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Rethinking Methods in Psychology
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Rethinking Methods in Psychology

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September 1995 | 224 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
The recent widespread rejection of conventional theory and method has led to the evolution of different ways of gathering and analyzing data. This accessible textbook introduces key research methods that challenge psychology's traditional preoccupation with `scientific' experiments.

The book provides a well-structured guide to methods, containing a range of qualitative approaches (for example, semi-structured interviews, grounded theory, discourse analysis) alongside a reworking of quantitative methods to suit contemporary psychological research. A number of chapters are also explicitly concerned with research as a dynamic interactive process. The internationally respected contributors steer the reader through the main stages of conducting a study using these methods.

Jonathan A Smith, Rom Harr[ac]e and Luk Van Langenhove
Introduction
 
PART ONE: SEARCHING FOR MEANINGS
Jonathan A Smith
Semi-Structured Interviewing and Qualitative Analysis
Kathy Charmaz
Grounded Theory
Ken Plummer
Life Story Research
 
PART TWO: DISCOURSE AS TOPIC
Paul Drew
Conversation Analysis
Jonathan Potter and Margaret Wetherell
Discourse Analysis
Daniel C O'Connell and Sabine Kowal
Basic Principles of Transcription
 
PART THREE: RESEARCH AS DYNAMIC INTERACTION
Krysia Yardley
Role Play
Peter Reason and John Heron
Cooperative Inquiry
 
PART FOUR: USING NUMBERS DIFFERENTLY
James T Lamiell
Rethinking the Role of Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Jonathan A Smith
Repertory Grids
An Interactive, Case-Study Perspective

 
Rex Stainton Rogers
Q Methodology

`Following on from recent debates surrounding the limitations of positivist methodologies in psychology, this book has been written in order to fill the gaps in the market for a textbook that looks at post-positivist, non-experimental methods in psychology... a useful text for those who have examined post-positivist psychology on a philosophy course at undergraduate level... The book is useful in that it focuses upon techniques and provides "tasters" of qualitative methodologies and encourages readers to try the methods for themselves in their own research projects. It is well-referenced and directs the reader to other sources of information should they wish to pursue their interests... it encourages the reader to take a wider perspective than the quasi-experimental methods presented in most methodology texts at this level. The authors encourage us to develop new ways of working and using data' - British Psychological Society History and Philosophy of Psychology Newsletter

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