Publisher: Needham Heights, MA.: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. Available in South Africa from Prentice-Hall, Cape Town.
Description: 560 pp.
Language: English
Price: R184.50 (pbk).
ISBN number: 0-205-19356-0 (hc) 0-205-26561-8 (pbk)

Expanded description: 560 pp. 235mm * 175mm. Extensive use of boxes, diagrams, figures and charts. Each chapter concludes with a list of key terms, review questions, and recommended readings. The book is well indexed and contains an long list of bibliographical references. This comprehensive methodology textbook consists of seventeen chapters arranged into four parts. Part 1 introduces the reader to social science research and methodology with a consideration of the role of research in science (ch. 1), dimensions of research and design (ch. 2), the role of theory in research (ch. 3), the meanings of different kinds of methodological approaches: positivism, interpretive and critical (ch. 4), and reading, searching, and reviewing literature (ch. 5). Part 2 provides detailed coverage of quantitative research: developing research designs (ch. 6), measurement (ch. 7), experimental design (ch. 8), sampling (ch. 9), survey design (ch. 10), non-reactive research and measurement (ch. 11), and quantitative data analysis (ch. 12). Part 3 introduces the reader to qualitative research through a discussion of qualitative design (ch. 13), field research (ch. 14), historical-comparative research (ch. 15), and qualitative data analysis (ch. 16). Part 4, final considerations, contains a single chapter that provides a detailed overview of the ethical and political issues in social research. The text also contains four appendices: the code of research ethics of the American Sociological Association, a table of random numbers, an overview of research report and proposal writing, and an introduction to computers in social research.

The book aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive discussion of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Each chapter presents a long, but well ordered, consideration of a specific topic. The breadth of coverage within each chapter is remarkable, and the text as a whole should provide a thorough introduction to social research. The chapters are subdivided into first and second level subheadings, that appear in the contents pages. Boxes are used to summarise and consolidate information, as well as to provide illustrative material pertaining to the discussion in the body of the text.

This text has been prescribed quite widely across disciplines and universities in South Africa, and with the release of the third edition, appears to have gained in popularity. This is an American blockbuster textbook which, while authored by Neuman (of the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater), is produced by a large team of editorial and production professionals. The book comes with a handy workbook of student exercises, and a set of transparency masters and an interactive CD-Rom as support materials for lecturers.

Although the book the covers a wide range of topics in some depth, its clear presentation and efficient use of summary and illustrative boxes and diagrams, makes it suitable for undergraduate second and third year courses in research methodology. It is sufficiently advanced, however, to be appropriate also for honours level courses. The examples used in the book betray an overly American and overly sociological perspective which at times is irritating. Nevertheless, the text was designed for methods courses across the social sciences, it covers methods that were developed outside sociology (e.g., psychometrics), and I have found it to be not too alienating for psychology students.

One of the main strengths of Social Research Methods is way in which a broad theoretical perspective - driven by distinctions between positivist, interpretive and critical social science - is introduced and reconsidered throughout the text in the context of methodological applications. Thus, not only are students exposed to the larger context in which research is conducted, but they are exposed to the alternative philosophical assumptions that underlie research practice. The text exposes students to the implicit logic of different kinds of methods, in addition to teaching a diverse set of research technologies. For example, quantitative research design is contextualized within the positivist tradition of research, and the chapter develops and by introducing the reader to the language of variables, hypotheses, units of analysis, and cleverly shows how quantitative designs can contribute towards the goals of causal explanation.

Another strength of the text is the unbiased manner in which qualitative and quantitative orientation and methods are considered. Design and data collection issues are discussed in sufficient detail to enable a student to undertake small scale research. The approach is consistently rigorous, as the author reflects on issues of evidence, the validity, reliability and utility of the data. The clear presentation and active writing tone goes some way in reducing the complexity of the material under consideration. Although the book includes a chapter on each quantitative and qualitative analysis, these chapters are rather thin. Qualitative analysis covers basic issues of coding, ignoring discursive and hermeneutic approaches to interpretation. The quantitative chapter covers the principles of statistical inference in a mere two pages. I would recommend that the text be used in conjunction with other introductory statistics and qualitative analysis prescribed material.

The biggest problem with the book is that it makes for a boring read, and exacerbates problems that teachers already face with the lack of learner enthusiasm for research. The art of indirection is completely absent in a text that is written in a painstaking didactic style, with generous use of the list. While this enables the author to cover a lot of ground most economically, the pedagogical value of the book is severely compromised.

In sum, the book has met its own goals of providing an comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods, complete with reflections on the theoretical foundations and political nature of social research practice. Technically speaking, it is a good research methods textbook which is appropriate for South African students. On the downside, its didactic style and American examples will not encourage South African students to see the relevance of research methodology to their lives.