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The Practice of Social Research, 15th Edition

Earl R. Babbie

  • Copyright 2021
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2020-05-05T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $99.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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The Practice of Social Research 15th Edition by Earl R. Babbie
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Overview

Packed with hands-on applications, Babbie's THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH, 15th Edition, equips your students with the tools they need to practically apply research concepts as both researchers and consumers. Known as the "gold standard" for research methods, the text delivers a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to the field of research as practiced by social scientists. Dr. Babbie emphasizes the research process by showing students how to design and construct projects, introducing the various observation modes in use today. The new edition includes "What do you think?" puzzles that immediately draw students into chapter concepts. General Social Survey data is updated throughout while new coverage includes the global use of social research, the emerging role of big data, demographic analysis and more. Also available: MindTap digital learning solution.

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Meet the Authors

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Earl R. Babbie

Dr. Earl Babbie is the Campbell Professor Emeritus in Behavioral Sciences at Chapman University in Southern California. He taught sociology at the University of Hawaii from 1968 through 1979 and took time off from teaching and research to write full time for eight years. He then joined the Chapman University faculty in 1987. Credited with defining research methods for the social sciences, Dr. Babbie has written several texts, including THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH, as well as numerous research articles and monographs. For 25 years he has been active in the American Sociological Association, where he served on the executive committee. He is also a past president of the Pacific Sociological Association and the California Sociological Association. Dr. Babbie received his A.B. from Harvard and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley.

What's New

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  • Each chapter opens with a "What do you think?" puzzle that immediately helps students connect and engage with key topics. The puzzle is answered using concepts covered in the chapter.
  • Reflecting the latest trends in American behaviors, demographics and opinions, General Social Survey (GSS) data has been updated throughout.
  • Numerous new non-American examples have been added to better illustrate the global use of social research.
  • New coverage focuses on the emerging role of big data in social research, a technique still in development.
  • An all-new section is devoted to demographic analysis.

Features

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  • Highlighting real-world applications from the start, overviews at the beginning of each chapter explain the objectives and how the material covered fits into the overall scheme of social research.
  • A section at the end of each chapter emphasizes research ethics, introducing students to the sensitivities around social research.
  • As they progress through the text, students prepare different sections of a proposal in each chapter while applying specific chapter concepts. The exercises culminate in Chapter 17, when students review the reading and writing aspects of the work, including literature reviews, internet research, and the organization and writing of the report.
  • "Research in Real Life" boxes provide examples of how the principles in the chapters have been applied in actual studies, while "Tips and Tools" boxes give practical advice for formulating and carrying out research projects. Topics include identifying the unit of analysis, reading and evaluating documents, establishing rapport and much more.
  • Numerous real-world and hypothetical examples, myriad figures and tables, sample research tools and the author's renowned sense of humor and compassion combine to make THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH the most accessible, student-friendly text on social research methods available.
  • Helping students maximize their study time and course success, end-of-chapter study aids include point-by-point chapter summaries, a list of key terms, review questions and exercises, and research proposal exercises. In addition, a running glossary with in-chapter definitions simplifies chapter reviews and exam preparation.

Table of Contents

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Part I: AN INTRODUCTION TO INQUIRY.
1. Human Inquiry and Science.
2. Paradigms, Theory, and Social Research.
3. The Ethics and Politics of Social Research.
Part II: THE STRUCTURING OF INQUIRY: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE.
4. Research Design.
5. Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement.
6. Indexes, Scales, and Typologies.
7. The Logic of Sampling.
Part III: MODES OF OPERATION: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE.
8. Experiments.
9. Survey Research.
10. Qualitative Field Research.
11. Unobtrusive Research.
12. Evaluation Research.
Part IV: ANALYSIS OF DATA: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE.
13. Qualitative Data Analysis.
14. Quantitative Data Analysis.
15. The Logic of Multivariate Analysis.
16. Statistical Analyses.
17. Reading and Writing Social Research.
APPENDICES.
A. Using the Library.
B. GSS Household Enumeration Questionnaire.
C. Random Numbers.
D. Distribution of Chi Square.
E. Normal Curve Areas.
F. Estimated Sampling Error.
Preface.
Acknowledgments.

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Each MindTap product offers the full, mobile-ready textbook combined with superior and proven learning tools at one affordable price. Students who purchase digital access can add a print option at any time when a print option is available for their course.

This Cengage solution can be seamlessly integrated into most Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, Brightspace by D2L, Canvas, Moodle, and more) but does require a different ISBN for access codes. Please work with your Cengage Learning Consultant to ensure the proper course set up and ordering information. For additional information, please visit the LMS Integration site.

Standalone Digital Access — Ultimate Value

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  • ISBN-10: 0357360796
  • ISBN-13: 9780357360798
  • RETAIL $99.95
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Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

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  • ISBN-10: 0357360761
  • ISBN-13: 9780357360767
  • RETAIL $289.95
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Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

MindTap for Babbie's The Practice of Social Research, 1 term Instant Access

ISBN: 9780357360798
MindTap for Babbie's The Practice of Social Research, 15th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course -- to provide engaging content, to challenge every individual and to build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You. Check what students know using practice exercises. Challenge them to complete experiments with interactive scenarios. Help them to develop research skills with research process and capstone assignments. MindTap gives you complete ownership of your content and learning experience. Customize the interactive syllabi, emphasize the most important topics and add your own material or notes in the ebook.