AcknowledgmentsChapter 1: Introduction What Is Empirical Social Research? Why Is Research Important? Methods of Data Collection Quantitative and Qualitative Research Basic and Applied Research The Components of Research Reading This Text Summary PointsChapter 2: Interviewing Methodology Theory Research Questions Literature Review Ethics Sampling Preparing for Data Collection Data Collection Data Analysis Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Evaluating the Quality of Data and Analysis Presenting the Results Summary PointsChapter 3: Observation and Ethnography Methodology Theory Research Questions Literature Review Ethics Sampling Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Preparing for Data Collection Data Collection Data Analysis Evaluating the Quality of Data and Analysis Presenting the Results Summary PointsChapter 4: Surveys Methodology Theory Research Questions Literature Review Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Sampling Ethics Preparing for Data Collection Data Collection Data Analysis Evaluating the Quality of Data and Analysis Presenting the Results Summary PointsChapter 5: Secondary Data Analysis Methodology Theory Research Questions Literature Review Ethics Preparing for Data Collection Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Sampling Data Collection Data Analysis Evaluating the Quality of Data and Analysis Presenting the Results Summary PointsChapter 6: Existing Statistics Research Methodology Theory Research Questions Ethics Preparing for Data Collection Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Sampling Data Collection Data Analysis Evaluating the Quality of Data and Analysis Presenting the Results Summary PointsChapter 7: Content Analysis Methodology Theory Research Questions Literature Review Sampling Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Ethics Preparing for Data Collection Data Collection Data Analysis Evaluating the Quality of Data and Analysis Presenting the Results Summary PointsChapter 8: Experiments for Evaluation Research Methodology Theory Research Questions Literature Review Choosing a Study Design Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Sampling Ethics Preparing for Data Collection Data Collection Data Analysis Evaluating the Quality of Data and Analysis Presenting the Results Summary PointsChapter 9: Focus Groups Methodology Theory Research Questions Literature Review Sampling Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Ethics Preparing for Data Collection Data Collection Analysis Presenting the Results Summary PointsAppendix A: Reviewing the Literature Types of Sources Searching the Literature Reading Scholarly Articles Writing a Literature Review PlagiarismAppendix B: Writing a Research Proposal Title Introduction and Literature Review Research Question Data Collection Data Analysis Implications Timeline Budget Style Guidelines and Formatting A "Seamless Whole"ReferencesIndexAbout the Author.