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Becoming A Social Worker
by Viviene E. CreeThis is a book about social workers and social work. It tells the story of the journey into and through social work of thirteen social workers living and working in the UK today. We hear what has brought them into social work and what has kept them in it since. Their lively accounts demonstrate that commitment and passion remain at the heart of social work today. Becoming a Social Worker describes what it is like to be a social worker in different practice settings, what it is like to be a social work manager and what is happening in social work education. Some of the contributors will be recognised as those who have played a key part in shaping social work over the years and they provide valuable insights into how the profession of social work has developed in that time. Other contributors, less well known but no less interesting, give us a vivid idea of what social work practice and social work education is like 'on the ground'. Social work is a demanding and difficult job which goes largely unseen within society. We only ever hear about social work and social workers when something goes wrong and a vulnerable adult or child is hurt. Becoming a Social Worker sets out to change th
Handbook of Studies on Men and Masculinities (PDF)
by Michael S. Kimmel Jeff R. Hearn R. W. ConnellIn the past, research in the field of gender has mainly addressed issues about women, and has for the most part been developed by women. Recently, the study of gender has rapidly expanded and there has been a growing interest in men's and boys' identities, conduct, and problems. The Handbook of Studies on Men and Masculinities is an interdisciplinary and international culmination of the growth of men's studies that also offers insight about future directions for the field. The Handbook provides a broad view of masculinities primarily across the social sciences, with the inclusion of important debates in some areas of the humanities and natural sciences. The various approaches presented in this Handbook range across different disciplines, theoretical perspectives, methodologies, and conceptualizations in relation to the topic of men. Editors Michael S Kimmel, Jeff Hearn, and Robert W Connell have assembled an esteemed group of contributors who are among the best-known experts in their particular fields. The Handbook of Studies on Men and Masculinities examines the construction of masculinities in four different frames: the social organization of masculinities in their global and regional iterations; the institutional reproduction and articulation of masculinities; the ways in which masculinities are organized and practiced within a context of gender relations; and the ways in which individual men express and understand their gendered identities. The Handbook is organized in a way that moves from the larger, global, and institutional articulations of masculinities, to the more intimate and personal expressions. The Handbook of Studies on Men and Masculinities provides scholars, researchers, and students with the most current, incisive scholarship available for the men's studies area of gender studies. It is a vital resource for those interested in the practical or cultural issues about men, boys, and gender, as well as an excellent addition to any academic library.
Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (3rd edition) (PDF)
by John Creswellimg border=0 src=/IMAGES/companionwebsite.jpg alt=A companion website is available for this text width=75 height=20 In this Third Edition of his bestselling text John W. Creswell explores the philosophical underpinnings, history, and key elements of each of five qualitative inquiry traditions: narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study. In his signature accessible writing style, the author relates research designs to each of the traditions of inquiry. He compares theoretical frameworks, ways to employ standards of quality, and strategies for writing introductions to studies, collecting data, analyzing data, writing a narrative, and verifying results.
Child Development: Theory and Practice 0-11 (1st edition) (PDF)
by Jonathan Doherty Malcolm HughesThis accessible, pedagogically-rich and UK-authored text on Child Development links psychological theory to real classroom settings and scenarios, and is tailored specifically for those training to teach. The text brings together key concepts and theories in developmental psychology and applies them to a range of classroom and educational settings. The book also emphasises the continuing partnership between child, parent and educator and real life scenarios from home and educational settings are presented to help the reader bridge the gap from theoretical study to practical application. Supplementary material will include a companion website that will support the material in the book and encourage sudents to undertake wider reading and independent learning.
The Culture Industry: Selected Essays on Mass Culture (2nd edition) (PDF)
by Theodor AdornoThe creation of the Frankfurt School of critical theory in the 1920s saw the birth of some of the most exciting and challenging writings of the twentieth century. It is out of this background that the great critic Theodor Adorno emerged. His finest essays are collected here, offering the reader unparalleled insights into Adorno's thoughts on culture. He argued that the culture industry commodified and standardized all art. In turn this suffocated individuality and destroyed critical thinking. At the time, Adorno was accused of everything from overreaction to deranged hysteria by his many detractors. In today's world, where even the least cynical of consumers is aware of the influence of the media, Adorno's work takes on a more immediate significance. The Culture Industry is an unrivalled indictment of the banality of mass culture.
Essential Skills for Youth Work Practice (PDF)
by Kate SapinThis popular textbook gives students a practical understanding of the broad range of skills they will need during the course of their studies and throughout their youth work career. Topics covered include: - Reaching out to young people - Developing young people's participation - Working in different settings - Bringing young people together - Practice placements The new edition will be essential reading for all foundation and undergraduate students of youth work. It will also be a valuable resource for qualified health, social care and education professionals who wish to understand the intricacies of working with young people. 9780857028334
Bodies at Work
by Carol Wolkowitz'After reading this book it will be more difficult to e;doe; the sociology of work and the sociology of the body in the absence of the other. In some quite exquisite ways it throws down a challenge which practitioners in both fields will find difficult to ignore' - Paul Stewart, former editor of Work, Employment and Society, University of the West of EnglandBodies at Work provides the first full-length, accessible account of the body/work relation in contemporary western societies. Bringing together fields of sociology that have hitherto developed mainly along separate lines, the book demonstrates the relevance of concepts developed in the sociology of the body for enriching our understanding of changing patterns of work and employment. Bodies at Work begins by establishing key concerns in both the sociology of the body and the sociology of work. Drawing on existing research, the author proceeds to examine a wide range of employment sectors: industrial employment; customer relations; health practice; care work; the beauty industry; and sex work. The contribution of feminist theory and research is highlighted throughout, and analyses of photographs help the reader conceptualise the changing nature of the body/work relationship over time. Bodies at Work helps readers think more clearly and creatively about how work relations shape bodily experience.
OCR GCSE Sociology
by Jannine Jacobs-Roth Lynn Taylor Karen WaterworthTailored to the 'OCR GCSE Sociology' specifications, this student book contains information and tools to help build the confidence and skills of every student.
Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments (PDF)
by Carol Thomas Sally French Colin Barnes John SwainSince it was first published in 1993, Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments has established itself as the essential introduction to disability studies, tackling a wide range of issues in numerous succinct chapters. The multidisciplinary nature of the book ensures that readers can appreciate a myriad of issues related to disability, and the personal accounts and case studies used throughout help students get to grips with the fundamental nature of disability. The third edition is made up of 45 chapters, 7 of which are completely new to this edition, including: globalisation life and death issues psychology and disability Internal opposition. This seminal textbook conveys the continuing developments in the lives and experiences of disabled people, and explores the different perspectives in understanding them. It is important reading for students and professionals in the fields of social work, health, nursing, social policy and sociology.
Child Language: Acquisition and Development (1st edition) (PDF)
by Matthew SaxtonPresented with the latest thinking and research on how children acquire their first language, the reader is taken from a standing start to the point where they can engage with key debates and current research in the field of child language. No background knowledge of linguistic theory is assumed and all specialist terms are introduced in clear, non-technical language. A theme running through the book is the nature-nurture debate, rekindled in the modern era by Noam Chomsky, with his belief that the child is born with a rich knowledge of language. This book is rare in its balanced presentation of evidence from both sides of the nature-nurture divide. The reader is encouraged to adopt a critical stance throughout and weigh up the evidence for themselves. Key features for the student include: boxes and exercises to foster an understanding of key concepts in language and linguistics; a glossary of key terms; suggestions for further reading; a list of useful websites at the end of each chapter; discussion points for use in class; and separate author and subject indexes. 9781412902328
Young Children's Personal, Social and Emotional Development (3rd edition) (PDF)
by Marion DowlingWith the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage, young children's personal, social and emotional development is an area of ever-increasing interest to those working in the field of early childhood. This fully revised third edition of Marion Dowling's best selling book has been updated and expanded to include: personal ,social and emotional development in children 0-6 years an update on recent and current national developments which impact on young children's personal development comprehensive references to the Early Years Foundation Stage links to Early Years Professional Standards research on brain development and links to young children's well-being and learning aspects of work with children from culturally diverse backgrounds multi-agency working, including Children's Centres, extended schools and communities. Easy to read and including new case studies and points for practice this book is essential for students and practitioners. Alternate ISBNs 97811848601055 9781848601062
Contemporary Social and Sociological Theory: Visualizing Social Worlds (2nd edition) (PDF)
by Kenneth AllanAn accessible and provocative survey of contemporary social and sociological theories Written in a conversational style that conveys the author's enthusiam for theory, this updated edition of Ken Allen's acclaimed text appeals to the reader to consider the theoretical you, as an individual in 21st-century society. This book introduces students to an array of social theories, each presented from the perspective of a well-known theorist: Peter Blau Janet Saltzman Chafetz George Homans Jean Baudrillard Michel Foucault Talcott Parsons Herbert Blumer Harold Garfinkel Dorothy E. Smith Pierre Bourdieu Anthony Giddens Immanuel Wallerstein Judith Butler Erving Goffman William Julius Wilson Manuel Castells J rgen Habermas Cornel West Filled with examples drawn from daily life, this edition highlights diversity in contemporary society, exploring theories of race, gender, and sexuality that address today's most important social concerns. Students will learn to think theoretically and apply theory to their own lives. The book is organized around the concept of modernity and the significant impact on social thought of Talcott Parsons and the Frankfurt School.nbsp; The book includes five new chapters: In the Beginning There Was Modernity Defining Moments in 20th Century Theory-Talcott Parsons and the Frankfurt School Social Exchanges Structures of Racial and Gender Inequality The Network Society-Manuel Castell. New Features: The Theorist's Digest: gives a brief biography Taking the Perspective: presents an overview of the theorist's perspective. New and Updated Pedagogy: The book's popular Building Your Theory Toolbox sections include updated issues and resources; and a new Glossary of Theoretical Concepts is provided.
Fifty Key Concepts in Gender Studies (PDF)
by Imelda Whelehan Jane Pilcher`Lively and impressive. I can easily imagine this text being used by both gender and women's studies undergraduates and postgraduates. In particular it will enable students to get a sense of how older and more contemporary theoretical movements and debates relate to one another' - Lisa Adkins, Department of Sociology, University of Manchester. Part of a new `Key Concepts' series published by SAGE, Key Concepts in Gender Studies offers 1,500 word expositions of 50 topics central to the field. Jane Pilcher and Imelda Whelehan's introduction gives an account of gender studies - what it is and how it originated. Their selection of topics is authoritative and the 50 entries reflect the complex, multi-faceted nature of the field in an accessible dictionary format. Each of the 50 key concepts:nbsp;nbsp; begins with a concise definitionnbsp; includes illustrations of how the concept has been applied within the fieldnbsp;nbsp; offers examples which allow a critical re-evaluation of the conceptnbsp;nbsp; is cross-referenced with the other key conceptsnbsp;nbsp; makes further reading suggestions. The level of detail offered encourages understanding of gender studies without sacrificing depth, detail and critical evaluation essential to convey the complexity of the issues dealt with. As such, the book appeals both to undergraduate and postgraduate students across a range of social science disciplines. 50 Key Concepts in Gender Studies gives testimony to the health of gender studies and related disciplines and looks forward to an ever-shifting dynamic of debates and ideas.
Changing Bodies (PDF)
by Chris ShillingWhere are we at with studies of Body and Society? What are the key accomplishments in the field? This book provides the clearest and most comprehensive account of work in this area to date. Based on a novel theory of action it surveys the terrain by arguing that human identity, social relationships and moral figurations develop as a result of people living in and seeking to reach beyond the limits of their bodily being. From this starting point the author undertakes a series of studies on sport, transgenderism, migration, illness, survival and belief which illuminate the relationship between bodily change and action. The book provides an unrivalled survey of theory and empirical research and explores the hitherto neglected tradition of American 'body studies'. Wide in scope, systematic and incisive the book represents a landmark addition to the field of studies in body and society.
Ageing in Society: European Perspectives on Gerontology (PDF)
by John BondAgeing in Society brings forth exciting new questions, fresh perspectives, and a necessary critical approach to key issues - this is indeed an authoritative introduction.nbsp;The authors not only have made significant contributions to gerontology, but offer the reader considerations for what could be, not just what is, the design of old age in society.nbsp;The book will inform students in ways that so many texts in the area, satisfied with comfortable bromides, do not - Jaber Gubrium, Editor of Journal of Aging Studies , University of Missouri-Columbia. This completely revised Third Edition of Ageing in Society presents one of the most comprehensive pictures of ageing today. Emphasising the dual processes of ageing societies and the experience of ageing, the book offers the reader - student or researcher alike - cogent discussions of the most up to date perspectives and evidence available.nbsp;The contributors are all leading experts in their fields - comprising a range of important disciplines as they apply to ageing.nbsp;Ageing in Society is a cutting edge text on one of the most important subjects facing the modern world - a must for all students of ageing - Mike Bury, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of London The Third Edition of the comprehensive textbook Ageing in Society extends its scope to include continental Europe, allowing broader as well as deeper insights into recent trends in gerontology. Gerontologists and practitioners are urged not to stop reading before they have reached the insightful last chapter 'Ageing into the future'! - Professor Dorly Deeg, Editor-in-Chief European Journal of Ageing The Third Edition of this popular and widely-used text provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of ageing, exploring the key theories, concepts and methods which the behavioural and social sciences contribute to the subject. Thoroughly revised and updated, Ageing in Society reflects new trends in gerontology, incorporating recent developments in theory and research as well as major international and interdisciplinary perspectives. A new chapter on cognitive ageing has been added and key themes, such as social protection, retirement, health and illness, and cultural images of old age are also critically examined. Ageing in Society was developed by the British Society of Gerontology to fulfil the need for an authoritative introduction to social gerontology. As such, it is an ideal resource for students and lecturers in the social and behavioural sciences, as well as for students and practitioners in health and social care.
Rediscovering Voluntary Action: the beat of a different drum (PDF)
by Colin RochesterIn recent years, volunteering and voluntary organizations have come to play an increasingly important role in British society. But this recognition has come at the cost of losing sight of the distinctive characteristics of voluntary action and its claims to independence of thought and action. Drawing on 45 years' experience of working in and researching the sector, Colin Rochester shows how conventional wisdom about how voluntary action is understood and undertaken ignores a variety of important activities which have contributed so much to our quality of life and living conditions. He revisits the history of voluntary action; identifies the forces that have created modern misunderstandings and misrepresentations; explores the role of voluntary action and the forms it takes; and argues that the reality of voluntary activity is very different from the picture painted by contemporary researchers and practitioners. In a final chapter Rochester spells out the implications of his vision for research and practice.
Education, Equality and Human Rights: Issues of gender, 'race', sexuality, disability (3rd Edition)
by Mike Cole'Addressing issues that include the challenge of disability discrimination in schooling, gender and equality, 'race' and racism, sexuality and social justice, and class analysis and knowledge formation, Education, Equality and Human Rights is an urgent and important contribution to the social justice literature as it intersects with current educational debates and struggles.' Professor Peter McLaren, University of Auckland, New Zealand Education, Equality and Human Rights traces the history of diverse equality issues up to the present, and enables readers to assess their continuing relevance in the future. Written by experts in their particular field, each of the five equality issues of gender, 'race', sexual orientation, disability and social class are covered as areas in their own right as well as in relation to education. This third edition has been fully revised to reflect major changes in law and policy and offers contemporary perspectives on world-wide equality issues. Key issues explored include: human rights and equality gender gender and education racism racism and Education sexuality and identity sexuality and homophobia in schools the struggle for disability equality inclusive education social class social Class and education. With a new foreword by leading educationist Peter McLaren, this comprehensive, accessible and thought-provoking book will be of interest to teachers, student teachers, education students, and all those more generally interested in issues of equality and human rights.
Key Ideas: Community (1st edition) (PDF)
by Gerard DelantyThe increasing individualism of modern Western society has been accompanied by an enduring nostalgia for the idea of community as a source of security and belonging and, in recent years, as an alternative to the state as a basis for politics.Gerard Delanty begins this stimulating introduction to the concept with an analysis of the origins of the idea of community in Western Utopian thought, and as an imagined primitive state equated with traditional societies in classical sociology and anthropology. He goes on to chart the resurgence of the idea within communitarian thought, the complications and critiques of multiculturalism, and its new manifestations within a society where new modes of communication produce both fragmentation and the possibilities of new social bonds. Contemporary community, he argues, is essentially a communication community based on new kinds of belonging. No longer bounded by place, we are able to belong to multiple communities based on religion, nationalism, ethnicity, life-styles and gender.
Exploring Play For Early Childhood Studies (PDF)
by Mandy Andrewsownership of play are also covered. With interactive activities and case studies throughout, the text helps students to arrive at an understanding of their own practice in relation to play. About the Early Years series. This series has been designed to support students of Early Years, Early Childhood Studies and related disciplines in popular modules of their course. Each text takes a focused look at a specific topic and approaches it in an accessible and user-friendly way. Features have been developed to help readers engage with the text and understand the subject from a number of different viewpoints. Activities pose questions to prompt thought and discussion and 'Theory Focus' boxes examine essential theory close-up for better understanding. This series is also applicable to EYPS candidates on all pathways. Other titles in the series are Early Childhood Studies, Childhood in Society for Early Childhood Studies and Child Observation for the Early Years.
Social Inequality (PDF)
by Louise Warwick-BoothWhat makes this book stand out for me is that, as well as being theoretically informed and clearly written, its structure lends itself unmistakeably to teaching... If our aim is to teach truly engaged students, it should be our job to provide truly engaging materials. This is what you will find with this particular book. It will help to inform your disciplinary teaching of social inequality across the social sciences and it will provide a solid basis for your seminar work with students. - Helen Jones, Higher Education Academy Warwick-Booth has provided a highly readable introductory text that will be accessible to everyone interested in this area of study, and I highly recommend it for those embarking on studies of social inequality. - LSE Review of Books What is the state of social inequality today? How can you situate yourself in the debates? This is an essential book that not only introduces you to the key areas, definitions and debates within the field, but also gives you the opportunity to reflect upon the roots of inequality and to critically analyse power relations today. With international examples and a clear interdisciplinary approach throughout, the book encourages you to look at social inequality as a complex social phenomenon that needs to be understood in a global context. This book: Looks at social divisions across societies Explores global processes and changes that are affecting inequalities Discusses social inequality in relation to class, gender and race Examines current social policy approaches to explore how these relate to inequality Reflects upon the potential solutions to inequalities This engaging and accessible introduction to social inequality is an invaluable resource for students across the social sciences. Louise Warwick-Booth is Senior Lecturer in Health Policy at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK.
Narrative Methods For Organizational and Communication Research
by David M. BojeThe book is a unique and excellent introduction to postmodern narrative analyses' - Organization Studies [This book] should succeed in putting the metaphorical cat amongst just about every metaphorical pigeon that might imaginably take flight within the organization and communication research arenas. Story time will never be the same again, nor will interpretative research' - Stewart Clegg, University of Technology, Sydney Timely and first rate. It nicely stretches a reader's thinking about the topic' - Thomas Lee, University of Washington, School of Business David Boje is a pioneering theorist in organization studies and management... [His book] is yet another example of Boje's pioneering spirit and concern for exactitude. [His] scholarly account of narrative and antenarrative methods is both corrective and exploratory of how stories must be understood in terms of their own internal dynamics, and not viewed as static entities. Boje's book is a magnificent start... A book that breaks new ground in organizational analysis, this is a must-read for researchers and practitioners in the fields of organization and management studies' - Adrian Carr, University of Western Sydney Boje masterfully shows how to analyze texts and ideas before they are reduced and fitted into the dominant ideological frameworks of the day. [He] provides a powerful tool for achieving greater democracy in how we approach doing social science... [and] liberates our capacity to make meanings for ourselves' - Paul Hirsch, Northwestern University, Kellogg Graduate School of Management This is an important book. It is a major methodological contribution to critical, postmodern studies of organizations and management. It is essential reading for critical management scholars' - Robert P. Gephart, Jr., University of Alberta School of Business David Boje has emerged as the leading postmodern thinker in management theory and organization science. His prolific output lights the path for others to follow in a field awakening to the challenge of postmodern critical theory. Updating and revising narrative theory for the prevailing postmodern condition, Boje masterfully reconstructs the concepts and methods of storytelling, as he subverts the dominant principles of modernist organization theory. He offers a subtle and complex notion of narrative... This impressive book should leave an indelible mark on management and organization studies' - Steven Best, University of Texas, El Paso An essential guide for academics and researchers needing to look at alternative discourse analysis strategies. As a research tool, narrative methods have become increasingly useful in organization studies, where much research involves the interpretation of 'stories' in some form. This methodology can be applied where qualitative story analyses can help to assess interview, newspaper or web document stories for research projects. In this book, Boje sets out eight analysis options that can deal with storytelling, recognizing that stories in organizations can be self-destructing, flowing, networking and not at all static. In so doing, he shows ways in which narrative methods can be supplemented by 'antenarrative' methods, where fragmented and collective storytelling can be interpreted. A valuable resource that will be widely used in organizational or communications research, for graduate level qualitative methods seminars and by researchers wanting to do story analysis. David Boje is Professor at the New Mexico State University. He is also on the editorial board of the journal Organization.
Narrative Methods For Organizational and Communication Research
by David M. BojeThe book is a unique and excellent introduction to postmodern narrative analyses' - Organization Studies [This book] should succeed in putting the metaphorical cat amongst just about every metaphorical pigeon that might imaginably take flight within the organization and communication research arenas. Story time will never be the same again, nor will interpretative research' - Stewart Clegg, University of Technology, Sydney Timely and first rate. It nicely stretches a reader's thinking about the topic' - Thomas Lee, University of Washington, School of Business David Boje is a pioneering theorist in organization studies and management... [His book] is yet another example of Boje's pioneering spirit and concern for exactitude. [His] scholarly account of narrative and antenarrative methods is both corrective and exploratory of how stories must be understood in terms of their own internal dynamics, and not viewed as static entities. Boje's book is a magnificent start... A book that breaks new ground in organizational analysis, this is a must-read for researchers and practitioners in the fields of organization and management studies' - Adrian Carr, University of Western Sydney Boje masterfully shows how to analyze texts and ideas before they are reduced and fitted into the dominant ideological frameworks of the day. [He] provides a powerful tool for achieving greater democracy in how we approach doing social science... [and] liberates our capacity to make meanings for ourselves' - Paul Hirsch, Northwestern University, Kellogg Graduate School of Management This is an important book. It is a major methodological contribution to critical, postmodern studies of organizations and management. It is essential reading for critical management scholars' - Robert P. Gephart, Jr., University of Alberta School of Business David Boje has emerged as the leading postmodern thinker in management theory and organization science. His prolific output lights the path for others to follow in a field awakening to the challenge of postmodern critical theory. Updating and revising narrative theory for the prevailing postmodern condition, Boje masterfully reconstructs the concepts and methods of storytelling, as he subverts the dominant principles of modernist organization theory. He offers a subtle and complex notion of narrative... This impressive book should leave an indelible mark on management and organization studies' - Steven Best, University of Texas, El Paso An essential guide for academics and researchers needing to look at alternative discourse analysis strategies. As a research tool, narrative methods have become increasingly useful in organization studies, where much research involves the interpretation of 'stories' in some form. This methodology can be applied where qualitative story analyses can help to assess interview, newspaper or web document stories for research projects. In this book, Boje sets out eight analysis options that can deal with storytelling, recognizing that stories in organizations can be self-destructing, flowing, networking and not at all static. In so doing, he shows ways in which narrative methods can be supplemented by 'antenarrative' methods, where fragmented and collective storytelling can be interpreted. A valuable resource that will be widely used in organizational or communications research, for graduate level qualitative methods seminars and by researchers wanting to do story analysis. David Boje is Professor at the New Mexico State University. He is also on the editorial board of the journal Organization.
Working with Spoken Discourse (1st edition)
by Deborah CameronAn exemplary textbook. Making even the most complex ideas fully accessible, it is grounded in an extensive literature, filled with engaging examples, and offers ample suggestions for independent research. It's been a key text in my classes for over a decade and, as fresh and relevant as ever, will continue to buttress my graduate seminars and undergraduate courses alike. - Professor Crispin Thurlow , University of Washington Comprehensive, practical, lively and accessible, Working with Spoken Discourse is the much-loved benchmark for learning to do discourse analysis. It combines theory and practice to give students the grounding they need in practical techniques of analyzing talk and how to apply them to real data. Begins with the 'why' and 'how' of doing discourse analysis Packs examples into every chapter to help explain complex concepts Uses exercises and activities to reinforce what you've learned Leads you through the practicalities of designing your own project Exceptionally clear, and perfect for undergraduates starting a project, this is the essential guide to spoken discourse.
Focus Groups in Social Research (Introducing Qualitative Methods series) (PDF)
by Michelle Thomas Jane Frankland Michael BloorThere is an increasing divergence of focus group practice between social researchers and commercial market researchers. This book addresses the key issues and practical requirements of the social researcher, namely: the kinds of social research issues for which focus groups are most and least suitable; optimum group size and composition; and the designing of focusing exercises, facilitation and appropriate analysis. The authors use examples, drawn from their own focus groups research experience, and provide exercises for further study. They address the three main components of composition, conduct and analysis in focus group research and also acknowledge the increasing impact the Internet has had on social research by covering the role and conduct of virtual focus groups'.
Focus Groups in Social Research (Introducing Qualitative Methods series)
by Michelle Thomas Jane Frankland Michael BloorThere is an increasing divergence of focus group practice between social researchers and commercial market researchers. This book addresses the key issues and practical requirements of the social researcher, namely: the kinds of social research issues for which focus groups are most and least suitable; optimum group size and composition; and the designing of focusing exercises, facilitation and appropriate analysis. The authors use examples, drawn from their own focus groups research experience, and provide exercises for further study. They address the three main components of composition, conduct and analysis in focus group research and also acknowledge the increasing impact the Internet has had on social research by covering the role and conduct of virtual focus groups'.