning and fertility in the United States, from the number of babies women have to the risks they face in having them and the measures they choose to avoid pregnancy, to the dollars that would be saved with fewer unwanted pregnancies. Based on the social science literature through mid-1997, which is cited…

Aims to assist evaluators working with an institutional review board (IRB). Asserts that evaluators must accept the legitimacy of IRB review and learn about requirements and pressures even as they educate the IRB about social science methodology and empirically demonstrable risks. (SLD)

"Seven Rules for Social Research" teaches social scientists how to get the most out of their technical skills and tools, providing a resource that fully describes the strategies and concepts no researcher or student of human behavior can do without. Glenn Firebaugh provides indispensable practical guidance for anyone doing research in the social…

This manual and the accompanying software are intended to provide a step-by-step guide to conducting a meta-analytic study along with references for further reading and free high-quality software, "Meta-Stat.""Meta-Stat" is a comprehensive package designed to help in the meta-analysis of research studies in the social and behavioral sciences.…

This book is designed to give step-by-step instructions necessary to do most major types of data analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). SPSS is a powerful tool that is capable of conducting nearly any type of data analysis used in the social sciences. This book should enable the reader to do 95% of what the program…

Presents brief descriptions of research methodologies by social studies educators. Offers examples of the potential research questions each method may suitably address. Concludes by listing several ways to improve the quality of research conducted by each method. (Author/GEA)

Considers the impact of empirical social science methodology and data analysis techniques on the process of historical analysis and its product, generalizations about the past. Uses political preference and voting information as a vehicle to illustrate the differences in historical conclusions reached by Lee Benson and J. Morgan Kousser. (JDH)

This publication for educators offers in-depth articles on current anthropological research, teaching activities, and reviews of new resources. The document aims to disseminate recent research in anthropology; to help those teaching anthropology utilize new materials, approaches, and community resources, as well as integrate anthropology into a…

This book defines an epistemological agenda for action research, one that challenges the conventional academic social sciences on epistemological and ethical grounds. It gives an overview of different approaches so that researchers can find their own perspectives within the field. Methodologies and fieldwork tools are described. The chapters are:…

A step-by-step primer is presented that introduces the reader to ethnography and its practical applications, then guides the reader through each stage of the ethnographic inquiry process (initial steps, observation, interviews, data analysis, leaving the site, and reporting the findings). The concrete guidelines and suggestions help the reader…

This document includes two presentations on research methods appropriate to research questions involving art classroom settings. "The Nuts and Bolts of Basic Research" (Read M. Diket) outlines the classification systems of research and establishes their basis in purpose and method. Systems represented are: (1) historical research; (2)…