Designing and Managing a Research Project: A Business Student’s Guide is a practical, step-by-step guide that shows business students how to successfully conduct a research project, from choosing the topic to presenting the results. The authors have applied their many years of experience in supervising student projects to provide examples of actual research problems and to offer practical solutions. The inclusion of topics such as supervision, group work and ethics, and both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, along with examples from real student research provide a unique perspective. The new Fourth Edition includes broader types of student project examples, such as an Economics thesis, additional international business cases, increased coverage of Questionnaire Design and Institutional Review Boards, and an integrated case throughout the book on “High Performance Shoes” with supporting materials and data.
A practical, step-by-step guide to planning, researching and writing a research project for undergraduate students approaching a research project for the first time. Undertaking a large-scale, original research project can be extremely daunting and challenging to any student. Using the tried-and-tested Smarter Student series approach, style and pedagogy to deliver timely, practical, hands-on guidance based on real-life experience from students and lecturers alike, this book will be an invaluable tutorial and reference for any student approaching an undergraduate or masters research project for the first time. This book will guide the student through all of the key areas that they will need to deliver a successful research project, providing practical guidance, examples and hints and tips for success on areas such as: Choosing a theme and topic for your research Writing the proposal Working with your supervisor Planning and managing your time and activity Analysing and evaluating data Successful academic writing styles and conventions Correct citing, referencing and avoiding plagiarism Ethics in research Researching and compiling the literature survey Methods of collecting and analysing data Writing-up and presenting your findings An essential guide to academic success!
Starting your research project can feel daunting, but this best-selling project guide has your back! Now in its fourth edition, the book provides easy to follow advice to navigate every step of your research project, from choosing your research question, deciding on your research design and methodology, collecting and analysing your data, and writing up your finished project. Presenting a clear and detailed roadmap to ensure you don’t miss a step, the book includes: • Case studies and real-life examples from a range of disciplines so you can learn from other researchers who have been in your shoes • DIY activities so you can practise your skills and get to grips with key concepts • Practical advice on how to organise your writing, develop your flow and build strong arguments • Further guidance on assessing ethical risk, including examples of high, medium, and low risk projects Written in Gary’s signature straightforward style, this book is an essential companion for anyone undertaking a research project in the applied social sciences.
*Interested in purchasing Doing Your Research Project as a SmartBook? Visit https://connect2.mheducation.com/join/?c=bellwaters7e to register for access today* Step-by-step advice on completing an outstanding research project. This is the market-leading book for anyone conducting a research project, whether for the first time or as an experienced researcher honing their skills. Clear, concise and readable, this bestselling resource provides a practical, step-by-step guide from initial concept to completion of your research report. Thoroughly updated but retaining its well-loved style, this seventh edition provides: • A brand new first chapter outlining what it means to carry out research, the responsibilities of the researcher, the research journey, and the 'intentional' and 'unintentional' roles of a researcher. • An extensive update to chapter nine on using social media in research, to include ethical considerations and how the researcher can use and reference information collected via these platforms and create collaborative connections. • An online review of the latest tools for collecting and analysing both quantitative and qualitative data gathered from social media sites, such as Survey Monkey and Google Forms. • Further coverage on how to protect research participants, including advice from the NHS on how to conduct research in health-based settings. • More detailed coverage of how to conduct effective online literature searches, not only using Google but also other research-based search engines such as PubMed and professionally-focussed sites. • To support your learning, questions at the end of each chapter, which prompt you to reflect on your research journey. This practical, no-nonsense guide is vital reading for all those embarking on undergraduate or postgraduate study, irrespective of discipline, and for professionals in such fields as social science, education and health. 'The latest edition provides extensive coverage of all that a research student might need to know. The expanse of the topics covered enables this book to be indispensable to a great range of students, not only at different levels of study but also in a variety of disciplines. Bell and Waters present an honest and practical look at a daunting academic undertaking and provide the student with a resource that is currently has no parallel. This new edition brings the text up to date with a look at some of the more creative approaches the research project might take and challenges students to think before making research decisions.' Dr Susan Schutz PhD, MSc, RNT, RGN, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, UK
Learn how to write a successful research proposal with this user-friendly, step-by-step guide. Research Proposals provides practical advice on how to deal with the seven basic questions that any research proposal needs to answer: • What is it all about? • What do we already know? • What do we need to find out? • How will we get the necessary information? • What will it cost and how long will it take? • Is the research socially acceptable? • What will be produced? This is a valuable resource for students who need to conduct a research project as part of their studies and anyone who wants to submit an application for research funding. The new edition is perfect for master’s students planning a dissertation, undergraduate students approaching their final year project, and PhD students applying for acceptance onto a doctoral programme. "This is an insightful and easy to use guide for students and researchers. It will support creating a research proposal for both academic programme assignments and for preparation for conducting research. The logical format is useful and very clear to read. There is an excellent appendix providing a specimen research proposal with commentary boxes highlighting the important points." Dr Alaster Scott Douglas, Reader in Education & Professional Practice, University of Roehampton, UK “Everything that you need to know about how to put together a research proposal is in this book. It’s the perfect guide for students and early career researchers who are writing a research proposal and have not had much experience. Impressive in its clarity and common sense, Denscombe’s practical guide tells you not just what to do but why as he takes you step by step through the process. The book is crammed with useful tips, helpful examples, effective graphics, and a great checklist appendix. Highly recommended!” Rosalind Edwards, Professor of Sociology and co-director of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods, University of Southampton, UK “This is a highly practical book about the art of communicating why your research ideas are worthwhile, feasible and should be supported. It takes away any mystery about the process and so instils confidence.” Melanie Nind, University of Southampton, UK
A practical guide for students undertaking their dissertation, Writing Successful Undergraduate Dissertations in Social Sciences uses a mixture of exercises, strategies, case study material and further reading to give hints and tips on beginning and managing a research project and working with supervisors. Providing an accessible overview of the essential steps in conducting research and writing dissertations, this fully updated edition contains new sections on: • The varied sources of support for students and how to make use of them • The use of modern technologies, and digital platforms in data collection, storage and processing • The important issues relating to ethnographic and feminist research • How to publish through peer review publications or using self-publishing platforms • The General Data Protection Regulation and legal issues relating to collection, storage and use of personal data • The skills that students have acquired through writing dissertations and how those skills could become useful for future career and employability • How students can relate their dissertations to existing theories and concepts in social sciences that relate to their dissertation. Packed with proven practical advice from ‘real-life’ data, case studies and examples, Writing Successful Undergraduate Dissertations in Social Sciences is an essential and dependable starting point and guide for any student beginning their dissertation journey in the social sciences.
′Mike Lambert′s book is a useful source of information, helping to create and shape your research methods project. The book contains detailed chapters with easy to follow guidelines, tips and suggestions ensuring help at every step of the way from start to finish′ Alexander Miesen, student, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences In this basic guide, step-by-step advice is presented in a clear way and chapters take the reader through the entire process, from planning and doing research, to writing it up. Each stage is covered, with detailed help on choosing a topic, drawing up research questions, doing the literature review, choosing and designing research methods, the ethics of doing research, analyzing data, and collating and presenting findings. Features in the text include: - explanations of key research terms - activities (with answers) - progress sheets - case studies This is an ideal text for undergraduate students undertaking their first ever research project, postgraduates pursuing Masters awards and teachers carrying out action research.
The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project 2e is the ultimate companion to successfully completing your research project. Warm and pragmatic, it gives you the skills and the confidence needed to succeed no matter what happens along the way. The book guides you through every step of your research project, from getting started to analysing data and writing up. Each stage is clearly set out, highlighting best practice and providing practical tips and down-to-earth advice for actually doing research. Key features include: Fully developed companion website including podcasts, worksheets, examples of real projects and links to journal articles Chapter summaries Boxed definitions of key terms Full glossary Suggestions for further reading Bursting with real world examples and multidisciplinary case studies, this book addresses the key questions posed by anyone hoping to complete a research project. It is the must-have textbook every student needs. Available with Perusall—an eBook that makes it easier to prepare for class Perusall is an award-winning eBook platform featuring social annotation tools that allow students and instructors to collaboratively mark up and discuss their SAGE textbook. Backed by research and supported by technological innovations developed at Harvard University, this process of learning through collaborative annotation keeps your students engaged and makes teaching easier and more effective. Learn more.
Since 1995, more than 150,000 students and researchers have turned to The Craft of Research for clear and helpful guidance on how to conduct research and report it effectively . Now, master teachers Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams present a completely revised and updated version of their classic handbook. Like its predecessor, this new edition reflects the way researchers actually work: in a complex circuit of thinking, writing, revising, and rethinking. It shows how each part of this process influences the others and how a successful research report is an orchestrated conversation between a researcher and a reader. Along with many other topics, The Craft of Research explains how to build an argument that motivates readers to accept a claim; how to anticipate the reservations of thoughtful yet critical readers and to respond to them appropriately; and how to create introductions and conclusions that answer that most demanding question, "So what?" Celebrated by reviewers for its logic and clarity, this popular book retains its five-part structure. Part 1 provides an orientation to the research process and begins the discussion of what motivates researchers and their readers. Part 2 focuses on finding a topic, planning the project, and locating appropriate sources. This section is brought up to date with new information on the role of the Internet in research, including how to find and evaluate sources, avoid their misuse, and test their reliability. Part 3 explains the art of making an argument and supporting it. The authors have extensively revised this section to present the structure of an argument in clearer and more accessible terms than in the first edition. New distinctions are made among reasons, evidence, and reports of evidence. The concepts of qualifications and rebuttals are recast as acknowledgment and response. Part 4 covers drafting and revising, and offers new information on the visual representation of data. Part 5 concludes the book with an updated discussion of the ethics of research, as well as an expanded bibliography that includes many electronic sources. The new edition retains the accessibility, insights, and directness that have made The Craft of Research an indispensable guide for anyone doing research, from students in high school through advanced graduate study to businesspeople and government employees. The authors demonstrate convincingly that researching and reporting skills can be learned and used by all who undertake research projects. New to this edition: Extensive coverage of how to do research on the internet, including how to evaluate and test the reliability of sources New information on the visual representation of data Expanded bibliography with many electronic sources
