Understanding and Doing Successful Research

' ... an excellent introductory text, covering a broad range of relevant topics on data collection and data analysis in social research. The focus on practical aspects of research methods makes the book very accessible and highly recommended for beginners in social research, including A-level and undergraduate students.'
Dr Monica Magadi, City University London

'This accessible and comprehensive new text covers all the main research methods as well as ethics, secondary analysis, evaluation research and mixed methods. Useful case studies, clear examples and thinkpieces encourage students to reflect on the research process and bring it to life.'
Dr Samantha Punch, University of Stirling

Understanding and Doing Successful Research: Data Collection and Analysis for the Social Sciences is an essential guide for the first-time researcher. Offering practical advice on planning, conducting and analysing research, the text crucially also looks more deeply at the wider context for research: why we do it; what context and thinking might govern the choice of a particular methodology; the implications and the issues it raises; how to analyse results critically; and what lessons can be learnt from previously conducted studies. Supporting you as a critically-minded researcher, this text will enable you to make the most of your research methods study or project.

Key features

• demonstrates how to plan and conduct data collection, choose an appropriate method of data collection and write up the findings in a meaningful way
• full and clear descriptions of the methods and key concepts in the area, as well as extensive explanation and evaluation to assist the novice researcher 
• thorough discussion of data analysis and advice on explanation building and how to draw appropriate inferences from data collected
• encourages participant-driven and reflective research
• illustrates good research practice from across a number of disciplines
• addresses the QAA benchmarks for research methods study
• covers all the core methods as well as mixed methods, evaluation research and experiments, measurement and statistical inference
• exercises and activities within the chapters to give the reader regular opportunities to reflect on their reading and evaluate the material
• running case study examines the issues and challenges of conducting research projects in a real-world scenario  

Understanding and Doing Successful Research is essential for anyone conducting research in sociology, health policy, social work, criminology, social policy, cultural studies, political studies, public policy, education and related fields.

Shaun Best is Lecturer in Education and the Leisure Sectors at the University of Manchester, UK.