A short introduction to the major concepts and approaches used in the social sciences, especially in sociology, anthropology, and leisure, recreation, and tourism. It's an ideal supplement to a more detailed text on research methods, as a guide to help choose which research methods to use in a study, and an explanation of different options for company owners and managers of organizations who might want to do research or hire a research company to conduct a study for them.

The chapters cover these topics:

- What is research and how it differs from program evaluation

- Choosing a research topic

- The contribution of different disciplines to the social sciences

- Different research approaches in social science research

- Using observation in social research

- Using qualitative and quantitative research methods

- The main characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of different sampling methods

- The main techniques for analyzing surveys and their advantages, and disadvantages

- The major statistical concepts

- The major data analysis techniques

- The easiest method for social research