Published in Association with The Open University Social Research

An introduction to the principles of social and educational research, offering an assessment of issues of values and practice in social research. It discusses such issues as race, gender and power in social research; the politics and ethics of data collection; and the relevance of social research. This critical introduction to the principles of social and educational research draws together a key set of readings which offers a comprehensive approach to the wide range of values and practice in social research. Issues explored include: the relationship between quantitative and qualitative methods; positivism and the role of the natural sciences as a model for social research; the purposes of research - knowledge or the transformation of the social world; issues of race, gender and power in social research; the politics and ethics of data collection; and the validity and relevance of social research. Social Research is a set book for The Open University course DEH313 Principles of Social and Educational Research.