About the Book

This book is a definitive, comprehensive understanding to social science research methodology. It covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The book covers the entire research process, beginning with the conception of the research problem to publication of findings. The text combines theory and practical application to familiarize the reader with the logic of research design, the logic and techniques of data analysis, and the fundamentals and implications of various data collection techniques. Organized in seven sections and easy to read chapters, the text emphasizes the importance of clearly defined research questions and well-constructed practical explanations and illustrations. A key contribution to the methodology literature, the book is an authoritative resource for policymakers, practitioners, graduate and advanced research students, and educators in all social science disciplines.

Contents

Introduction to Social Research

Inquiry: A Fundamental Concept for Scientific Investigation

M. Rezaul Islam

Research: Meaning and Purpose

Kazi Abusaleh, Akib Bin Anwar

Social Research: Definitions, Types, Nature, and Characteristics

Kanamik Kani Khan, Md. Mohsin Reza

Theory in Social Research

Mumtaz Ali, Maya Khemlani David, Kuang Ching Hei

Philosophy of Social Science and Research Paradigms

Inductive and/or Deductive Research Designs

Md. Shahidul Haque

Positivism

Premalatha Karupiah

Critical Theory in Social Research: A Theoretical and Methodological Outlook

Ashek Mahmud, Farhana Zaman

Narrative Inquiry, Phenomenology, and Grounded Theory in Qualitative Research

Rabiul Islam, Md. Sayeed Akhter

Pragmatism

Md. Rafiqul Islam

Quantitative Research Approach

Designing Research Proposal in Quantitative Approach

Md. Rezaul Karim

Experimental Method

Syed Tanveer Rahman, Md. Rabiul Islam

Social Survey Method

Isahaque Ali, Azlinda Azman, Shahid Mallick, Tahmina Sultana, Zulkarnain A. Hatta

Survey Questionnaire

Shofiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Mohammad Ali Oakkas, Faisal Ahmmed

Interview Method

Hazreena Hussein

Sampling Techniques for Quantitative Research

Moniruzzaman Sarker, Mohammed Abdulmalek AL-Muaalemi

Data Analysis Techniques for Quantitative Study

Md. Mahsin

Quantitative Research Approach

Techniques for Reporting Quantitative Data

Md. Mahsin

Qualitative Research Approach

Designing a Research Proposal in Qualitative Research

Md. Ismail Hossain, Nafiul Mehedi, Iftakhar Ahmad

Action and Evidence-Based Research

Niaz Ahmed Khan, A. Z. M. Manzoor Rashid

Participatory Research

M. Rezaul Islam

Case Study

R. M. Channaveer, Rajendra Baikady

Ethnographic Method

Faisal Ahmmed

Indigenous and Decolonizing Research Methodology

Ndungi wa Mungai

In-Depth Case Interview

Md. Golam Azam

Observation

Shekh Farid

Focus Group Discussion

Niaz Ahmed Khan, Shireen Abedin

Key Informants’ Interviews

Salma Akhter

Discourse Analysis

Lokasundari Vijaya Sankar

Sampling Techniques for Qualitative Research

Heather Douglas

Data Analysis Techniques for Qualitative Study

Heather Douglas

Mixed Method Approach

Designing a Research Proposal in Mixed-Method Approach

Lokasundari Vijaya Sankar

Data Collection Instrument Development, Fieldwork and Research Ethics

Preparation and Development of Data Collection Instruments for Social Research

M. Rezaul Islam

Fieldwork for Data Collection: Preparation and Challenges

Md. Abul Hossen

Data Collection Instrument Development, Fieldwork and Research Ethics

Ethics and Empirics: Essence of Ethics in Social Research

A. K. M. Ahsan Ullah

Referencing and Plagiarism

Plagiarism and Referencing Techniques Used in Social Research Report

Hossain M. Zabed, Xianghui Qi

About the Author / Editor

M Rezaul Islam (Ph. D.) is Post Doc Fellow at the Center for Family and Child Studies, Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Professor at the Institute of Social Welfare & Research, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; Senior Research Fellow at the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Academic Fellow at the School of Social Sciences, Universiti SainsMalaysia, Malaysia. His research interests focus on social work, community wellbeing, climate justice, international migration and poverty and social inequality.. He is currently Member of International Advisory Board of the Community Development Journal (Oxford University Press) and Editorial Board Member of three journals, i.e. Asian Social Work and Policy Review (Wiley), Local Development & Society (Taylor & Francis) and International Community Well-being (Springer).

Niaz Ahmed Khan (PhD) is currently Pro Vice Chancellor at the Independant University Bangladesh (IUB). He is Professor and former Chairman at the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka; Senior Academic Adviser-BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD, BRAC University); and Chairman, Bangladesh Tropical Forest  Conservation (Arannayak) Foundation. He pursued doctoral and post-doctoral education and research in the University of Wales Swansea, University of Oxford, and Asian Institute of Technology. His career reflects a rich blend of academic and practising development management experiences gained in Bangladesh, Thailand and the UK. Besides serving as Bangladesh Country Representative of IUCN–the International Union for Conservation of Nature (the world’s largest environmental network [intergovernmental] organization, some of his other former positions include: Senior Programme Coordinator, UNDP-Bangladesh; Forest and Natural Resource Management Specialist (RETA 5900), Asian Development Bank (ADB), South Asian Fellow, Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford; Distinguished Visiting Researcher, The American University in Cairo; and Distinguished Visiting Professor, Asian University for Women (AUW). He has published extensively, and his articles/chapters have appeared in journals and books with such reputed publishers as Springer, Routledge/Taylor & Francis, Sage, Oxford University Press, Wiley, Palgrave Macmillan, and Elsevier. He is also involved in extensive journal management and editorial services; examples include Member, International Advisory Board Community Development Journal (Oxford: Oxford University Press); and Member, Editorial Advisory Board Area Development and Policy (Routledge: Taylor & Francis).

Rajendra Baikady (Ph.D.) holds a dual appointment as a URC Special Post-Doctoral Fellow and as a Senior Research Associate inat the Department of Social Work and Community Development, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. In addition to this, Baikady is a Principal Investigator (Summer research Fellowship) at International Socioeconomics Laboratory, Harvard University, United States. He completed his first Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2019–-2020) and was awarded Golda Meir Fellowship by Lady Davis Trust at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has wide research experience in evaluating best practices of social work education and practice at both local and global contexts. His recent books include The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Work Education (Palgrave Macmillan), Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in South Asia (Routledge), Building Sustainable Communities- Civil Society Response in South Asia (Palgrave Macmillan) and Social Welfare in India and China: A Comparison (Palgrave Macmillan).