Includes bibliography and index.

1. Introducing research -- 2. Developing research skills -- 3. Understanding research ethics -- 4. Understanding research philosophy -- 5. Developing a research proposal -- 6. Reviewing the literature -- 7. Understanding research methodology and design -- 8. Understanding research methods, populations and sampling -- 9. Using secondary data -- 10. Using observation -- 11. Using interviews and focus groups -- 12. Using questionnaires and scales -- 13. Managing data and introducing data analysis -- 14. Analyzing quantitative data -- 15. Analyzing qualitative data -- 16. Drawing conclusions and writing research -- Bibliography -- Index.

This textbook aims to provide a balanced introduction to research methods for today's students. It does this by synthesizing rigorous coverage of methodologies. The text follows course learning outcomes and provides examples drawn from the full range of subjects.
The text has unique feature: for example, it introduces the four frameworks approach to the research project. The four frameworks approach provides beginner researchers with direction in terms of the development of their research projects. It facilitates beginner researchers in the task of developing properly focused, fully integrated research projects. The textbook is very sympathetic to the challenges facing a student engaging with the subject for the first time and provides an integrated and balanced approach to quantitative and qualitative research. The writing is simple and direct, and the examples and case studies presented were selected particularly with an undergraduate readership in mind. In summary, the text provides a unique, simple and emphatic yet comprehensive introduction to research methods.