How to Do Research: Second Edition

Author: Blackstone
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Reviews on the second edition: "A very valuable resource." – Journal of Contemporary China Studies As a graduate student, I have read many books telling readers "how to research," and I have become skeptical, but this book challenges that skepticism and is bound to be warmly welcomed. – Research Policy and Planning This book is an excellent choice for any student about to embark on their first research project. – American Educational Research Journal How to Do Research Second Edition summarizes the practices and experiences of conducting research in the social sciences and related fields such as education, business, health, and social management. Its target audience is primarily individuals engaged in small-scale research in academic or professional settings, especially those with limited experience. Written in an original, accessible, and jargon-free style, the book employs a variety of presentation formats to assist researchers. The second edition has been fully revised to update the reference list, adding new content on selecting appropriate methods, online research, and web searches, and provides:
◎ A series of case studies collected from various fields;
◎ A wide range of annotated bibliographies for further reading;
◎ Practical tips and suggestions for each stage of the research process.
This book serves as a core textbook for undergraduate and graduate social science research methods courses and is also a valuable reference for those conducting research in the workplace. It is an excellent guide for humanities research, summarizing the techniques, methods, and experiences of conducting small-scale research in various social science fields through vivid and concise examples and an engaging narrative. It covers the nature of research, defining originality, how to design and begin research, methodological considerations and selection, research reading, time and project management, data collection and organization, analysis of data, online research and searching, paper writing, and project completion. The book is enriched by numerous concise summaries in boxes, exercises, tips, cross-references between chapters, and a wealth of examples and references. Graduate students, teachers, and researchers in the humanities and social sciences can gain important insights and assistance by reading this book.