Guides: Undergraduate Urban Research Methods: Research Methodologies

A generic definition of a case study could be an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, incident, or community.

Sage Encyclopedia of Case Study Research
Learn how to do case study research in different disciplines.
Urban Land Institute Case Studies
Access case studies of projects, from low-income housing to mixed-use downtown development.
Building Green
Find articles, case studies, and product listings on sustainable and healthy design.
Index to Current Urban Documents
Use the index to find research by local agencies in selected U.S. and Canadian cities.

Planning An Interview Study
Learn an idealized seven-stage route for an interview inquiry.
Interviewing I
Read key articles on interviewing which have been published in professional journals.
NVivo
Use this software that supports analysis of textual and audiovisual data sources.
Scribe
Manage your research notes, contacts, published and archival sources, digital images, and more.

Ethnography is often used in the social sciences that studies people, ethnic groups and other ethnic formations, their ethnogenesis, composition, resettlement, social welfare characteristics, as well as their material and spiritual culture.

Handbook of Ethnography
Ethnography is one of the chief research methods in the social sciences.
Anthropology Plus
Use this index of research in anthropology and related fields. Limited to 5 users at a time.
eHRAF World Cultures
Find information organized by cultures and ethnic groups.
Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts
Search the international literature in linguistics and related disciplines in the language sciences.

Literature Types

Very Basic Breakdown of Different Types

Theoretical literature about the topic of study
Methodological literature about how to do research and how to use the methods chosen
Empirical literature about previous research in the field of study or similar fields
Theoretical and empirical literature to help contextualize, compare and generalize findings
Grey Literature refers to documentary materials which lie somewhere between traditional, academically produced secondary literature and “raw” primary sources. Typically, it is the product of research by an organization, often one within the realm of governance.

Sage Research Methods

Research Methods is a tool created to help researchers with their research projects. Users 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. Features 1) Methods Map 2) Project Planner 3) Which Stats Test 4) Reading Lists

SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods features over 900 entries covering all disciplines within the social sciences with both concise definitions and in-depth essays.

Routledge Resources

Routledge Handbook of Planning Research Methods is an expansive look at the traditions, methods, and challenges of research design and research projects in contemporary urban planning. Through case studies, an international group of researchers, planning practitioners, and planning academics and educators, all recognized authorities in the field, provide accounts of designing and implementing research projects from different approaches and venues.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, and when. For more information...

NVivo is software that supports qualitative and mixed methods research. Register for NVivo access via the Virtual Computer Lab.