Research Methods

RESEARCH METHODS THE BASICS Research Methods: The Basics is an accessible, user-friendly introduction to the different aspects of research theory, methods and practice. This second edition provides an expanded resource suitable for students and practitioners in a wide range of disciplines including the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. Structured in two parts – the first covering the nature of knowledge and the reasons for research, the second the specific methods used to carry out effective research and how to propose, plan, carry out and write up a research project – this book covers: • • • • • • • • Reasons for doing a research project Structuring and planning a research project The ethical issues involved in research Different types of data and how they are measured Collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data in order to draw sound conclusions Mixed methods and interdisciplinary research Devising a research proposal and writing up the research Motivation and quality of work. Complete with a glossary of key terms and guides to further reading, this book is an essential text for anyone coming to research for the first time. Nicholas Walliman is Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture at Oxford Brookes University, UK. THE BASICS For a full list of titles in this series, please visit www.routledge.com/TheBasics/book-series/B ANIMAL ETHICS TONY MILLIGAN ARCHAEOLOGY (SECOND EDITION) CLIVE GAMBLE THE BIBLE AND LITERATURE NORMAN W. JONES BRITISH POLITICS BILL JONES CAPITALISM DAVID COATES CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY MURRAY RAE FINANCE (THIRD EDITION) ERIK BANKS FOLKLORE SIMON J. BRONNER FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY SANDIE TAYLOR JAPAN CHRISTOPHER P. HOOD LANGUAGE (SECOND EDITION) R.L. TRASK MEN AND MASCULINITIY NIGEL EDLEY NARRATIVE BRONWEN THOMAS POETRY (THIRD EDITION) JEFFREY WAINWRIGHT THE QUR’AN (SECOND EDITION) MASSIMO CAMPANINI RESEARCH METHODS (SECOND EDITION) NICHOLAS WALLIMAN RESEARCH METHODS THE BASICS Second edition Nicholas Walliman Second edition published 2018 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2018 Nicholas Walliman The right of Nicholas Walliman to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. First edition published by Routledge 2011 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Names: Walliman, Nicholas, author. Title: Research methods: the basics/by Nicholas Walliman. Description: 2nd edition. | Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2018. Identifiers: LCCN 2017012356 | ISBN 9781138693982 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138693999 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781315529011 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Social sciences–Research–Methodology. | Humanities– Research–Methodology. Classification: LCC H62.W254 2018 | DDC 001.4/2–dc23LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017012356 ISBN 978-1-138-69398-2 (hbk) ISBN 978-1-138-69399-9 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-52901-1 (ebk) Typeset in Bembo by Sunrise Setting Ltd, Brixham, UK To Ursula CONTENTS List of figures List of tables Acknowl