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Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. 4th ed. W. Lawrence Neuman. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. 2000. 558 pages. $81.00.
During my graduate studies in sociology, I had the opportunity to read the first edition of Neuman's text on social research methods. I received the 1991 edition from my advisor. For some reason (unforeseen then), I kept that book throughout the years and I am using it now as a reference and teaching manual in my methods class. It is worth noting that my university has a three-year text adoption policy. It requires teachers to use a chosen text for a period of at least three years. As a result, I am currently using the text that was adopted by my predecessor; I will have the opportunity to choose my own text in the fall of 2002. At that time, Neuman's text will certainly be in my short list.
Neuman has now published four editions of his text. I have read only the first edition, and now the fourth for this review. Therefore, my views are primarily based on comparisons between the 1991 edition and the 2000 edition, and between his fourth edition and other social research methods texts. Overall, Neuman's text represents an excellent work based on several years of teaching experience. As indicated by the author himself, most of the changes introduced in...