Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 074251126X ISBN 13: 9780742511262

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2004

Synopsis

When it was first published, Designing Social Inquiry, by political scientists Gary King, Robert Keohane, and Sidney Verba, at once struck chords of controversy. As it became one of the best-selling methodology books in memory, it continued to spark debate in journal articles, conference panels, and books.

Rethinking Social Inquiry is a major new effort by a broad range of leading scholars to offer a cohesive set of reflections on Designing Social Inquiry's quest for common standards drawn from quantitative methodology. While vigorously agreeing to the need for common standards, the essays in Rethinking Social Inquiry argue forcefully that these standards must be drawn from exemplary qualitative research as well as the best quantitative studies. The essays make the case that good social science requires a set of diverse tools for inquiry.

Key additions to the seminal pieces gathered here include an original overview of Designing Social Inquiry, a new essay on evaluating causation, and a concluding chapter that draws together basic issues in the ongoing methodological debate.

Published in cooperation with the Berkeley Public Policy Press.

About this title

About the Author

Henry E. Brady is Robson Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of the Berkeley Survey Research Center.

David Collier is professor of political science and a former chair of political science and of Latin American studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

From the Inside Flap

Features:

--The debate about the relative value of and relationship between qualitative and quantitative research rages on and this book captures its essence. --Both editors and contributors are among the very best in key social science fields including political science, sociology, education, and beyond. --Simple, straightforward presentation of difficult material with a minimum of technical jargon and mathematical notation. --Jumps off from the perspective of Designing Social Inquiry, one of the best-selling methods books of all time. Transcends this benchmark work by integrating quantitative and qualitative perspectives, sharing tools, and otherwise setting a new benchmark for methods discourse. --Includes learning aids such as compact summary tables, glossary of key terms, annotated references, name and subject indexes, and more.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 074251126X
• ISBN 13: 9780742511262
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384
• Editor: Brady Henry E., Collier David