Praise for the Fourth Edition: `I think this volume is a good textbook and, if I were teaching a research methods subject, I would consider using it as a core text. The extensive study aids are a particularly attractive aspect of the book as a teaching pool′ - Qualitative Research Journal The Fifth Edition of Investigating the Social World is written so that the `doing′ of social research is closely and consistently linked to important social issues, demonstrating not only the value of research, but also how technique and substance are intimately related. The text offers guides for critiquing research articles, exercises for applying research skills and the examples of analyzing and reporting social data provide instructors with key supports for effective teaching. Ethical concerns and ethical decision making are treated in tandem with each study of specific methods and an emphasis on `how to do′ research is joined with an equal emphasis on giving students the critical skills necessary to evaluate research done by others.