Conducting social research

The volume is based on two beliefs of the authors, which have been reinforced with experience: (1) the primary reason for practising social research is to construct, modify, and accumulate explanations of social phenomena, and (2) the best method of learning the practice of explaining social phenomena is through experience - through the practice of social research. The emphasis in this volume is therefore on the practice of social research. Each laboratory session can be approached as a simulation experience with an aspect of social research. The volume is written to treat the mundane problems involved in the practice of social research and to relate these steps to the larger task of constructing and refining theoretical explanations. All the chapters describe laboratory sessions which allow the reader to actually "practice" a major aspect of social research.