Bob Matthews and Liz Ross
RESEARCH METHODS
A practical guide for the
social sciences
“ A great starting point
for students and would-be
social researchers”
Professor Nick Ellison,
University of Leeds
28/4/10 11:38:04
, RESEARCH METHODS
Visit the Research Methods: A Practical Guide for the Social Sciences Companion
Website at www.pearsoned.co.uk/matthews to find valuable student learning
material including:
Video of two focus groups, showing this exciting data collection method in practise.
Videos of interviews, with full transcriptions, to let you practise coding and
analysing interview data.
Animated maths walkthroughs talk you through the basics of collecting and
interpreting data.
Checklists and exercises from this book – print them out, fill them in, and watch
your project come together!
Interactive decision-making exercises to help you choose the best methods for your
project.
Real life questionnaire and a sample Excel dataset of results, to let you practise
your question-building and analysis skills.
Annotated weblinks to relevant organisations to help you take your own project
further.
An online glossary to explain key terms.
Flashcards to test your understanding of key terms.
,“A lively and accessible, practical guide on how to do social research. It takes the reader
on a journey, from initial thoughts and questions through to the complexities of data
collection, analysis and dissemination – a welcome and invaluable addition to the
literature on research methods.”
Professor Saul Becker, Head of the School of Sociology and Social Policy, The University
of Nottingham
“Bob Matthews and Liz Ross have produced a research methods text that is highly
accessible, but also takes people through the processes of planning, carrying out fieldwork
and analysing research data without compromising the need for understanding complex
ideas. They are not afraid to offer their own views about both theory and method, and link
these to very practical suggestions about ‘how to do’ both data collection and analysis.
Overall this is a refreshing approach to teaching research methods that will be welcomed
by lecturers across the social sciences.”
Professor Marian Barnes, University of Brighton
“This user-friendly guide to research methods is a great starting point for students
and would-be social researchers. The book is thoughtfully organised and written in an
accessible manner. I warmly recommend it for all those who want a lively and practical
introduction to social research.”
Professor Nick Ellison, University of Leeds
“Matthews and Ross have produced a welcome addition to a small but growing research
literature that is accessible to new researchers without losing the essence of highly
complex issues. The text also provides an excellent and detailed key to research
terminology that offers a way in to denser and less user friendly writings on methodology.
In short, a valuable tool for those seeking to mobilise research projects for the first time
or those seeking to refresh and update knowledge of current research issues.”
Dave Orr, University of Central Lancashire
“This book is an outstanding contribution to research methods literature. It embraces
the whole research field by combining analytical rigour with descriptive richness. Its
methodological presentation and analysis are clear, concise and effective. It is a very
instructive book for beginners, helping students to develop research skills. Bob Matthews
and Liz Ross have written a book that is a required reading for anyone doing social
research. The authors move beyond the usual remit of social scientists and offer a fresh
approach with their persuasive and forward-thinking ideas.”
Professor György Jenei, Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary
“This book provides a coherent and well supported introduction to research methods
for the first time social researcher. Offering good coverage of important topics and
guidance, it also talks clearly, concisely and in a friendly manner to the novice researcher
encouraging them to engage with the required elements of the research process and
ultimately to think, formulate and develop successful research projects of their own.”
Dr Julian Matthews, University of Leicester
“The book is a must-have text for anyone involved in social research methods, including
lecturers; researchers; undergraduate and postgraduate students and practitioners in
the field of social sciences. It is a seminal textbook, glittering with extensive examples,
information and insight, which publicise the entire research process from a new and
engaging perspective.”
Faiza Qureshi, Loughborough University
, Bob Matthews and Liz Ross
University of Birmingham
RESEARCH METHODS
A practical guide for the
social sciences
, Pearson Education Limited
Edinburgh Gate
Harlow
Essex CM20 2JE
England
and Associated Companies throughout the world
Visit us on the World Wide Web at:
www.pearsoned.co.uk
First published 2010
© Pearson Education Limited 2010
The rights of Bob Matthews and Liz Ross to be identified as authors of this Work have been
asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permit-
ting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd,
Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
All trademarks used therein are the property of their respective owners. The use of any
trademark in this text does not vest in the author or publisher any trademark ownership
rights in such trademarks, nor does the use of such trademarks imply any affiliation with or
endorsement of this book by such owners.
Pearson Education is not responsible for the content of third party internet sites.
ISBN 978-1-4058-5850-2
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Matthews, Bob, 1953-
Research methods : a practical guide for the social sciences /
Bob Matthews, Liz Ross. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4058-5850-2 (pbk.)
1. Social sciences—Research—Methodology—Handbooks, manuals, etc.
I. Ross, Liz. II. Title.
H62.M3228 2010
001.4'2—dc22
2010007217
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
14 13 12 11 10
Typeset in 9.5/12 Giovanni Book by 73
Printed and bound by Rotolito Lombarda, Italy
RESEARCH METHODS
A practical guide for the
social sciences
“ A great starting point
for students and would-be
social researchers”
Professor Nick Ellison,
University of Leeds
28/4/10 11:38:04
, RESEARCH METHODS
Visit the Research Methods: A Practical Guide for the Social Sciences Companion
Website at www.pearsoned.co.uk/matthews to find valuable student learning
material including:
Video of two focus groups, showing this exciting data collection method in practise.
Videos of interviews, with full transcriptions, to let you practise coding and
analysing interview data.
Animated maths walkthroughs talk you through the basics of collecting and
interpreting data.
Checklists and exercises from this book – print them out, fill them in, and watch
your project come together!
Interactive decision-making exercises to help you choose the best methods for your
project.
Real life questionnaire and a sample Excel dataset of results, to let you practise
your question-building and analysis skills.
Annotated weblinks to relevant organisations to help you take your own project
further.
An online glossary to explain key terms.
Flashcards to test your understanding of key terms.
,“A lively and accessible, practical guide on how to do social research. It takes the reader
on a journey, from initial thoughts and questions through to the complexities of data
collection, analysis and dissemination – a welcome and invaluable addition to the
literature on research methods.”
Professor Saul Becker, Head of the School of Sociology and Social Policy, The University
of Nottingham
“Bob Matthews and Liz Ross have produced a research methods text that is highly
accessible, but also takes people through the processes of planning, carrying out fieldwork
and analysing research data without compromising the need for understanding complex
ideas. They are not afraid to offer their own views about both theory and method, and link
these to very practical suggestions about ‘how to do’ both data collection and analysis.
Overall this is a refreshing approach to teaching research methods that will be welcomed
by lecturers across the social sciences.”
Professor Marian Barnes, University of Brighton
“This user-friendly guide to research methods is a great starting point for students
and would-be social researchers. The book is thoughtfully organised and written in an
accessible manner. I warmly recommend it for all those who want a lively and practical
introduction to social research.”
Professor Nick Ellison, University of Leeds
“Matthews and Ross have produced a welcome addition to a small but growing research
literature that is accessible to new researchers without losing the essence of highly
complex issues. The text also provides an excellent and detailed key to research
terminology that offers a way in to denser and less user friendly writings on methodology.
In short, a valuable tool for those seeking to mobilise research projects for the first time
or those seeking to refresh and update knowledge of current research issues.”
Dave Orr, University of Central Lancashire
“This book is an outstanding contribution to research methods literature. It embraces
the whole research field by combining analytical rigour with descriptive richness. Its
methodological presentation and analysis are clear, concise and effective. It is a very
instructive book for beginners, helping students to develop research skills. Bob Matthews
and Liz Ross have written a book that is a required reading for anyone doing social
research. The authors move beyond the usual remit of social scientists and offer a fresh
approach with their persuasive and forward-thinking ideas.”
Professor György Jenei, Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary
“This book provides a coherent and well supported introduction to research methods
for the first time social researcher. Offering good coverage of important topics and
guidance, it also talks clearly, concisely and in a friendly manner to the novice researcher
encouraging them to engage with the required elements of the research process and
ultimately to think, formulate and develop successful research projects of their own.”
Dr Julian Matthews, University of Leicester
“The book is a must-have text for anyone involved in social research methods, including
lecturers; researchers; undergraduate and postgraduate students and practitioners in
the field of social sciences. It is a seminal textbook, glittering with extensive examples,
information and insight, which publicise the entire research process from a new and
engaging perspective.”
Faiza Qureshi, Loughborough University
, Bob Matthews and Liz Ross
University of Birmingham
RESEARCH METHODS
A practical guide for the
social sciences
, Pearson Education Limited
Edinburgh Gate
Harlow
Essex CM20 2JE
England
and Associated Companies throughout the world
Visit us on the World Wide Web at:
www.pearsoned.co.uk
First published 2010
© Pearson Education Limited 2010
The rights of Bob Matthews and Liz Ross to be identified as authors of this Work have been
asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permit-
ting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd,
Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
All trademarks used therein are the property of their respective owners. The use of any
trademark in this text does not vest in the author or publisher any trademark ownership
rights in such trademarks, nor does the use of such trademarks imply any affiliation with or
endorsement of this book by such owners.
Pearson Education is not responsible for the content of third party internet sites.
ISBN 978-1-4058-5850-2
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Matthews, Bob, 1953-
Research methods : a practical guide for the social sciences /
Bob Matthews, Liz Ross. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4058-5850-2 (pbk.)
1. Social sciences—Research—Methodology—Handbooks, manuals, etc.
I. Ross, Liz. II. Title.
H62.M3228 2010
001.4'2—dc22
2010007217
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
14 13 12 11 10
Typeset in 9.5/12 Giovanni Book by 73
Printed and bound by Rotolito Lombarda, Italy
