Preparing students to do research and understand what research can do‎.‎ Basics of Social Research helps students understand what research can and cannot do‎,‎ become better consumers of research‎,‎ and learn why properly conducted research is important‎.‎ This text teaches students to be better consumers of research results and understand how the research enterprise works‎,‎ preparing them to conduct small research projects‎.‎ Upon completing this text‎,‎ students will gain an awareness of the capabilities and restrictions of research‎,‎ and learn why properly conducted research is important‎.‎ Using clear‎,‎ accessible language and examples from real research‎,‎ this text discusses both qualitative and quantitative approaches to social research‎,‎ emphasizing the benefits of combining various approaches‎.‎ Learning Goals Upon completing this book‎,‎ readers should be able to‎:‎ * Recognize that social research is simultaneously a very important enterprise and one that is not beyond you ‎- you can understand it * Become better consumers and understand what research can and cannot do * Learn how to properly conducted research * Acquire a foundation for further learning about doing research and understand that this activity requires dedication‎,‎ creativity‎,‎ and mature judgment