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Research Methodology
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Research Methodology
A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Fifth Edition
Additional resources:


January 2019 | 528 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Designed with students, for students and now shortlisted for the British Book Design and Production Awards 2019!

Eight steps, two pathways, one book. The Fifth Edition of the bestseller Research Methodology has reimagined, redesigned, and fully renovated how a textbook can help students achieve success in their methods course or research project.

Eight steps: Foolproof for any beginner researcher, the book breaks the process of designing and doing a research project into achievable stages. It delivers students from research problem to their written research report at the pace they need, with clear explanations, DIY tasks and study skills support. 

In a new landscape format it presents figures, models and visualizations elegantly, so they don't break over a page, making even complex concepts easier to understand.

Two pathways: With an innovative, beautiful design, regular progress checkpoints have been built into the book and its online resources. As students proceed through the 8 steps, each chapter provides regular opportunities for students to check understanding or give themselves a challenge. Each pathway then gives them the resources they need.

  • Confused? Stop, practise with quizzes and flashcards, or use a video to look at a concept a different way.
  • Up for a challenge? Access a wealth of additional material including research articles, readings, case studies, activities, bibliography tools and inspiration to pursue your curiosity, impress your lecturer, and nail your assignments.

With this one book, every student gets what they need to succeed. It is the perfect essential text for students and beginner researchers across the social sciences.

 


 
Chapter 1: Research: A Way of Thinking
 
Chapter 2: The Research Process: A Quick Glance
 
Step I: Formulating a Research Problem
 
Chapter 3: Reviewing the Literature
 
Chapter 4: Formulating a Research Problem
 
Chapter 5: Identifying Variables
 
Chapter 6: Constructing Hypotheses
 
Step II: Conceptualising a Research Design
 
Chapter 7: The Research Design
 
Chapter 8: Selecting a Study Design
 
Step III: Constructing an Instrument for Data Collection
 
Chapter 9: Selecting a Method of Data Collection
 
Chapter 10: Collecting Data Using Attitudinal Scales
 
Chapter 11: Establishing the Validity and Reliability of a Research Instrument
 
Step IV: Selecting a Sample
 
Chapter 12: Selecting a Sample
 
Step V: Writing a Research Proposal
 
Chapter 13: Writing a Research Proposal
 
Step VI: Collecting Data
 
Chapter 14: Considering Ethical Issues in Data Collection
 
Step VII: Processing and Displaying Data
 
Chapter 15: Processing Data
 
Chapter 16: Displaying Data
 
Step VIII: Writing a Research Report
 
Chapter 17: Writing a Research Report

I will order this book for our library. The book caught my attention in order to be use by master students of music, which are essentially all beginning researchers; some of them have quite a bit of trouble connecting a research project to their artistic and professional practice in music or larger cultural practice, which is most essential for how we envision research in our master programme.

The most positive points considering this book are certainly its readability and its visual appearance, with especially the latter being excellent. The chapters are written in a very clear way and should provide students with enough guidance to make steps in the research trajectories.

The critical point concerning our context of the arts is the disctinction in qualitative and quantitative research design. I certainly do understand this choice, but from the perspective of the arts this is slightly outdated and difficult to maintain, especially concerning aspects of "emergent design" that are relatively common in artistic research projects. But nevertheless, a welcome and excellent addition to the present literature.

Dr Falk Hubner
Music, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht
April 12, 2019

Colleagues pick this book up from my desk as the pink lettering makes it stand out. Easy to read and dip into.

Caroline Vafeas
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Edith Cowan University - Joondalup Campus
March 17, 2019

This is a well written comprehensive text with excellent examples. It is easy for beginner researchers to understand.

Ann Quinton
School of Medical and Applied Science, Central Queensland University - Sydney Campus
February 15, 2019

This is a very easy book for students to follow

Dr Sue Iris Sparks
School of Health, BPP University
July 10, 2019

The fifth edition is horrible. The layout and colors used for the font are nearly unreadable.
I was very happy with the previous edition. I refuse to use this one.

John Fitzpatrick
General Education Dept, Idaho State University
August 1, 2019
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Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 4

Chapter 6