Authoritative and useful descriptions of research methods can be hard to find. SAGE has a deep shelf of social science publications that they draw upon for this new and easy-to-browse tool. SRMO integrates content from over 500 of their book titles, including the entire QASS (aka Little Green Book) series, plus several of their dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Sage Research Methods Online visual tree navigation screenshot

SRMO features an innovative navigational feature they call the “Methods Map” for visualization of relationships between methods. Use it to discover new methods and content related to them. Underpinning the Methods Map is a taxonomy of social science research methods, developed by SAGE, and containing over 1,400 unique terms.

We had to trial this a few times before we reached the right audience for it. But happily, it seems to be making inroads with the PhD student community and the instructors who teach “Research Methods” courses in the various social sciences disciplines.

Because this resource is built upon the contents of hundreds of stand-alone volumes of social science research methods literature, we are also taking steps so each individual book will have its own record in the library catalog as another way users can discover this great info – I will post an update when this has been accomplished.

(updated 4/16/2012)