Research Methodology
A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
6th Edition
Will be published approx. on 12. December 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
424 pages
978-1-0362-4555-9 (ISBN)
Description
Research made doable.
Research Methodology offers a clear, no-fluff, 8-step route from first idea to final report. With real-world examples, hands-on tasks, and complete projects students can follow from start to finish, it transforms research from something daunting into something achievable.
Guiding students step-by-step through the entire research journey, the book covers everything needed to complete a first project with confidence. It moves from choosing and refining a research problem, reviewing the literature, and designing a study, through to data collection, analysis, and writing up findings. Clear, structured chapters support key decision-making across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research, with practical coverage of sampling, research instruments, ethics, validity and reliability, and presenting data clearly and effectively.
Ideal for beginners across the social sciences, this is a straightforward, confidence-building guide that helps students move from uncertainty to completed research-one clear step at a time.
Research Methodology offers a clear, no-fluff, 8-step route from first idea to final report. With real-world examples, hands-on tasks, and complete projects students can follow from start to finish, it transforms research from something daunting into something achievable.
Guiding students step-by-step through the entire research journey, the book covers everything needed to complete a first project with confidence. It moves from choosing and refining a research problem, reviewing the literature, and designing a study, through to data collection, analysis, and writing up findings. Clear, structured chapters support key decision-making across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research, with practical coverage of sampling, research instruments, ethics, validity and reliability, and presenting data clearly and effectively.
Ideal for beginners across the social sciences, this is a straightforward, confidence-building guide that helps students move from uncertainty to completed research-one clear step at a time.
More details
Edition
6th Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 189 mm
Weight
343 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0362-4555-9 (9781036245559)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
01/2019
5th Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€89.43
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Dr Ranjit Kumar taught at Curtin University of Technology and the University of Western Australia for 30 years. He is currently a freelance research and evaluation consultant in Western Australia.
Content
Chapter 1: Research: a way of thinking
Chapter 2: The research process: a quick glance
Step 1: Formulating a research problem
Chapter 3: Reviewing the literature
Chapter 4: Formulating a research problem
Chapter 5: Identifying variables
Chapter 6: Constructing hypotheses
Step 1 Appendix: Exercises for formulating a research problem
Step 2: Conceptualising a research design
Chapter 7: The research design
Chapter 8: Selecting a study design
Step 2 Appendix: Exercises for conceptualising a study design
Step 3: Constructing an instrument for data collection
Chapter 9: Selecting a method of data collection
Chapter 10: Collecting data using attitudinal scales
Chapter 11: Establishing the validity and reliability of a research instrument
Step 3 Appendix: Exercises for developing a research instrument
Step 4: Selecting your sample
Chapter 12: Selecting a sample
Step 4 Appendix: Exercises for selecting a sample
Step 5: Writing your research proposal
Chapter 13: Writing a research proposal
Step 5 Appendix: Exercises for writing a research proposal
Step 6: Collecting data
Chapter 14: Considering ethical issues in data collection
Step 6 Appendix: Exercises for data collection (Ethical issues in data collection)
Step 7: Processing and displaying your data
Chapter 15: Processing data
Chapter 16: Displaying data
Step 7 Appendix: Exercises for processing and displaying data
Step 8: Writing your research report
Chapter 17: Writing a research report
Step 8 Appendix: Exercises for report writing
Chapter 2: The research process: a quick glance
Step 1: Formulating a research problem
Chapter 3: Reviewing the literature
Chapter 4: Formulating a research problem
Chapter 5: Identifying variables
Chapter 6: Constructing hypotheses
Step 1 Appendix: Exercises for formulating a research problem
Step 2: Conceptualising a research design
Chapter 7: The research design
Chapter 8: Selecting a study design
Step 2 Appendix: Exercises for conceptualising a study design
Step 3: Constructing an instrument for data collection
Chapter 9: Selecting a method of data collection
Chapter 10: Collecting data using attitudinal scales
Chapter 11: Establishing the validity and reliability of a research instrument
Step 3 Appendix: Exercises for developing a research instrument
Step 4: Selecting your sample
Chapter 12: Selecting a sample
Step 4 Appendix: Exercises for selecting a sample
Step 5: Writing your research proposal
Chapter 13: Writing a research proposal
Step 5 Appendix: Exercises for writing a research proposal
Step 6: Collecting data
Chapter 14: Considering ethical issues in data collection
Step 6 Appendix: Exercises for data collection (Ethical issues in data collection)
Step 7: Processing and displaying your data
Chapter 15: Processing data
Chapter 16: Displaying data
Step 7 Appendix: Exercises for processing and displaying data
Step 8: Writing your research report
Chapter 17: Writing a research report
Step 8 Appendix: Exercises for report writing