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Comprehensive and well-illustrated, this is the definitive introductory textbook on methods and methodology for students in the social sciences and cultural studies. It is structured around three key objectives: to provide a full overview of, and introduction to, the research methods used in social science and cultural studies; to provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with the skills needed to begin research with working examples from actual research; and to examine the methodological and theoretical issues involved in doing research.

Researching Society and Culture is divided into four parts: the first discusses the philosophy of social science, developments in social theory, methodology and the use of historical perspectives in research. Part Two explores considerations of importance at the beginning of a research project and discusses the writing of research proposals. The third part covers a full range of the methods in use by social and cultural researchers, including the use of social surveys; statistical data analysis; coding of qualitative and quantitative data; use of official statistics; interviewing; ethnography; content and semiotic analysis of visual images; discourse analysis; conversation analysis; and the use of literary texts in research, ending with a chapter on reading and writing research. The book concludes with a series of workshop and discussion exercises, tailored to each chapter, and designed to give students practical experience in using these methods.