Get Started with Research Methodology

This version explores the philosophical underpinnings, history, and key elements of each of five qualitative inquiry approaches: narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study. Using an accessible and engaging writing style, author John W. Creswell compares theoretical frameworks, ways to employ standards of quality, and strategies for writing introductions to studies, collecting data, analyzing data, writing a narrative, and verifying results.

This book emphasizes the statistical concepts and assumptions necessary to describe and make inferences about real data. Throughout the book the authors encourage the reader to plot and examine their data, find confidence intervals, use power analyses to determine sample size, and calculate effect sizes. The goal is to ensure the reader understands the underlying logic and assumptions of the analysis and what it tells them, the limitations of the analysis, and the possible consequences of violating assumptions.

Systematic, practical, and accessible, this is the first book to focus on finding the most defensible design for a particular research question. Thoughtful guidelines are provided for weighing the advantages and disadvantages of various methods, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods designs.

Many students struggle with turning action research projects into a Master's thesis or doctoral dissertation and receive little guidance from their advisors. To address this need, the authors have distilled decades of action research experience into a first-of-its-kind reference for graduate students. This book helps students understand the ways action research dissertations are different from more traditional dissertations and prepares students and their committees for the unique dilemmas they may face, such as validity, positionality, design, write-up, ethics, and defense of the dissertation.

Dissertation writers need strong, practical advice, as well as someone to assure them that their struggles aren't unique. Using field-tested strategies she assists the student through the entire thesis-writing process, offering advice on choosing a topic and an advisor, on disciplining one's self to work at least fifteen minutes each day; setting short-term deadlines, on revising and defining the thesis, and on life and publication after the dissertation.

This text offers researchers practical hints and advice as well as support/guidance in planning, carrying out, writing up and publishing research findings. Topics covered include: information handling; time and self-management; writing; dealing with others; and publishing and profile.

A complete, step-by-step, practical overview of the process of writing successful theses and dissertations   Every year thousands of graduate students face the daunting-sometimes terrifying- challenge of writing a thesis or dissertation. But most of them have received little or no instruction on doing it well. This book shows them how in ways no other book does. It combines the practical guidance and theoretical understanding students need to complete their theses or dissertations with maximum insight and minimum stress.

The aftermath of graduate school can be particularly trying for those under pressure to publish their dissertations. Written with good cheer and jammed with information, this lively guide offers hard-to-find practical advice on successfully turning a dissertation into a book or journal articles that will appeal to publishers and readers. It will help prospective authors master writing and revision skills, better understand the publishing process, and increase their chances of getting their work into print.

This invaluable book covers issues such as working out the criteria for your thesis, writer's block, writing a literature review, making notes into a draft and much more. The author introduces practical writing techniques such as freewriting, generative writing and binge writing as well as what to do when you have the end in sight and when it's all over.

Paul Oliver shows you how to turn your notes and data into a finished thesis or dissertation. Fully up-to-date with current HEFCE/other EU requirements, the book sets out a template for you to follow, including planning and preparation, theoretical perspectives, publishing preliminary findings, and preparing for the viva. SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university.

Research shows that five strategies correlate with the successful completion of a dissertation: Establishing a consistent writing routine; Working with a support group; Consulting your advisor; Understanding your committee's expectations; and Setting a realistic and timely schedule. Building on these insights, this book is for anyone who needs help in preparing for, organizing, planning, scheduling, and writing the longest sustained writing project they have encountered, particularly if he or she is not receiving sufficient guidance about the process, but also for anyone looking to boost his or her writing productivity.

This text addresses both the tasks and procedures that professional practice dissertations have in common with dissertations in 'research' doctoral programs as well as the tasks and issues that are more common in professional practice doctoral programs.