How to Research

by Blaxter, Loraine; Hughes, Christina; Tight, Malcolm

• ISBN13: 9780335209033
• ISBN10: 0335209033
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-07-01
• Publisher: Open University Press

Summary

Praise for the first edition: "an immensely useful resource." - Nursing Times Research "..As a graduate research student, I have come across a number of books claiming to inform the reader 'how to research', and have become sceptical...This book challenges that sceptism and is to be warmly welcomed." - Research Policy and Planning "..an excellent choice for any student about to start a research project for the first time." - British Journal of Educational Technology How to Research 2nd Edition is about the practice and experience of doing research in the social sciences as well as in related subjects such as education, business studies and health and social care. It is aimed at those, particularly the less experienced, who are involved in small-scale research projects at college or at work. The book is written in an original, accessible and jargon free style using a variety of different forms of presentation to support the researcher. How to Research 2nd Edition offers: * a series of useful exercises to help progress research thinking * a wide range of examples taken from a variety of subject areas * extensive annotated bibliographies for further reading * practical hints for all stages of the research process This new edition has been completely revised with up-to-date bibliographies and has new sections on choosing the appropriate method; internet research; and searching the internet. An essential resource for undergraduate and postgraduate research methods courses in the social sciences and invaluable for anyone carrying out research as part of a workplace assignment.

Author Biography

Dr Loraine Blaxter is a Lecturer in Continuing Education at the University of Warwick Dr Christina Hughes is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Warwick Professor Malcolm Tight works in the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Warwick

Table of Contents

List of exercises	viii
List of boxes	x
Acknowledgements	xiv
Thinking about research	1	(20)
Introduction	1	(1)
What is research?	2	(7)
Why research?	9	(4)
What is original?	13	(1)
Truth, power and values	14	(2)
How to use this book	16	(3)
What is different about this edition?	19	(1)
Summary	19	(1)
Further reading	19	(2)
Getting started	21	(32)
Introduction	21	(1)
Choosing a topic	22	(8)
What to do if you can't think of a topic	30	(4)
Focusing	34	(9)
Finding and choosing your supervisor	43	(3)
Individual and group research	46	(2)
Keeping your research diary	48	(3)
Summary	51	(1)
Further reading	51	(2)
Thinking about methods	53	(44)
Introduction	53	(1)
Everyday research skills	54	(5)
Which method is best?	59	(3)
Families, approaches and techniques	62	(5)
Action research	67	(4)
Case studies	71	(3)
Experiments	74	(3)
Surveys	77	(2)
Which methods suit?	79	(6)
Deciding about methods	85	(1)
Summary	86	(1)
Further reading	87	(10)
Reading for research	97	(33)
Introduction	97	(1)
Why read?	98	(1)
Coping with the research literature	98	(2)
Basic reading strategies	100	(4)
Using libraries	104	(3)
Using the Internet	107	(4)
Good enough reading	111	(6)
Reading about method as well as subject	117	(2)
Recording your reading	119	(1)
The literature review	120	(3)
Issues in reading	123	(4)
Summary	127	(1)
Further reading	128	(2)
Managing your project	130	(23)
Introduction	130	(1)
Managing time	131	(2)
Mapping your project	133	(2)
Piloting	135	(2)
Dealing with key figures and institutions	137	(5)
Sharing responsibility	142	(3)
Using wordprocessors and computers	145	(3)
Managing not to get demoralized when things do not go as planned	148	(2)
Summary	150	(1)
Further reading	151	(2)
Collecting data	153	(39)
Introduction	153	(1)
Access and ethical issues	154	(7)
Sampling and selection	161	(3)
Applying techniques to data collection	164	(3)
Documents	167	(4)
Interviews	171	(5)
Observations	176	(3)
Questionnaires	179	(3)
Recording your progress	182	(3)
The ups and downs of data collection	185	(3)
Summary	188	(1)
Further reading	188	(4)
Analysis data	192	(35)
Introduction	192	(1)
The shape of your data	193	(3)
The nature of data	196	(6)
Managing your data	202	(1)
Computer-based analysis	203	(2)
The process of analysis	205	(2)
Analysing documents	207	(3)
Analysing interviews	210	(2)
Analysing observations	212	(3)
Analysing questionnaires	215	(3)
Interpretation	218	(4)
Summary	222	(1)
Further reading	222	(5)
Writing up	227	(26)
Introduction	227	(1)
Drafting and redrafting	228	(6)
How to argue	234	(4)
How to criticize	238	(2)
Whom am I writing for?	240	(6)
Grammar, punctuation and spelling	246	(1)
Using tables, diagrams and other illustrations	247	(1)
Panics	247	(3)
Summary	250	(1)
Further reading	251	(2)
Finishing off	253	(24)
Introduction	253	(1)
Planning to finish?	254	(1)
The penultimate and final drafts	255	(3)
Added extras	258	(3)
The process of assessment	261	(6)
What do I do now?	267	(2)
Summary	269	(1)
Further reading	270	(7)
References	277	(7)
Index	284