Sociologists Backstage: Answers to Ten Key Questions About What They Do
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Author Description
Published Social Science Rarely Gives Real Attention To The Actual Doing Of Research, Making The Process Appear Magical, Or At Least Self-evident And Simple. This Book Is Intended To Right The Balance By Illuminating The Craft And The Choices Made As The Research Process Unfolds For The Sociologist. The Metaphorical Image Of Going 'backstage' Speaks To The Reader’s Experience With Each Of The 17 Interviews, Which Illuminate The Choices And Constraints Of Researchers As Well As Unanticipated Developments, Good And Bad. The Volume Represents A Range Of Interests, Themes, Research Philosophies And Approaches From A Diverse Group Of Contributors. Particularly Suited For Advanced Undergraduate And Graduate Research Methods Students, The Volume Addresses Virtually All Of The Most Vexing Methods Questions Through Accessible And Compelling First-hand Descriptions Of Sociological Research. The Volume Is An Invaluable Addition To The Library Of All Social Science Researchers.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the practical, often invisible realities of conducting sociological research by demystifying the methodological choices and constraints faced by practitioners. Sarah Fenstermaker, a distinguished sociologist, curates a collection of seventeen interviews with prominent scholars to reveal the behind-the-scenes labor of academic inquiry. By shifting focus from polished final results to the actual process of data collection and analysis, the text provides a transparent framework for understanding how sociological knowledge is constructed in the field.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed accounts of research methodologies across diverse subfields including urban sociology, global ethnography, and gender studies.
- Practical insights into navigating unexpected developments and ethical constraints during fieldwork.
- First-hand narratives from seventeen established sociologists detailing their specific research philosophies and approaches.
- A structured examination of the research process, organized into thematic sections covering topics like transnational labor, crime, and violence.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and educators identify this volume as a highly effective pedagogical tool for advanced undergraduate and graduate students learning research methods. Readers frequently note that the accessible, conversational tone of the interviews provides a rare and valuable look at the human element of academic research.
Page Count:
254
Publication Date:
2011-01-01
Publisher:
Routledge
ISBN-10:
0203840364
ISBN-13:
9780203840368
Research Methods
Sociology
Social Science
Academic
Education
Community Tags
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