The Practice of Social Research (15th Edition) from Earl R. Babbie is a leading textbook on research methods within the social sciences. This reference work supports students in developing research skills and critically approaching scientific research.
The fifteenth edition offers a clear, practice-oriented introduction to the entire research process. Babbie combines theory with examples from everyday research practice, so students learn how to design, carry out, and interpret qualitative and quantitative research.
This edition includes updated examples, new insights in the area of big data, international research practices, and recent data from the General Social Survey (GSS). Interactive issues encourage direct application of research methods within the field of social sciences.
Topics covered:
- Scientific research and research design
- Theory development and hypotheses
- Conceptualizing and operationalizing
- Sampling and sampling techniques
- Surveys and interviews
- Experimental research
- Qualitative research methods
- Quantitative data analysis
- Statistical foundations
- Ethics in social-scientific research
- Reporting and interpreting research results
This textbook is suitable for programs at universities of applied sciences and research universities, including Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Communication Science, Education, Criminology, Business Administration. It provides an integrated approach to social research with current insights and concrete applications in the social sciences.