At some point or other in their academic careers, most tertiary-level students are going to be faced with having to do a research project. It is a fundamental part of further education that many students find daunting. This need not be the case. First steps in research uses the most current perspectives in the field both locally and internationally to provide practical guidelines on how to conduct and report on research at undergraduate and postgraduate level. First steps in research facilitates the understanding and application of theories, goals, methods and strategies, being easy to read and use without diluting the conceptual and terminological complexities of the field. It examines the historical and philosophical underpinnings of qualitative, quantitative and integrated or mixed methods of conducting research and suggests how these three approaches may best be used. It also elaborates on the methodological dimensions of action research processes and exemplifies participatory reflection. First steps in research is aimed at novice researchers, including undergraduate students or junior postgraduate students who are encountering research methodology for the first time. Kobus Maree is professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria. He is the editor of the South African Journal of Science and Technology and former editor of the South African Journal of Psychology. Recipient of multiple awards for his research and a regular keynote speaker at national and international conferences, he has three doctorates, is internationally acknowledged for his work in career counselling and in 2014 was honoured with a fellowship of the International Association of Applied Psychology.

This much-needed title is an introductory text for novice researchers - undergraduate students or junior postgraduate students who are encountering research methodology for the first time. A number of additional features make this title resource for scholars, academics, researchers, psychologists, social workers, teachers and clients: It gives an overview of international perspectives on research methodology. It critically analyses germane questions such as, "What is the language of research" and "How does one pose the right research question?" It facilitates an understanding and application of theories, goals, methods and strategies in research. It examines the historical and philosophical underpinnings of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research and suggests how these three approaches may be used to conduct research.

This title presents an overview of international perspectives on the issues of narrative career counselling - critically analyses germane questions, such as "How vital and feasible is it to build on life stories in career counselling?"; facilitates an understanding and application of theories, goals, methods and assessments in narrative counselling; focuses on narrative counselling as an emerging theory for facilitating success in life; provides practical guidelines on the practice of narrative counselling in different contexts; examines the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of hermeneutic-narrative, postmodern and constructivist approaches to career counselling; presents ideas on how to engage clients actively; suggests ways of using life-story counselling to produce new identities for career practice.