Research Methods and Organization Studies

Book excerpt: First published in 2004. 'Bryman has given researchers who study organizations and people in organizations just what they need, a source book on how such research is done, written for them on them by one of them. There are research methods books aplenty, but not for this particular field. Bryman's compendious knowledge enables him to review every conceivable method, illustrating and assessing each with copious material from actual published research. Hence the book gives a reader an enhancd knowledge of research and researchers as well as of methods. It is both a rich source for newcomers and a thorough reference work for old hands.' - David J Hicks, Professor of International Management and Organization, University of Bradford. Alan Bryman takes numerous examples of research, principally from North America and the United Kingdom, to illustrate his themes. Each research design and method (both quantitative and qualitative) is systematically appraised in terms of its uses and limitations. Experiments, surveys, participant observation and interviewing - and more particular problems such as measurement, levels of analysis and the relevance of epistemological issues - are thoroughly discussed.