A gentle guide to research methods - Brossura

Rugg, .

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0335219276 ISBN 13: 9780335219278

Casa editrice: Open University Press, 2006

Riassunto

A Gentle Guide to Research Methods explains what research is, and guides you through choosing and using the method best suited to your needs, with detailed examples from a wide range of disciplines. It also gives you practical 'nuts and bolts' advice about how to avoid classic problems and how to get the most out of your project. Written by well-known research methods authors Gordon Rugg and Marian Petre, this is the ideal guide for anyone about to undertake a research project.

Su questo libro

L'autore:

Gordon Rugg is a former timberyard worker and field archaeologist who is now a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Keele University, where he is head of the Knowledge Modelling Group. He is also a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Open University.

Contenuti:

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

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Open University Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0335219276
• ISBN 13: 9780335219278
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero edizione: 1
• Numero di pagine: 256