Social Science Methodology: A Unified Framework (Strategies for Social Inquiry)

EAN: 9780521132770
Published 15/12/2011
Language: English

John Gerring's exceptional textbook has been thoroughly revised in this second edition. It offers a one-volume introduction to social science methodology relevant to the disciplines of anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology and sociology. This new edition has been extensively developed with the introduction of new material and a thorough treatment of essential elements such as conceptualization, measurement, causality and research design. It is written for students, long-time practitioners and methodologists and covers both qualitative and quantitative methods. It synthesizes the vast and diverse field of methodology in a way that is clear, concise and comprehensive. While offering a handy overview of the subject, the book is also an argument about how we should conceptualize methodological problems. Thinking about methodology through this lens provides a new framework for understanding work in the social sciences.

Preface
1. A unified framework
Part I. General
2. Beginnings
3. Arguments
4. Analyses
Part II. Description
5. Concepts
6. Descriptive arguments
7. Measurements
Part III. Causation
8. Causal arguments
9. Causal analyses
10. Causal strategies
X and Y
11. Causal strategies
beyond X and Y
12. Varying approaches to causal inference
Part IV. Conclusions
13. Unity and plurality
14. Setting standards
Postscript
justifications
Appendix
a few words on style.