Research Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide

This book sets out to reposition research from an intimidating academic ritual to a practical, intuitive process that anyone can engage with. Research, when taught as a human skill – not just a technical subject – becomes far more powerful, personal, and transformational. It has been shaped by countless interactions with learners over the years. The guiding idea behind this text is simple – research is not reserved for the select few. It is a way of thinking that everyone can learn.

Research is not just a means to academic publication or career advancement – it is a fundamental life skill. The ability to ask the right questions, gather evidence, interpret information, and make decisions lies at the heart of both everyday life and academic inquiry. This textbook does not assume prior expertise. The book explains key research concepts using everyday language without oversimplifying them. Technical terms are introduced gradually, explained through stories, examples, and analogies. Wherever possible, concepts are contrasted with similar-sounding but different ideas – hypothesis vs assumption, abstract vs summary, validity vs reliability – to build clarity. Recognising the reduced attention span of today’s learners, the chapters are kept short and focused. Each chapter is self-contained but builds upon earlier ones, creating a gentle and logical progression. Boxed insights, illustrations, and real-life scenarios support the core narrative, making it easier to grasp and remember key ideas.

This book will be an invaluable textbook catering to UG and PG students studying Research Methodology across various disciplines like social sciences, management, education, engineering, and allied fields. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the research process, which remains universally applicable. Pedagogically rich, this book ensures relevance and practicality for students to equip them with research skills worldwide.

Nimit Chowdhary, BE(Mech), MBA, PhD (Management), is Vice Chancellor of Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, Rajasthan, India. Earlier he served as a Professor and Head at the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He has more than 32 years of postgraduate teaching and research experience. He has been a Full Professor for close to 19 years, serving in all the country’s regions. He has also been a Professor at ITESM, Mexico, and Shaoxing University, China. He has also taught at the University of Girona, Spain, the University of Gotland, Sweden, and GEA Academy, Slovenia. Recently, he has been associated as Adjunct Faculty with Arizona State University, USA.

Sunayana, MBA, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Management Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia’s Department of Management Studies, New Delhi, India. She has earned a PhD in Management Studies from Jiwaji University in Gwalior, MP, and an MBA from Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University in Ajmer. At the Government Engineering College in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, she previously held the position of lecturer. She has been a teacher for more than 19 years.

Monika Prakash, MBA, MCom, PhD, is a Professor at the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Noida, India. Earlier, she headed the IITTM Noida and IITTM Gwalior. She has over 27 years of university-level teaching experience and has been a full professor since 2013. She leads the prestigious Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Programme (IITFP) of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. In addition, she is a researcher, trainer, and academic administrator.