The foundations of social research : meaning and perspective in the research process / Michael Crotty.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-231) and index.

1. Introduction : the research process -- 2. Positivism : the march of science -- 3. Constructionism: the making of meaning -- 4. Interpretivism : for and against culture -- 5. Interpretivism : the way of hermeneutics -- 6. Critical inquiry : the Marxist heritage -- 7. Critical inquiry : contemporary critics & contemporary critique -- 8. Feminism + re-visioning the man-made world -- 9. Postmodernism ; crisis of confidence or moment of truth? -- 10. Conclusion. -- --

1. Introduction : the research process -- Four elements -- What about ontology? -- In all directions -- The great divide -- -- 2. Positivism : the march of science -- Positivism -- Post-positivism -- -- 3. Constructionism: the making of meaning -- The construction of meaningful reality -- 'Social" construction -- Conformism or critique? -- Realism and relativism -- -- 4. Interpretivism : for and against culture -- Roots of interpretation -- Symbolic interactionism -- Phenomenology -- -- 5. Interpretivism : the way of hermeneutics -- Historical origins -- The hermeneutic mode of understanding -- -- 6. Critical inquiry : the Marxist heritage -- Karl Marx -- Marxism after Marx -- The Institute for Social Research -- Critical theory -- -- 7. Critical inquiry : contemporary critics & contemporary critique -- Jurgen Habermas and communicative reason -- Paolo Freire's pedagogy of the oppressed -- Critical inquiry today -- -- 8. Feminism + re-visioning the man-made world -- The many feminisms -- Feminist 'epistomology' -- Feminine thought or feminine values? -- -- 9. Postmodernism ; crisis of confidence or moment of truth? -- 'Post' what? -- (Post-) structuralism -- The character of post-structuralism -- Back to the postmodern -- -- 10. Conclusion

"Choosing a research method can be bewildering. How can you be sure which methodology is appropriate, or whether your chosen combination of methods is consistent with the theoretical perspective you want to take? The Foundation of Social Research links methodology and theory with great clarity and precision, showing students and researchers how to navigate the maze of conflicting terminology. The major epistemological stances and theoretical perspectives that colour and shape current social research are detailed: positivism, constructionism, interpretivism, critical inquiry, feminism and postmodernism. Crotty reveals the philosophical origins of these schools of inquiry and shows how various disciplines contribute to the practice of social research as it is known today."--Publisher's description.