ARTICLE IN PRESS

doi:10.1016/j.ijn

International Journal of Nursing Studies 42 (2005) 371

Book reviewwww.elsevier.com/locate/ijnurstu

J.Yates Simeon, Doing Social Science Research, Sage,

London, ISBN 0-7619-6798-2, 2004 (293pp., £19.99 pbk).

This introductory text on social science research

covers a full range of methodologies. The text would

be a valuable addition for postgraduate students under-

taking introductory courses in social science research

across a range of programmes. It is a recommended

course text for the Open University’s Social Science

Postgraduate Foundation Module.

Each chapter includes an introduction to core

concepts followed by self-assessment questions and

tasks (SAQs) and selected readings. The book requires

the active engagement of the reader at each stage and as

such it is also an ideal educational tool for lecturers

teaching introductory social science research courses.

The book would form a useful core text and the author

recommends its use alongside M. Smith’s (1998) Social

Science in Question (Sage, London).

The book is divided into four parts: introduction;

quantitative research; qualitative research; and selecting

and evaluating methods. In order to clearly guide the

reader in the use of the text, Part 1 needed to articulate

more clearly how to utilise the book, in particular the

role of the associated readings. Part 2 begins with a good

introduction to quantitative methodology before mov-

ing on to look at specific exemplars, e.g. survey research.

urstu.2004.09.008

A short chapter on experimental research is included.

This could have been developed more fully; its weighting

is unbalanced as it stands. Overall, however, it is a good

introduction to quantitative methodologies, including

numerical data analysis. The statistical exemplars are

particularly helpful.

Part 3 covers qualitative methods. Again, there is a

good introduction to key concepts and issues. It

contains sections on developing an interview schedule

as well as interview management. Chapter 8 is devoted

to analysis of qualitative data and Chapter 9 to

discourse analysis. It ends with useful readings and

SAQs. The final section of the book (Part 4) covers

selecting and evaluating methods in social science

research.

A great deal of thought has gone into the develop-

ment of this text. Its use is recommended by post-

graduate social science lecturers and students alike

across a range of disciplines. It is a welcome addition

to the educational literature in this field.

Julia Roberts

Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery,

King’s College, James Clerk Maxwell Building,

57 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8WA, UK

E-mail address: julia.roberts@kcl.ac.uk