Designing Research in the Social Sciences

This innovative research design text will help you make informed choices when carrying out your research project. Covering both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and with examples drawn from a wide range of social science disciplines, the authors explain what is at stake when choosing a research design, and discuss the trade-offs that researchers have to make when considering issues such as:

• Causality
• Categories and classification
• Meaning
• Levels of analysis
• Time

This book will appeal to students and researchers looking for an in-depth understanding of research design issues to help them design their projects in a thoughtful and responsible way.

Martino Maggetti is lecturer at the Institut f r Politikwissenschaft (University of Zurich) and senior researcher at the Institut d′Etudes Politiques et Internationales (University of Lausanne), Switzerland.

Fabrizio Gilardi is professor of political science at the Department of Political Science and the Center for Comparative and International Studies, University of Zurich.

Claudio Radaelli is Professor of Political Science, Jean Monnet Chair in European Public Policy, Director, Centre for European Governance.