Research methods in practice : strategies for description and causation / Dahlia K. Remler, Gregg G. Van Ryzin.

"Imbued with their deep commitment to making methods accessible and meaningful, authors Dahlia K. Remler and Gregg G. Van Ryzin compel students to truly grasp the logic--and limits--of the latest research appearing in academic journals, government reports, and the media. The authors make the coverage spark, emphasizing the critical interpretation and practical application of research findings throughout the text by focusing on causation and real-life data. Key Features: Reflects current methodological techniques used in interdisciplinary research, as illustrated with many policy-relevant research examples. ; The realistic trade-offs, uncertainties, habits, and excitement of the research experience come through on every page. ; Covers strategies for both description and causal estimation--and emphasizes the distinction."--Publisher's website.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part 1: Foundations. Research in the Real World ; Theory and Models ; Qualitative Research. -- Part 2: Strategies for description. Measurement ; Sampling ; Secondary Data ; Collecting Primary Data: Surveys and Observation ; Making Sense of the Numbers ; Making Sense of Multivariate Statistics. -- Part 3: Strategies for causation. Causation ; Observational Studies With Control Variables ; Randomized Field Experiments ; Natural and Quasi Experiments. -- Part 4: Applications. The Politics, Production, and Ethics of Research ; How to Find, Focus, and Present Research.