Returning in its 3rd edition, this bestselling book on the process of PhD research provides friendly, engaging, and realistic advice on how to complete your doctorate. Updated throughout, the book will guide you through the basics as well as covering aspects that other books don't usually mention, including: * What a PhD is really about and how to do one well * How to decipher what your supervisor actually means by terms like 'good referencing' and 'clean research question' * How to design, report and defend your research The authors offer an accessible, down-to-earth, and insightful account of the whole PhD process. Their advice addresses how to avoid some of the pitfalls en route to a successful submission. Key features: * Thinking about your career from the outset of your PhD (rather than at the end) * Tips for "sniffing" a paper to make your reading quicker and more efficient * Understanding cultural differences in research * Networking for research success * Sensible guidelines for using social media in your research * Guidance on project management - especially important for part-time students The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research is essential reading for anyone considering a PhD, embarking on one, or stuck in the middle and unsure where to turn. It will tell you things many students wish someone had told them before they started. "The course of a PhD never did 'run smooth'. This new edition of unwritten rules covers everything the doctoral student needs to know for a smoother passage with informal yet scholarly advice, ranging from improving the writing process, creating networks, completing the thesis, and even what to wear for the viva - a complete guide to the tacit guidelines sometimes left unsaid." Professor Jerry Wellington, University of Sheffield, UK

IF YOU'RE ENCOUNTERING STATISTICS FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND WANT A READABLE, SUPPORTIVE INTRODUCTION, THEN THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.There are plenty of excellent stats books in the world, but very few of them are entertaining reading. One result is that many students are deterred by stats. But this book is different.Written in an informal style, it guides the reader gently through the field from the simplest descriptive statistics to multidimensional approaches. It's written in an accessible way, with few calculations and fewer equations, for readers from a broad set of academic disciplines ranging from archaeology to zoology.There are numerous illustrative examples that guide the reader through: How to answer various types of research questionHow to use different forms of analysisThe strengths and weaknesses of particular methodsMethods that may be useful but that don't usually appear in statistics books In this way, the book's emphasis is on understanding how statistics can be used to help answer research questions, rather than on the minute details of particular statistical tests.Using Statistics is key reading for students who are looking for help with quantitative projects, but would like a qualitative introduction that takes them gently through the process.

Providing a positive and supportive guide to understanding, preventing and managing the stress that can be associated with student life, this book is structured around the main stressors that are likely to be encountered as a student, such as the initial adjustment to university life, financial difficulties and the pressure of examinations. Throughout, the emphasis is on achieving well-being, by minimizing the disruption caused by stress and learning from difficult experiences. Three main strategies are investigated for handling stress: reducing the likelihood of encountering stressful situations learning how to handle stressful situations when they cannot be avoided moving on from stressful experiences and achieving positive well-being. This guide will be a great help to any student troubled by the pressures of university. The highly practical stragtegies provided here will help to ensure that the reader gets the most from their time as a student, without the interference of unnecessary stress. SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips, resources and videos on study success!