Applied Social Research: Tools, Strategies, and Insights gives applied social researchers a practical introduction to concepts and tools required to manage research projects. The book outlines roles, tasks, necessary skills, and predictable challenges researchers can anticipate. The authors, two of the foremost applied social researchers, tap their knowledge and experience to provide readers with suggestions, guidance, and practical tools to improve their ability to manage research projects so that they are completed on time and in accordance with the proposal. The book is the first social research text to provide insights from major research houses such as Rand, Urban Institute, Mathematica, American Institutes for Research, and other firms. Using basic research strategies as the starting point, the authors build the reader's understanding with new information regarding how to manage projects within the realities of an imperfect and often messy real world.
Each chapter will feature
• Introduction and definition of a key concept or methodology
• Detailed discussion of each concept or methodology, including estimates of time required and resources necessary to apply the concept.
• Examples, case studies, vignettes, or quotes illustrating the concept and its practical application in the field.
• Checklists, templates, examples and other tools that can be photocopied and used by researchers in managing projects.
