Becoming a Researcher by
This innovative book combines what most books separate: research as practical activity and research as intellectual engagement. It clarifies and makes explicit the methodological issues that underlie the journey from initial research idea to the finished report and beyond. The text moves the researcher logically through the research process and provides insights into methodology through an in-depth discussion of methods. It presents the research process as an engagement with text. This theme moves through the construction of text in the form of data and the deconstruction of text in analysis. Finally the focus moves to the reconstruction of text through the re-presentation of the research in the report. Following through each of these stages in turn, the chapters consider either a practical issue or a group of methods and interrogate the associated methodological concerns. In addition, the book also addresses the rarely explored issues of the researcher as writer and researcher identity as core elements of the research process. The book provides a range of insights and original perspectives. These successfully combine practical guidance with the invitation to consider the problematic nature of research as social practice. It is an ideal reference for those embarking on research for the first time and provides a new methodological agenda for established researchers.
Getting the Most Out of the Research Experience by
'The book gives a comprehensive overview of what research and the research experience encompass....This book makes an interesting read for everyone who has carried out qualitative research or is planning to do so in the future. It is well-written, and very clearly structured' - Social Research Association While each research situation is different and no book can fully prepare the researcher for what they experience - this book provides a guide to what may be expected. Brian Roberts takes the researcher through the research process, answering the practical and subjective questions anyone will face: - entering the field and finding the right research topic - emotional and identity issues of research - overcoming writing and research 'blocks' - getting your research into reports, articles and books - reactions to research and how to handle experiences of rejection - and the questions every researcher should ask: What do I get from research, and what next? Loaded with advice on everything from organizing interpretations to coping with stress, this book is a must-read for students of all levels across the social sciences who are about to enter the research field.
Ground Rules for Social Research by
Focuses on the key ideas and practices that underlie good research and provides guidelines to newcomers and experienced researchers alike. This book includes chapters on research design and research philosophy. It contains material relating to the internet and online research.
Just a Theory by
Some people claim that evolution is "just a theory". Do you know what a scientific theory really is? Just a theory is an overview of the modern concepts of science. A clear understanding of the nature of science will enable you to distinguish science from pseudoscience (which illegitimately wraps itself in the mantle of science), and real social issues in science from the caricatures portrayed in postmodernist critiques. Prof. Ben-Ari’s style is light (even humorous) and easy to read, bringing the latest concepts of science to the general reader. Of particular interest is his analysis of the terminology of science (fact, law, proof, theory) in relation to the colloquial meaning of these terms. Between chapters are biographical vignettes of scientists — both familiar and unfamiliar — showing their common commitment to the enterprise of science, together with a diversity of backgrounds and personalities. This accessible, informative, and comprehensive work will give lay readers a good grasp of real science.
Mixed Methods Research by
Ridenour and Isadore Newman reject the artificial dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research strategies in the social and behavioral sciences and argue that by employing multiple methods, researchers can enhance the quality of their research outcomes.
The Modern Researcher by
This classic introduction to the techniques of research and the art of expression is used widely in history courses, but is also appropriate for writing and research methods courses in other departments. Barzun and Graff thoroughly cover every aspect of research, from the selection of a topic through the gathering, analysis, writing, revision, and publication of findings presenting the process not as a set of rules but through actual cases that put the subtleties of research in a useful context. Part One covers the principles and methods of research; Part Two covers writing, speaking, and getting one's work published.
The Research Student's Guide to Success by
A must read for all research students! The core material in Professor Cryer’s previous editions is classic. I welcome this new edition setting it into current contexts.– PhD supervisor When I was doing my own PhD, Pat Cryer’s book was my constant reference companion. Now I am recommending her latest edition to my own students.– PhD supervisor Insightful, wide-ranging and accessible, this is an invaluable tool for postgraduate research students and for students at all levels working on research projects, irrespective of their field of study. This edition has been thoroughly revised to accommodate the changes in postgraduate education over recent years. Additional material and new emphases take into account: the QAA Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Programmes recommendations of the Roberts Review the needs of the growing number of ‘overseas’ research students employment issues (including undergraduate teaching) the Internet as a resource for research. There are new chapters on: developing the research proposal succeeding as an ‘overseas’ research student ethics in research personal development planning (PDP)