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Understanding Research in Personal Relationships
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Understanding Research in Personal Relationships
A Text With Readings

Edited by:
  • William Dragon - Cornell College, USA
  • Steve Duck - The University of Iowa, USA, Rhetoric Dept, USA, University of Iowa, USA

Other Titles in:
Relationships

352 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
"The main strengths of the book are its uniqueness… its mix of emphasis on methods, statistics, and ideas, its commentaries by the authors, and the well-chosen journal articles."
- John Harvey, University of Iowa

Understanding Research in Personal Relationships is a comprehensive introduction to the key readings on human and close relationships. Organized into twelve thematic chapters with editorial commentary throughout, the editors offer a critical reading of the major research articles in the field of relationship studies published in the last few years. Scholarly papers, two per chapter, are presented in an abridged form and critiqued in a carefully structured way that instructs students on the way to read research, and to critically evaluate research in this field. The book, therefore, has a thoroughly didactic focus as the student is given historical, theoretical and methodological contexts to each article as well as an explanation of key terms and ideas.

Key features:

  • Cross-Disciplinary use: An excellent book for all students taking human relationship modules in psychology, communication studies, sociology, social work, family studies and other subjects across the social sciences
  • Maps onto course teaching: Ideal for 12 week semester term course, covering major themes such as love, attraction, conflict and social networks
  • Pedagogical: 'How to use this book' section at the start; chapter introductions and summaries throughout; glossary of key terms highlighted throughout the book at the end of the text

This text is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students wanting a straightforward, didiactic guide to understanding research on human relationships.

 
Reading Research on Relationships
 
Attraction
 
Love
 
Sexuality
 
Relationship Development
 
Social Power
 
Relational Maintenance
 
Jealousy
 
Conflict in Relationships
 
Relationship Disturbance
 
Loneliness
 
The Importance of Social Networks
 
Cyber Relationships

`The main strengths of the book are its uniqueness… its mix of emphasis on methods, statistics, and ideas, its commentaries by the authors, and the well-chosen journal articles' - John Harvey, University of Iowa


This is a very good, up to date book covering new topics, such as cyber relationships. Also, it includes empirical studies which elegantly create a link between theory and actual findings.

Dr Daria Kuss
Psychology, Nottingham Trent University
November 13, 2014

This will be a very useful resource to help students to think about the applications of research to their own lives. The writing is accessible and the arguments are brought to life with interesting research examples.

Dr Laura Soulsby
Department of Psychology, Liverpool University
April 4, 2014

Sample Materials & Chapters

PDF file of Chapter 1


William Dragon

Steve Duck

Steve Duck taught in the United Kingdom before taking up the Daniel and Amy Starch Distinguished Research Chair in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa. He has been a professor of communication studies, an adjunct professor of psychology, and a former Dean’s Administrative Fellow and is now Chair of the Rhetoric Department. He has taught interpersonal communication courses, mostly on relationships but also on nonverbal communication, communication in everyday life, construction of identity, communication theory, organizational leadership, and procedures and practices for leaders. More recently, he has taught... More About Author

For instructors

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.