“Martin is always original. Thinking Through Methods combines a hard-nosed commitment to scholarly ideals with an endless array of provocative and clever things to say. This is a very creative work on sociological methods and there is enormous wisdom to be found in it.”

Jeremy Freese, Stanford University

“This primer has all the traditional topics for acquiring and expressing methodological expertise in the doing of sociology. With Martin’s penchant for exquisite writing and clarity, as well as original, often clever approaches and examples—not to mention pithy ‘takeaways’ and recommendations for further reading—the book is utterly distinguished. So it is not only usable but fun, interesting, and even intriguing, along the way. Who would have thought that ‘methods’ could be like this?”

Douglas W. Maynard, University of Wisconsin–Madison

“Thinking Through Methods offers an incisive introduction to social research methods. Methods textbooks are too often a bit stodgy. This book is anything but dull. It’s irreverent and entertaining, full of examples of good and bad research. Novice and experienced researchers alike will come away with strategies to avoid common mistakes. I look forward to assigning it in both undergraduate and graduate methods courses.”

Elizabeth Armstrong, University of Michigan