This practical, down-to-earth guide is for researchers, students, community groups, charities or employees - in fact anyone who needs to put together research projects quickly and effectively. It contains everything from developing your idea into a proposal, through to analysing data and reporting results. Whether you have to undertake a project as part of your coursework, or as part of your employment, or simply because you are fascinated by something you have observed and want to find out more, this book offers you advice on how to turn your ideas into a workable project. Specifically it will show you how to: - choose your research methods - choose your participants - prepare a research proposal - construct questionnaires - conduct interviews and focus groups - analyse your data - report your findings - be an ethical researcher. REVIEWS: 'Many research books are written in a highly academic style which can put off the fledgling researcher, but this one is easy to read. It outlines the research process clearly and I would recommend anyone who is thinking of undertaking a research project to read this first. They will find that they are looking forward to their research and much more confident of the process.' Reader review 'All students should read this. I've completed the research for my dissertation and it was much easier than I thought, thanks to this book.' Reader Review AUTHOR BIOG: Dr Catherine Dawson has worked as a researcher since the mid-1980s and has taught on research methods courses at university. She has also written extensively for academic journals on a wide range of subjects including research methodology. In this book she explains complicated issues in a way that can be understood by anyone who is interested in their topic. CONTENTS: Preface 1. How to Define Your Project 2. How to Decide Upon a Methodology 3. How to Choose Your Research Methods 4. How to Conduct Background Research 5. How to Choose Your Participants 6. How to Prepare a Research Proposal 7. How to Conduct Interviews 8. How to Conduct Focus Groups 9. How to Construct Questionnaires 10. How to Carry Out Participant Observation 11. How to Analyse Your Data 12. How to Report Your Findings 13. How to be an Ethical Researcher Useful addresses Index.

Dr Catherine Dawson has worked as a researcher since the mid-1980s and has taught on research methods courses at university. She has also written extensively for academic journals on a wide range of subjects including research methodology. In this book she explains complicated issues in a way that can be understood by anyone who is interested in their topic.