How to Do Research: The Practical Guide to Designing and Managing Research Projects

✍ Scribed by Nick Moore

• Publisher: Facet Publishing
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 193
• Edition: 3
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This new edition of Nick Moore's highly successful How to do Research offers an accessible guide to the complete research process. It focuses on the day-to-day requirements of project, managing a piece of research right through from the formulation of the initial idea, to the development of a research proposal and then to the writing up and disseminating of results. Updated throughout, it also contains new and expanded sections on in-house research; the use of sub-contractors and market-research companies; the use of the internet as a research tool; and ethical issues.

The book provides practical help and guidance to anyone undertaking academic or social research, whether through work or study. Part One of the book follows a step-by-step guide to the research process itself: develop the research objectives; design and plan the study; write the proposal; obtain financial support for the research; manage the research; draw conclusions and make recommendations; write the report; and; disseminate the results.

Part Two offers an introduction to some of the more common research methods, and takes the reader through the processes of collecting and analysing data, including sampling, surveys, interviewing, focus groups and capturing data.

Readership

: This book offers a wealth of invaluable guidance to both new and experienced researchers, presented in a clear, simple style. It is ideal for professionals undertaking research and the evaluation of services; for undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking dissertations and other research projects; and as an introductory text on research methods courses in any social science discipline.

✦ Table of Contents

Title page
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part 1 The research process
1 Develop the research objectives
Defining the research issue
Articulating the research aim
Specifying the objectives
SUMMARY
2 Design and plan the study
Resource constraints
Selecting the most appropriate methods
Seven principles of selection
Using subcontractors
Schedule the work
Calculate the cost
SUMMARY
3 Write the proposal
The purposes of research proposals
The structure of research proposals
SUMMARY
4 Obtain financial support for the research
The sources of responsive funding
Approaching the funder
Responding to calls for tender
SUMMARY
5 Manage the research
The project plan
Launching the project
Make a start
Monitoring progress
The problem stages
Advisory and steering committees
Living with your funder
SUMMARY
6 Draw conclusions and make recommendations
Analyse and synthesize the results
Draw your conclusions
Make recommendations
SUMMARY
7 Write the report
Structure
Writing in style
Presentation
SUMMARY
8 Disseminate the results
Summary findings and press releases
Conference papers
Journal articles
SUMMARY
Part 2 Methods
9 Introducing research methods
Collecting data
Analysis – converting data into information
SUMMARY
10 Desk research
Literature and internet searching
Statistical data
SUMMARY
11 Analysing desk research
Common principles
SUMMARY
12 Collecting quantitative data
Sampling
Self-completion questionnaire surveys
Interview surveys
Postscript
SUMMARY
13 Analysing quantitative data
Processing the data
Interpreting the results
SUMMARY
14 Collecting qualitative data
Semi-structured interviews
Depth interviews
Focus groups
Capturing the data
SUMMARY
15 Analysing qualitative data
Basic principles of analysis
The practice of analysis
SUMMARY
16 Sources of further reading
Appendix The market for information professionals
Aim and objectives
Methods
Timescale
The Policy Studies Institute
Project staff
Costs
References
Index