A Student's Guide to Methodology

Third Edition
Peter Clough - University of Brighton, UK
Cathy Nutbrown
A Student's Guide to Methodology
March 2012 | 288 pages | Sage UK
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Description

The Third Edition of this hugely popular text provides students with straightforward principles and frameworks for understanding methodology. Peter Clough and Cathy Nutbrown are adept at making methodology meaningful for beginners and more advanced readers alike. Their book clearly demonstrates how methodology impacts upon every stage of the research process, and gives readers all of the tools that they need to understand it.

New to this edition are the following:

  • New boxes and guidance on research ethics in every chapter
  • More international examples and perspectives
  • Up to date coverage of online research methods
  • More examples from real students
  • A new companion website, featuring Powerpoint slides for lecturers

The authors take an applied approach and every chapter contains a variety of practical examples from real research. Readers are encouraged to reflect on their own practice at every step, meaning that the book remains extremely relevant throughout. It will be invaluable for all students who are doing a dissertation or taking a research methods module in education, the social sciences, business and health.

Contents

PART ONE: RESEARCH IS METHODOLOGY

  • What Is Research?
  • What Is Methodology?

PART TWO: THE PERVASIVE NATURE OF METHODOLOGY

  • Looking: Seeing beyond the Known
  • Listening: Issues of Voice
  • Reading: Purpose and Positionality
  • Questioning: The Focus of Research

PART THREE: MAKING RESEARCH PUBLIC

  • Research Design: Shaping the Study
  • Reporting Research: Telling the Story
  • Research Action: Next Steps

Additional materials

Description

The Third Edition of this hugely popular text provides students with straightforward principles and frameworks for understanding methodology. Peter Clough and Cathy Nutbrown are adept at making methodology meaningful for beginners and more advanced readers alike. Their book clearly demonstrates how methodology impacts upon every stage of the research process, and gives readers all of the tools that they need to understand it.

New to this edition are the following:

  • New boxes and guidance on research ethics in every chapter
  • More international examples and perspectives
  • Up to date coverage of online research methods
  • More examples from real students
  • A new companion website, featuring Powerpoint slides for lecturers

The authors take an applied approach and every chapter contains a variety of practical examples from real research. Readers are encouraged to reflect on their own practice at every step, meaning that the book remains extremely relevant throughout. It will be invaluable for all students who are doing a dissertation or taking a research methods module in education, the social sciences, business and health.

Contents

PART ONE: RESEARCH IS METHODOLOGY

  • What Is Research?
  • What Is Methodology?

PART TWO: THE PERVASIVE NATURE OF METHODOLOGY

  • Looking: Seeing beyond the Known
  • Listening: Issues of Voice
  • Reading: Purpose and Positionality
  • Questioning: The Focus of Research

PART THREE: MAKING RESEARCH PUBLIC

  • Research Design: Shaping the Study
  • Reporting Research: Telling the Story
  • Research Action: Next Steps

Additional materials

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A Student's Guide to Methodology

Peter Clough , Cathy Nutbrown
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March 2012 | 288 pages | Sage UK

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The Third Edition of this hugely popular text provides students with straightforward principles and frameworks for understanding methodology. Peter Clough and Cathy Nutbrown are adept at making methodology meaningful for beginners and more advanced readers alike. Their book clearly demonstrates how methodology impacts upon every stage of the research process, and gives readers all of the tools that they need to understand it.

New to this edition are the following:

  • New boxes and guidance on research ethics in every chapter
  • More international examples and perspectives
  • Up to date coverage of online research methods
  • More examples from real students
  • A new companion website, featuring Powerpoint slides for lecturers

The authors take an applied approach and every chapter contains a variety of practical examples from real research. Readers are encouraged to reflect on their own practice at every step, meaning that the book remains extremely relevant throughout. It will be invaluable for all students who are doing a dissertation or taking a research methods module in education, the social sciences, business and health.


Table Of Contents:

  • PART ONE: RESEARCH IS METHODOLOGY
  • What Is Research?
  • What Is Methodology?
  • PART TWO: THE PERVASIVE NATURE OF METHODOLOGY
  • Looking: Seeing beyond the Known
  • Listening: Issues of Voice
  • Reading: Purpose and Positionality
  • Questioning: The Focus of Research
  • PART THREE: MAKING RESEARCH PUBLIC
  • Research Design: Shaping the Study
  • Reporting Research: Telling the Story
  • Research Action: Next Steps

Recent Product Reviews:

Justifying why this is one of the best books around on methodology is easy when the author's own students provide that evidence. Clough and Nutbrown's 3rd edition provides an important book for undergraduate, masters and doctoral students in education and the wider social sciences. This book will not only increase creative and critical capacities of researchers, but increase understandings of how pervasive methodology is when making findings public within the research processDr. Richard Race Senior Lecturer in Education, Roehampton University Finally, a book that clearly distinguishes methodology from methods. Excellent layout which aids comprehension. Great for the novice and competent researcherKaren WildLecturer in Nursing, Keele University A fresh approach to research. Students will enjoy the activities and examples of what research can beAlly DunhillDirector of Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education. Hull University This interactive and refreshing text guides researchers to address methodology pervasively. The authors want to help research bring about change - in the researcher, the researched and the userProf. Collette TaylerThe University of Melbourne Simplicity and clarity are the hallmarks of this book, with a strong student orientation in writing style, content and reader aids. One is spoken to, rather than down to, and each chapter includes useful activities, summeries and references. G. E. GormanOnline Information Review
Written in clear language, this book contains figures and tables enabling readers to visualise key ideas. Activities throughout encourage students to reflect and engage with the ideas discussed, thereby making this guide highly interactive. Though aimed at students doing dissertations, it will be useful for any general practitioner/reader entering the field of research or undertaking qualitative social research.
Wajihah Hamid, research assistant, Asia Research Institute, Singapore, Social Research Association - Research Matters

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