Research Methods in Practice

Research Methods in Practice: Strategies for Description and Causation, 3rd Edition, is a textbook that presents social and policy research methods in an accessible, meaningful format. The text frames inquiry around the foundational distinction between causation and description, emphasizing that causal research is essential for understanding social issues and developing effective solutions.

Readers are encouraged to critically assess the logic and limits of empirical research published in academic journals and government reports. Core subject areas include qualitative methods, measurement strategies, and inferential statistics.

To support practical learning, student resources provide downloadable datasets that offer practical experience applying analytical software to real-world data.