Behind the Scenes in Social Research discusses the informal, adaptive,
and real-life process of doing social science research. It complements
the material in standard methods texts that describe the basics--how to
choose topics and ways of obtaining and analyzing data--but in doing so
miss out on many of the obstacles and practicalities of doing research.
Researchers may find themselves adrift when they start their research
and discover that what confronts them doesn't precisely match exactly
what is described in the basic textbooks, such as the obstacles that
frequently occur, the logistical matters that must be handled, and the
improvisations in research design and data gathering techniques that
successful projects require. This book covers this material, while also
paying attention to the ways in which the personal characteristics of
those doing the research affect how projects are designed and data
gathered. In addition, it explores the manner in which doing research
affects the researchers themselves, affecting self-images, altering
political or social views, or providing skills that extend beyond the
research enterprise. Based on the author's own experiences and
interviews with senior researchers in a variety of social science
fields, Behind the Scenes in Social Research explores the practical
problems that arise in undertaking a research project while showing how
these problems can be overcome through perseverance and improvisation.
It will therefore appeal to scholars and students across the social
science with interests in research methods and the practical issues that
arise during any research project.
