Empirical Social Research

Students will identify the standard research methods required to study societies and people. They will be able to define the basic concepts of empirical research and describe the characteristics of different types of research data. They will be able to describe the different stages of the research process. They will be able to describe the ways in which research data are used and explain the processes involved in the formation of social and human research data. They will be able to describe the role of the social scientist as an interpreter of quantitative and qualitative data. They will be able to explain the starting points of different research approaches and describe the differences between scientific and non-scientific thinking.

Choose either A of B the following book packages

A) This book examination will cover the following four books:

1. Alasuutari, Pertti (2001) Johdatus yhteiskuntatutkimukseen. Tampere: Vastapaino.

2. Valli, Raine (2015) Johdatus tilastolliseen tutkimukseen (2. uudistettu painos.). Jyväskylä: PS-kustannus.

3. Hurtig, Johanna & Laitinen, Merja & Uljas-Rautio, Katriina (eds.) (2010) Ajattele itse. Tutkimuksellisen lukutaidon perusteet. PS-kustannus. OR Ronkainen, Suvi et al. (2013) Tutkimuksen voimasanat. Helsinki: Sanoma Pro.

4. Simpura, Jussi & Melkas, Jussi (2013) Tilastot käyttöön! Opas tilastojen maailmaan. Helsinki: Gaudeamus.

B) This book examination will cover two books:

1. Besen-Cassino, Yasemine & Cassino, Dan (2018). Social research methods by example: Applications in the modern world. New York: Routledge.

2. Vanderstoep, Scott & Johnston, Deirdre (2009). Research Methods for Everyday Life. Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. San Franciso: Jossey-Bass.

OR

Alasuutari, P., Bickman, L., & Brannen, J. (2008). The SAGE handbook of social research methods. London, : SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/9781446212165