This is an accessible and practical introduction to research that addresses the broadest spectrum of research methodologies of interest to the student or new research, from experimental and survey approaches to program evaluation and ethnography. Research Essentials includes key interpretive and qualitative strategies. The book shows the role that research plays in the social sciences and education, followed by an overview of research traditions. It offers practical examples and relevant resources across the disciplines. Other features include study questions, lists of relevant journals, web sites, and organizations.

Action Research Essentials is a practical guide born of the author's own experience working with students in the social sciences and education, providing a step-by-step outline of how to "do" action research--backed by the most extensive theory and research coverage on the market today. The author guides future researcher/practitioners through the action research process via numerous concrete illustrations and a wealth of on-line resources; positioning it as a fundamental component of practice, A key and unique strength of the book is its outreach to a much larger breadth of students than usually found in action research books. This book will illustrate all the steps in action research using examples from education, social work, psychology, sociology, nursing, medicine, and counseling. The structure of the book is intended as the sole textbook for a course devoted to naturalistic inquiry, practitioner research, or beginning qualitative methods, or can complement a general research course.

Essentials of Marketing Research takes an applied approach to the fundamentals of marketing research by providing examples from the business world of marketing research and showing students how to apply marketing research results. This text focuses on understanding and interpreting marketing research studies. Focusing on the 'how-to' and 'so what' of marketing research helps students understand the value of marketing research and how they can put marketing research into practice. There is a strong emphasis on how to use marketing research to make better management decisions. The unique feature set integrates data analysis, interpretation, application, and decision-making throughout the entire text. The text opens with a discussion of the role of marketing research, along with a breakdown of the marketing research process. The text then moves into a section discussing types of marketing research, including secondary resources, qualitative research, observation research, and survey research. Newer methods (e.g. using blogs or Twitter feeds as secondary resources and using online focus groups) are discussed as extensions of traditional methods such. The third section discusses sampling procedures, measurement methods, marketing scales, and questionnaires. Finally, a section on analyzing and reporting marketing research focuses on the fundamental data analysis skills that students will use in their marketing careers. Features of this text include: - Chapter Openers describe the results of a research study that apply to the topics being presented in that chapter. These are taken from a variety of industries, with a greater emphasis on social media and the Internet. - A Global Concerns section appears in each chapter, helping prepare students to conduct market research on an international scale.This text emphasizes the presentation of research results and uses graphs, tables, and figures extensively. - A Statistics Review section emphasizes the practical interpretation and application of statistical principles being reviewed in each chapter. - Dealing with Data sections in each chapter provide students with opportunities to practice interpreting data and applying results to marketing decisions. Multiple SPSS data sets and step-by-step instructions are available on the companion site to use with this feature. - Each Chapter Summary is tied to the chapter-opening Learning Objectives. - A Continuing Case Study follows a group of students through the research process. It shows potential trade-offs, difficulties and flaws that often occur during the implementation of research project. Accompanying case questions can be used for class discussion, in-class group work, or individual assignments. - End-of-Chapter Critical Thinking Exercises are applied in nature and emphasize key chapter concepts. These can be used as assignments to test students' understanding of marketing research results and how results can be applied to decision-making. - End-of-chapter Your Research Project provides more challenging opportunities for students to apply chapter knowledge on an in-depth basis, and thus olearn by doing.

Here, Susan L. Norwood presents a fresh nursing research textbook which provides an engaging and user-friendly introduction to this important subject area. With valuable information for nursing students, the book helps nurses acquire essential skills for today's dynamic health-care environment.

LEARN THE EFFICIENT, EASY WAY TO CONDUCT MEDICAL RESEARCH PERFECT FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING A MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECT! This concise handbook tells you everything you need to know about medical research. You will learn how to read, understand, and ultimately perform it. Medical Research Essentials walks you step by step through the entire research process, from how to read and critique an article, to presenting your own data. Filled with flowcharts, algorithms, diagrams, and tables, Medical Research Essentials is like having an experienced mentor at your side! THIS ULTIMATE HANDBOOK FOR INTERPRETING AND CONDUCTING MEDICAL RESEARCH OFFERS CONCISE COVERAGE OF: How to critically read and interpret medical literature The best methods of organizing and analyzing data Potential research projects that can be performed in a limited time frame How to design your own study and acquire funding Understanding and using medical statistics

This text is a complete introduction to reseah methods in political science, covering all the topics typically included in a one semester undergraduate-level course. h concentrates on the basics of what a student needs to know how to do in order to be an effecise consumer of scientific research and begin to conduct his or her own research projects. The approach of ‘learning by doing” is encouraged through nUmeroUs examples and exercises. The book is written in an informal style, with minimal use of technical jargon. Alan D. Monroe (Ph.D.. Indiana Univrsity) has taught introductory research methods at Illinois Slate University for more than 25 years. He has published research on a variety of topics, particularly of public opinion and public policy in the U.S.. and has also conducted a number of research projects for governmental agencies and private clients, including surveys for political campaigns.

A comprehensive and practical guide to ethnographic research, this book guides you through the process, starting with the fundamentals of choosing and proposing a topic and selecting a research design. It describes methods of data collection (taking notes, participant observation, interviewing, identifying themes and issues, creating ethnographic maps and tables and charts, and referring to secondary sources) and analyzing and writing ethnography (sorting and coding data, answering questions, choosing a presentation style, and assembling the ethnography). Although content is focused on producing written ethnography, many of the principles and methods discussed here also apply to other forms of ethnographic presentation, including ethnographic film. Designed to give basic hands-on experience in the overall ethnography research process, Ethnography Essentials covers a wealth of topics, enabling anyone new to ethnography research to successfully explore the excitement and challenges of field research.

This is an advanced undergraduate - or postgraduate - level text designed for courses in research methods and intermediate quantitative methods offered in departments of psychology, education, sociology and communication. Equally emphasizing the collection and analysis of research data, students should be able to plan an original study, collect and analyze data and report the results of the study in a professional manner.

Covers types of research, reasoning and data, basic logic of quantitative and qualitative inquiry, major data collection strategies, and identification of research limitations. This book describes procedures for identifying limitations of research and rival explanations for research findings.

Master the essential skills for designing and conducting a successful research project Essentials of Research Design and Methodology contains practical information on how to design and conduct scientific research in the behavioral and social sciences. This accessible guide covers basic to advanced concepts in a clear, concrete, and readable style. The text offers students and practitioners in the behavioral sciences and related disciplines important insights into identifying research topics, variables, and methodological approaches. Data collection and assessment strategies, interpretation methods, and important ethical considerations also receive significant coverage in this user-friendly guide. Essentials of Research Design and Methodology is the only available resource to condense the wide-ranging topics of the field into a concise, accessible format for handy and quick reference. As part of the Essentials of Behavioral Science series, this book offers a thorough review of the most relevant topics in research design and methodology. Each concise chapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, and extensive illustrative material, as well as "Test Yourself" questions that help you gauge and reinforce your grasp of the information covered.