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Professor Malcolm Williams
Professor
Publication
2022
- Williams, M., Brookfield, C. and Sloan, L. 2022. Quantitative research methods teaching in a digital age. In: The SAGE Handbook of Digital Society. Sage
- Williams, M., Wiggins, R. D. and Vogt, W. P. 2022. Beginning quantitative research: the Sage quantitative research kit. Sage.
2021
- Dyer, W. and Williams, M. 2021. Quantification and realist methodologies. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 24(1), pp. 109-121. (10.1080/13645579.2020.1803527)
- Brookfield, C., Williams, M., Sloan, L. and Maule, E. 2021. Engaging social science students with statistics: opportunities, challenges and barriers. Numeracy 14(2), article number: 6. (10.5038/1936-4660.14.2.1386)
2020
- Williams, M. 2020. Realism and complexity in social science. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
2019
- Williams, M., Sloan, L. and Brookfield, C. 2019. The quantitative crisis in UK sociology. In: Evans, J., Ruane, S. and Southall, H. eds. Data in Society: Challenging Statistics in an Age of Globalisation. Policy Press, pp. 337-348.
- Stephens, N. and Lewis, J. 2019. Laboratory ethnography. In: Atkinson, P., Delamont, S. and Williams, M. eds. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods (online handbook). Los Angeles, CA.: Sage
2017
- Williams, M., Sloan, L. and Brookfield, C. 2017. A tale of two sociologies: analytic versus critique in UK sociology. Sociological Research Online 22(4), pp. 132-151. (10.1177/1360780417734146)
- Williams, M. and Dyer, W. 2017. Complex realism in social research. Methodological Innovations 10(2), pp. 1-8. (10.1177/2059799116683564)
2016
- May, T. and Williams, M. 2016. Rom harré on social structure and social change: an introduction. European Journal of Social Theory 5(1), pp. 107-110. (10.1177/13684310222225324)
- Williams, M. D., Sloan, L., Cheung, S. Y., Sutton, C., Stevens, S. and Runham, L. 2016. Can't count or won't count? Embedding quantitative methods in substantive sociology curricula: a quasi-experiment. Sociology 50(3), pp. 435-452. (10.1177/0038038515587652)
- Williams, M., Payne, G. and Sloan, L. 2016. Making sociology count: Some evidence and context in the teaching of quantitative methods in the UK. In: McKie, L. and Ryan, L. eds. An End to the Crisis of Empirical Sociology? Trends and Challenges in Social Research. Sociological Futures Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 171-186.
- Williams, M. D., Payne, G. and Sloan, L. 2016. An end to the crisis of empirical sociology? Trends and challenges in social research. In: McKie, L. and Ryan, L. eds. An End to the Crisis of Empirical Sociology Trends and Challenges in Social Research. London: Routledge, pp. 171-186.
2013
- Letherby, G., Scott, J. and Williams, M. D. 2013. Objectivity and subjectivity in social research. London: SAGE.
- Edwards, A. M., Housley, W., Williams, M. L., Sloan, L. and Williams, M. D. 2013. Digital social research, social media and the sociological imagination: Surrogacy, augmentation and re-orientation. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 16(3), pp. 245-260. (10.1080/13645579.2013.774185)
- Housley, W., Williams, M. L., Williams, M. D. and Edwards, A. M. 2013. Special issue: Introduction. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 16(3), pp. 173-175. (10.1080/13645579.2013.774164)
2012
- Burnap, P. et al. 2012. Working paper 153: social media analysis, Twitter and the London Olympics 2012 [working paper]. Working paper. Cardiff: School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/resources/Working%20Paper%20153%20-%20Burnap%20et%20al.%20(2013)%20Social%20Media%20Analysis,%20Twitter%20and%20the%20London%20Olympics%202012%20-%20A%20Research%20Note.pdf
- Williams, M. D., Housley, W., Edwards, A. M., Williams, M. L., Burnap, P., Rana, O. F. and Avis, N. 2012. Computational social science and methodological innovation: surrogacy, augmentation or reorientation. Presented at: ESRC Seminar Series: Blurring the boundaries: New social media, new social science?, London, UK, 2012.
- Burnap, P. et al. 2012. Social media analysis, Twitter and the London Olympics (a research note). Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
2011
- Williams, M. D. 2011. Contingent realism - abandoning necessity. Social Epistemology 25(1), pp. 37-56. (10.1080/02691728.2010.534566)
- Williams, M. D. 2011. Contingent or necessary? A response to Stephen Norrie. Social Epistemology 25(2), pp. 167-172. (10.1080/02691728.2011.552129)
- Williams, M. D. and Vogt, W. P. eds. 2011. The Sage handbook of innovation in social research methods. London: Sage.
- Payne, G. and Williams, M. D. 2011. Teaching quantitative methods : getting the basics right. London: Sage.
2010
- Williams, M. D. 2010. Preface to Volume 5 Issue 1 (2010). Methodological Innovations Online 5(1), pp. 1-2. (10.4256/mio.2010.0006)
- Williams, M. D. 2010. Situated objectivity. In: Olsen, W. ed. Realist methodology., Vol. 1. SAGE Benchmarks in Social Research Methods London: SAGE
- Williams, M. D. 2010. Can scientists be objective?. In: Olsen, W. ed. Realist methodology., Vol. 1. SAGE Benchmarks in Social Research Methods London: SAGE
- Williams, M. D. 2010. Interpretivism and generalisation. In: David, M. ed. Methods of Interpretive Sociology., Vol. 4. Sage Benchmarks in Social Research Methods London: SAGE
- Williams, M. D. and May, T. 2010. Commitment and investigation in knowing the social world. In: Olsen, W. ed. Realist methodology., Vol. 1. SAGE Benchmarks in Social Research Methods London: SAGE
2009
- Williams, M. D. 2009. Social objects, causality and contingent realism. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour 39(1), pp. 1-18. (10.1111/j.1468-5914.2008.00396.x)
- Williams, M. D. and Dyer, W. 2009. Single case probabilities. In: Byrne, D. and Ragin, C. C. eds. The SAGE Handbook of Case-Based Methods. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, pp. 84-100.
2008
- Williams, M. D., Maconachie, M., Ware, L., Chandler, J. and Dodgeon, B. 2008. Using longitudinal data to examine living alone in England and Wales: 1971 to 2001. In: Edwards, R. ed. Researching Families and Communities: Social and Generational Change. Relationships and Resources London: Routledge, pp. 164-180.
- Williams, M. D., Payne, G., Hodgkinson, L. and Poade, D. 2008. Does sociology count: student attitudes to the teaching of quantitative methods. Sociology 42(5), pp. 1003-1021. (10.1177/0038038508094576)
2007
- Williams, M. D. 2007. MacIver on causation. Journal of Scottish Thought 1(1)
2002
- Williams, M. D. and Cheal, B. 2002. Can we measure homelessness? A critical evaluation of the method of 'capture-recapture'. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 5(4), pp. 313-331. (10.1080/13645570110095346)
Articles
- Dyer, W. and Williams, M. 2021. Quantification and realist methodologies. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 24(1), pp. 109-121. (10.1080/13645579.2020.1803527)
- Brookfield, C., Williams, M., Sloan, L. and Maule, E. 2021. Engaging social science students with statistics: opportunities, challenges and barriers. Numeracy 14(2), article number: 6. (10.5038/1936-4660.14.2.1386)
- Williams, M., Sloan, L. and Brookfield, C. 2017. A tale of two sociologies: analytic versus critique in UK sociology. Sociological Research Online 22(4), pp. 132-151. (10.1177/1360780417734146)
- Williams, M. and Dyer, W. 2017. Complex realism in social research. Methodological Innovations 10(2), pp. 1-8. (10.1177/2059799116683564)
- May, T. and Williams, M. 2016. Rom harré on social structure and social change: an introduction. European Journal of Social Theory 5(1), pp. 107-110. (10.1177/13684310222225324)
- Williams, M. D., Sloan, L., Cheung, S. Y., Sutton, C., Stevens, S. and Runham, L. 2016. Can't count or won't count? Embedding quantitative methods in substantive sociology curricula: a quasi-experiment. Sociology 50(3), pp. 435-452. (10.1177/0038038515587652)
- Edwards, A. M., Housley, W., Williams, M. L., Sloan, L. and Williams, M. D. 2013. Digital social research, social media and the sociological imagination: Surrogacy, augmentation and re-orientation. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 16(3), pp. 245-260. (10.1080/13645579.2013.774185)
- Housley, W., Williams, M. L., Williams, M. D. and Edwards, A. M. 2013. Special issue: Introduction. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 16(3), pp. 173-175. (10.1080/13645579.2013.774164)
- Williams, M. D. 2011. Contingent realism - abandoning necessity. Social Epistemology 25(1), pp. 37-56. (10.1080/02691728.2010.534566)
- Williams, M. D. 2011. Contingent or necessary? A response to Stephen Norrie. Social Epistemology 25(2), pp. 167-172. (10.1080/02691728.2011.552129)
- Williams, M. D. 2010. Preface to Volume 5 Issue 1 (2010). Methodological Innovations Online 5(1), pp. 1-2. (10.4256/mio.2010.0006)
- Williams, M. D. 2009. Social objects, causality and contingent realism. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour 39(1), pp. 1-18. (10.1111/j.1468-5914.2008.00396.x)
- Williams, M. D., Payne, G., Hodgkinson, L. and Poade, D. 2008. Does sociology count: student attitudes to the teaching of quantitative methods. Sociology 42(5), pp. 1003-1021. (10.1177/0038038508094576)
- Williams, M. D. 2007. MacIver on causation. Journal of Scottish Thought 1(1)
- Williams, M. D. and Cheal, B. 2002. Can we measure homelessness? A critical evaluation of the method of 'capture-recapture'. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 5(4), pp. 313-331. (10.1080/13645570110095346)
Book sections
- Williams, M., Brookfield, C. and Sloan, L. 2022. Quantitative research methods teaching in a digital age. In: The SAGE Handbook of Digital Society. Sage
- Williams, M., Sloan, L. and Brookfield, C. 2019. The quantitative crisis in UK sociology. In: Evans, J., Ruane, S. and Southall, H. eds. Data in Society: Challenging Statistics in an Age of Globalisation. Policy Press, pp. 337-348.
- Stephens, N. and Lewis, J. 2019. Laboratory ethnography. In: Atkinson, P., Delamont, S. and Williams, M. eds. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods (online handbook). Los Angeles, CA.: Sage
- Williams, M., Payne, G. and Sloan, L. 2016. Making sociology count: Some evidence and context in the teaching of quantitative methods in the UK. In: McKie, L. and Ryan, L. eds. An End to the Crisis of Empirical Sociology? Trends and Challenges in Social Research. Sociological Futures Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 171-186.
- Williams, M. D., Payne, G. and Sloan, L. 2016. An end to the crisis of empirical sociology? Trends and challenges in social research. In: McKie, L. and Ryan, L. eds. An End to the Crisis of Empirical Sociology Trends and Challenges in Social Research. London: Routledge, pp. 171-186.
- Williams, M. D. 2010. Situated objectivity. In: Olsen, W. ed. Realist methodology., Vol. 1. SAGE Benchmarks in Social Research Methods London: SAGE
- Williams, M. D. 2010. Can scientists be objective?. In: Olsen, W. ed. Realist methodology., Vol. 1. SAGE Benchmarks in Social Research Methods London: SAGE
- Williams, M. D. 2010. Interpretivism and generalisation. In: David, M. ed. Methods of Interpretive Sociology., Vol. 4. Sage Benchmarks in Social Research Methods London: SAGE
- Williams, M. D. and May, T. 2010. Commitment and investigation in knowing the social world. In: Olsen, W. ed. Realist methodology., Vol. 1. SAGE Benchmarks in Social Research Methods London: SAGE
- Williams, M. D. and Dyer, W. 2009. Single case probabilities. In: Byrne, D. and Ragin, C. C. eds. The SAGE Handbook of Case-Based Methods. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, pp. 84-100.
- Williams, M. D., Maconachie, M., Ware, L., Chandler, J. and Dodgeon, B. 2008. Using longitudinal data to examine living alone in England and Wales: 1971 to 2001. In: Edwards, R. ed. Researching Families and Communities: Social and Generational Change. Relationships and Resources London: Routledge, pp. 164-180.
Books
- Williams, M., Wiggins, R. D. and Vogt, W. P. 2022. Beginning quantitative research: the Sage quantitative research kit. Sage.
- Williams, M. 2020. Realism and complexity in social science. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
- Letherby, G., Scott, J. and Williams, M. D. 2013. Objectivity and subjectivity in social research. London: SAGE.
- Williams, M. D. and Vogt, W. P. eds. 2011. The Sage handbook of innovation in social research methods. London: Sage.
- Payne, G. and Williams, M. D. 2011. Teaching quantitative methods : getting the basics right. London: Sage.
Conferences
- Williams, M. D., Housley, W., Edwards, A. M., Williams, M. L., Burnap, P., Rana, O. F. and Avis, N. 2012. Computational social science and methodological innovation: surrogacy, augmentation or reorientation. Presented at: ESRC Seminar Series: Blurring the boundaries: New social media, new social science?, London, UK, 2012.
Monographs
- Burnap, P. et al. 2012. Working paper 153: social media analysis, Twitter and the London Olympics 2012 [working paper]. Working paper. Cardiff: School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/resources/Working%20Paper%20153%20-%20Burnap%20et%20al.%20(2013)%20Social%20Media%20Analysis,%20Twitter%20and%20the%20London%20Olympics%202012%20-%20A%20Research%20Note.pdf
- Burnap, P. et al. 2012. Social media analysis, Twitter and the London Olympics (a research note). Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
Research
My research interests divide into the methodological and empirical. In the first of these I have an interest in a realist approach to 'methodological problems in the social sciences' and these include probability, causality, representation and objectivity. Many of my publications are in these areas. My empirical interests have been in household change, including living alone, housing need and migration. In recent years I have become very interested in and concerned about the 'quantitative deficit' in social science and I have led or participated in several projects in this area.
Biography
I joined the University of Plymouth, from City University, London in 1992 as a Lecturer in Sociology. At Plymouth I taught social theory, research methods and philosophy of the social sciences. I led the Methodological Innovations Research Group and for four years, from 2001, I also led the Evaluation Research and Innovation Centre (ERIC) and became Professor of Social Research Methodology in 2005. In the three years prior to joining Cardiff University (in January 2010) I was first Head of the School of Law and Social Science and then Head of the School of Psychosocial Sciences.
