A Gentle Guide to Research Methods

Introduction

>The structure of this book: research design, data collection anddata analysis
>Taught degree projects: what they are, things to watch out for,and practical points
>PhD second studies: what happens when your first study changesyour plans
>Strategies and principles: demonstrating excellence, exploringterritory rather than trying to prove a hunch, avoiding trouble,and learning from the wise
>Choosing a topic, or cups of coffee, easy pickings and blamingothers
>Departments, systems and supervisors: how to behave like aprofessional, get a good reference, and avoid needless trouble
>'How do I get a good mark?' - things that can send out the wrongsignal, and how to avoid these
>Academic writing: why it's different from other writing, and howto do it well
>Doing a good project: summary

1. About research

>Research: introduction to the nature of research, and types ofresearch
>Research questions, and the nature of evidence: deciding whattype of question to ask, and how to handle the various types ofanswer
>Mud pits and how to avoid them: things that go wrong
>Isms: necessary assumptions, dubious assumptions, and beingcaught in crossfire
>Searching the literature: why, where, what for and how
>Research in society - agendas, context and the like: thingswe take for granted, and things that can cause you trouble

2. Research design

>Types of design: which to use and how to use them
>Surveys and sampling
>Field experiments: doing research in the world
>Controlled experiments: changing things systematically andseeing what happens
>Summary and technical terms

3. Generic advice

>Arranging a study: subjects, equipment, procedures, things toremember, things to beware
>Location and kit
>Handling subjects
>Recording

4. Data collection

>Data collection methods: the methods, and choosing and usingthe appropriate method
>Reports: getting respondents to talk about how things happen
>Observation: watching what happens
>Card sorts: getting respondents to categorise things
>Laddering: unpacking the respondents' concepts systematically
>Repertory grids: a systematic representation for respondents'knowledge
>Interviews: asking people questions
>Face-to-face interactions with respondents: the nuts and bolts ofasking questions
>Questionnaires: when to use, when not to use, which questionsto ask, what format to use

5. Data analysis

>Content analysis: what is said in a text, how it is said, and howoften it's said
>Discourse analysis: who says what, about what, to whom, in whatformat
>Knowledge representation: formats, structures and concepts formaking sense of knowledge
>Statistics: describing things with numbers, and assessing the odds
>Descriptive statistics: giving a systematic description of thenumbers you've found
>Measurement theory: types of measurement and theirimplications
>Inferential statistics: what are the odds against your findingsbeing due to random chance?

Conclusion: the end game

>Writing up: demonstrating your excellence efficiently, andpractical points to remember
>References and referencing: using and citing the right texts todemonstrate your excellence
>What next? thinking forward about what you really want yourlife to be