Reading Social Research
Studies in Inequalities and Deviance

First Edition

Edited by:

Jeffrey C. Dixon - College of the Holy Cross, USA
Royce A. Singleton, Jr. - College of the Holy Cross, USA

One of the best ways for students to learn about research methods is to read reports of empirical studies.

Other Titles in:
Sociological Research Methods

November 2012 | 264 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

A collection of 20 studies, carefully chosen to represent a broad range of approaches and methods of contemporary social research.

Selected journal articles and book excerpts illustrate the relationship between theory and research, the ethical and political dimensions of research, methods of selecting cases and measuring concepts, and various ways of gathering and analyzing data. Organized in 10 units, each unit introduces the methodological topic, provides Web resources related to the topic, presents two reading selections, and then poses questions to assess students' understanding of the researchers' methodology.

Focusing on issues of race/ethnicity, gender, class, and crime and deviance, the readings expose students to substantive topics fundamental to, and at the forefront of, the social sciences. In addition, the readings provide examples of both qualitative and quantitative social research; are rigorous applications of methodological concepts; and are abridged carefully to make them accessible to students.

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

Preface

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

Introduction

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

I. FROM THEORY TO RESEARCH AND BACK

Ronald Inglehart and Wayne E. Baker

a. Modernization, Cultural change, and the persistence of the traditional values.

Alice Goffman

b. On the Run: Wanted Men in a Philadelphia Ghetto.

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

II. ETHICS (& POLITICS) OF RESEARCH

Stanley Milgram

a. Appendix 1: Problems of Ethics in Research in 'Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View'

Judith Stacey and Timoth Biblarz

b. (How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

III. MEASUREMENT

Wendy R. Roth

a. Racial Mismatch: The Divergence Between Form and Function in Data for Monitoring Racial Discrimination of Hispanics.

Yun-Suk Lee and Linda J. Waite

b. Husbands' and Wives' Time Spent on Housework: A Comparison of Measures.

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

IV. SAMPLING

Robert T. Michael, John N. Gagnon, Edwards O. Laumann, and Gina Kolata

a. Sex in America. A Definite Survey.

Kathleen M. Blee

b. Inside Organized Racism: Women in the Klan Hate Movement.

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

V. EXPERIMENTS

Jeffrey W. Lucas, Corina Grai,f and Michael J. Lovaglia

a. Misconduct in eh Prosecution of Severe Crimes: Theory and Experimental Test.

Devah Pager

b. The Mark of a Criminal Record.

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

VI. SURVEYS

Henry Wechsler, Andrea Davenport, George Dowdall, Barbara Moeykens, and Sonia Castillo

a. Health and behavioral consequences of binge drinking in college: A national survey of students at 140 campuses.

Jeni Loftus

b. America's Liberalization in Attitudes towards Homosexuality: 1973-1998.

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

VII. QUALITATIVE FIELD RESEARCH & INTERVIEWS

David A. Snow

a. 'Cooling Out' Men in Singles Bars and Nightclubs: Observations on the Interpersonal Survival Strategies of Women in Public Places.

Katheryn Edin and Laura Lein

b. Work, Welfare and Single Mothers' Economic Survival Strategies.

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

VII. CONTENT, HISTORICAL/COMPARATIVE&EXISTING DATA ANALYSIS

Bernice Pescosolido, Elizabeth Grauerholz, and Melissa A. Milkie

a Culture and Conflict: The Portrayal of Blacks in U.S. Children Picture Books Through the Mid- and late- Twentieth Century..

John R. Sutton

b. Imprisonment and Social Classification in Five Common-Law Democracies, 1955-1985.

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

IX. MULTIPLE METHODS

Devah Pager and Lincoln Quillian

a. Walking the Talk? What Employers Say vs. What They Do.

Andrew J. Cherlin, Linda M. Burton, Tera R. Hurt, and Diane M. Purvin

b. The influence of physical and sexual abuse on marriage and cohabitation

R.A. Singleton and J.C. Dixon

X. DATA ANALYSIS: QUALITATIVE & QUANTITATIVE

Royce A. Singleton, Jr.

a. Collegiate alcohol consumption and academic performance.

David Snow and Leon Anderson

b. Identity Work Among the Homeless: The Verbal Construction and Avowal of Personal Identities.

A very interesting book with strong chapters. However, for our students (teachers SEN), topics that are more related to education would be more informative.

Mrs Jacqueline Swet

Special Education , Fontys University of Applied Sciences

December 31, 2013

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I was able to use a couple of the readings but not all of them.. However I was able to use this in another class I teach as well.

Professor Cameo McCarthy

School of Environmental and Public Affairs, University Of Nevada Las Vegas

November 8, 2013

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Needed an introductory book specific to social work due to new competency requirements by CSWE.

Dr Michael Vimont

Social Work Dept, Ashland University