Research Methods: The Basics is an accessible, user-friendly introduction to the different aspects of research theory, methods and practice. This third edition provides an expanded and fully updated resource suitable for students and practitioners in a wide range of disciplines including the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. It is structured in two parts - the first covers the nature of knowledge and the reasons for doing research, the second explains the specific methods used to conduct an effective research project and how to propose, plan, carry out and write up a research project. This book covers: * Reasons for doing a research project * Structuring and planning a research project * The ethical issues involved in research * Different types of data and how they are measured * Collecting primary and secondary data * Analysing qualitative and quantitative data * Mixed methods and interdisciplinary research * Devising a research proposal and writing up the research * Motivation and quality of work. Complete with student learning tasks at the end of each section, a glossary of key terms and guides to further reading, Research Methods: The Basics is the essential text for anyone coming to research for the first time. New to this edition is free access to a set of digital resources. This contains case studies, to- do lists, quizzes on aspects of research related to the chapters in the book and useful PowerPoint presentations for lecturers. To access the online material, go to www.routledge.com/9780367694081 and click on 'Support Material' beneath the illustration of the front cover.

Research Methods: The Basics is an accessible, user-friendly introduction to the different aspects of research theory, methods and practice. This third edition provides an expanded and fully updated resource suitable for students and practitioners in a wide range of disciplines including the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

It is structured in two parts – the first covers the nature of knowledge and the reasons for doing research, the second explains the specific methods used to conduct an effective research project and how to propose, plan, carry out and write up a research project.

This book covers:

• Reasons for doing a research project

• Structuring and planning a research project

• The ethical issues involved in research

• Different types of data and how they are measured

• Collecting primary and secondary data

• Analysing qualitative and quantitative data

• Mixed methods and interdisciplinary research

• Devising a research proposal and writing up the research

• Motivation and quality of work.

Complete with student learning tasks at the end of each section, a glossary of key terms and guides to further reading, Research Methods: The Basics is the essential text for anyone coming to research for the first time.

New to this edition is free access to a set of digital resources. This contains case studies, to- do lists, quizzes on aspects of research related to the chapters in the book and useful PowerPoint presentations for lecturers. To access the online material, go to www.routledge.com/9780367694081 and click on ‘Support Material’ beneath the illustration of the front cover.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction PART 1. Research theory and practice 1. Research basics 2. Research theory 3. Structuring the research project 4. Research ethics 5. Finding and reviewing the literature PART 2. The main research methods 6. The nature of data 7. Collecting and analysing secondary data, modern, historical and archival 8. Collecting primary data 9. Quantitative data analysis 10. Qualitative data analysis 11. Mixed methods and interdisciplinary research 12. Writing the proposal and planning the research project 13. Writing up the research Glossary References Index