Contents
Introduction
1 Experiments
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Strengths and
weaknesses of experiments
Strengths
Weaknesses
1.3 The nature of
experiments
1.4 Steps in
experimental research
1.5 Experimental
sampling
Characteristics of the sample
Methods of sampling
1.6 Arrangement of experimental conditions
1.7 The process of experimentation
1.8 Analysis and interpretation of experimental data
1.9 Types of experiments in quantitative research
1.10 Experimental designs
1.11 Field experiments
1.12 Social experiments
1.13 Validity of experiments
1.14 Experiments in qualitative research
Nature of qualitative experiments
Rules of experimentation
2
Panel studies
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Variants of panel studies
2.3 Cross-sectional studies
2.4 Trend studies
2.5 What is wrong with panel
studies
3 Focus groups
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The purpose of
focus groups
3.3 The discussion
process
3.4 The leader
3.5 Recording
3.6 Limitations of
focus groups
Weaknesses of focus groups
3.7 Focus groups and
feminist research
Main points
Where to from here?
Further reading