Guide to Social Science Research

Conducting social research requires an understanding of the general theories and principles of social science research. Such knowledge is essential for both social science students and all those undertaking research, evaluating, and designing different intervention strategies to existing social problems. The book is organized around seven main themes, namely: science; logic and objectivity in the social sciences; conceptualization, design and problem definition; types of social science research; sampling and research instruments; data processing and analysis; and theory building and presentation of research findings. Each chapter is treated at length, including illustrative examples from the literature and providing data from the author's own research experience, specifically drawing examples from a variety of Tanzanian social settings. Since the first edition of this book there has been an unprecedented rise of sophistication and diversification in the realm of social science research. The challenges, which continue to face researchers, include paradigmatic allegiances to definitional issues and sometimes lack of consensus about the standards of quality (in particular in qualitative research). This second edition, with suggestions from readers and peers, has been expanded to be more comprehensive, specifically developing practical aspects to facilitate students in the process of data collection, the role of hypotheses in the research process, and qualitative research.