Main description:

Offering an encyclopedic introduction to research, this book shows you how to think about every stage of their project and equips you with the tools you need to understand different research processes.

Packed with examples showing the diversity of research, this third edition provides hands-on guidance to help:

Develop key academic skills like critical thinking, effective writing and building an argument
Confidently interpret findings, assess arguments and understand the wider impact of their research
Understand the challenges and opportunities involved in working with new types of data like social media and online data

Supported by a dynamic new website with downloadable templates, case studies, dos and don'ts videos and more, this practical book prepares you for not just getting to grips with methodological concepts, but being ready to apply them.

Contents:

Part I: Orientation
Chapter 1: Why Social Research?
Chapter 2: Worldviews in Social Research
Chapter 3: Ethical Issues in Social Research
Chapter 4: From Research Idea to Research Question
Part II: Planning and Design
Chapter 5: Reading and Reviewing the Literature
Chapter 6: Steps in the Research Process
Chapter 7: Designing Social Research
Part III: Method Selection
Chapter 8: Deciding on Your Methods
Chapter 9: Triangulation and Mixed Methods
Part IV: Working with Data
Chapter 10: Using Existing Data
Chapter 11: Collecting Data
Chapter 12: Analyzing Data
Part V: Reflection and Writing
Chapter 13: What is Good Research? Evaluating Your Research Project
Chapter 14: Writing up Research and Using Results