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ORGANIZATION OF BOOK
Our book is organized to follow the basic phases of the generic research process—from a quantitative perspective and from a qualitative perspective. The book begins where every researcher begins; that is, with finding a meaningful problem area to study and developing research questions and hypotheses. It then proceeds from measuring variables, selecting samples, constructing research designs, collecting and analyzing data, through report writing.
Our book is organized in a way that makes good sense in teaching research methods. Many other sequences that could be followed would make just as much sense, however. The chapters in our book are consciously planned to be independent of one another. They can be read out of the order in which they are presented, or they can be selectively omitted.
For example, some research instructors require their students to complete a research proposal for one of the course requirements. In this case, an instructor can require the students to read Chapters 16 and 17 (on quantitative [Chapter 16] and qualitative [Chapter 17] proposal writing) somewhere at the beginning of the course.
The creative use of our book is highly encouraged. We have only provided the minimal course content that we feel should be taught to BSW students. It is up to the instructor to add to our foundation through the use of the book’s Website and/or their own personal material, additional readings, videos, group assignments, guest lectures, and so forth.
See Table of Contents for the order of chapter topics. |
