Gary’s book, never more than a metre away, has been my indispensable research companion. With its easy layout, my well-worn copy, stripy with florescent marker and pencilled notes, has been my go-to, on-hand supervisor throughout my degree; taking the distance out of distance learning. Replace daunting and impossible with clarity and entertainment. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it; it has been my gateway to achievement′ - Ellie Davies Moore, distance learner in Multi-Sensory Impairment at the University of Birmingham With more advice on concluding, writing up and presenting research, using social media and digital methods, and understanding what supervisors want and how to work with them, the third edition of this bestselling title continues to lead the way as an essential guide for anyone undertaking a research project in the applied social sciences. Setting out a clear and detailed road map, Gary Thomas guides the reader through the different stages of a research project, explaining key steps and processes at each level in refreshingly jargon-free terms. It covers: - How to choose your research question - Project management and study skills - Effective literature reviews - Methodology, theory and research design frames - Ethics and access - Data collection tools - Effective data analysis - Discussing findings, concluding and writing up Packed with engaging anecdotal evidence and practical advice and supported by an interactive website featuring worksheets, videos, SAGE Journal articles and more, this new edition is a user-friendly, one-stop-shop for guidance on research principles.

Starting your research project can feel daunting, but this best-selling project guide has your back! Now in its fourth edition, the book provides easy to follow advice to navigate every step of your research project, from choosing your research question, deciding on your research design and methodology, collecting and analysing your data, and writing up your finished project. Presenting a clear and detailed roadmap to ensure you don’t miss a step, the book includes: • Case studies and real-life examples from a range of disciplines so you can learn from other researchers who have been in your shoes • DIY activities so you can practise your skills and get to grips with key concepts • Practical advice on how to organise your writing, develop your flow and build strong arguments • Further guidance on assessing ethical risk, including examples of high, medium, and low risk projects Written in Gary’s signature straightforward style, this book is an essential companion for anyone undertaking a research project in the applied social sciences.

Lecturers, why waste time waiting for the post to arrive? Click on the above icon and receive your e-inspection copy today! ′Whether embarking on research as an undergraduate or for a doctorate, Gary Thomas′ book will be of great value to you. It is refreshingly different from other books about doing research: it′s informative, well-written, wide-ranging yet sufficiently detailed and above all it′s enjoyable to read! I recommend it highly′. Professor Peter Earley, Institute of Education, University of London Are you doing a research project? Do you need advice on how to carry out research? Using practical examples, this book takes you through what should happen at each phase in the project′s schedule. Gary Thomas explains the main design frames and methods of data collection and analysis used in education and social science research, and provides down to earth advice on how to weave these elements together into a coherent whole. Structured according to the main phases of doing a project, the book covers · deciding your topic and your research question · project management and study skills · doing a literature review · methodology and research design · design frames · ethics and access · how to analyse the information you gather · discussing findings, theorising, concluding and writing up This book is an essential read for undergraduate, postgraduate, CPD and doctoral students undertaking a project in the applied social sciences. Comments from tutors: ′I loved this book! It brought research methods alive′: Gill Richards ,Nottingham Trent University ′Unputdownable′: Joy Jarvis ,University of Hertfordshire ′Accessible and encouraging style′: Neil Stott ,Nottingham Trent University Comments from students: ′Brilliant′: Alison Patterson ′Love the visual models′: Susan Allan ′Filled me with optimism′: Anne Cowan ′Very entertaining as well as extremely useful′: Viv Brown Gary Thomas is Professor of Education at the University of Birmingham.

Getting involved in medical and biomedical research through necessity or personal choice can be a testing experience. Each step of the process brings its own challenges, from liaising with supervisors, to the lack of opportunities to promote completed research. This brand new How to provides a complete guide to the process: from the planning stages, to execution, write-up, preparation for the viva examination, and how to maximise the impact of your research. It ensures you get the most out of the experience, both in terms of personal development and academic achievement, and even provides guidance on what to do when things don’t quite go to plan. An ideal companion, written by an experienced postgraduate tutor, this concise and user-friendly manual is full of practical exercises, key points, and hints and tips, which will give you the edge when dealing with the more elusive realities of medical and healthcare research.

For final-year social science undergraduates, 'How to do your Social Research Project or Dissertation' is the most student-led guide to confidently navigate the research process. It shares real student and supervisor experiences to help motivate you; provides advice for efficient time management; and tracks your progress through focused checklists.

How should we help equip the church leaders of Africa today? There remains a well-documented lack of theologically sound, Bible-centric preaching in Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of sermons are preached by untrained (or undertrained) church leaders. Following a practical theology praxis, this book develops a conceptual framework for the evaluation of existing “alternative” approaches to “grassroots” preacher training. It also proposes broad principles for effective preacher training, and offers a practical solution. The 20th century had seen the Christian church in Africa grow 36 fold to 360 million. This amazing growth is arguably “the largest religious change in human history in such a short period.” It has shifted the focus of Christianity from North to South. This rapid growth is – debatably – considered by some missiologists and theologians to have resulted in an African church “a mile wide and an inch deep.” That is, a church of great size but lacking in spiritual depth. The rapid growth has led to insufficient numbers of trained leaders being available to oversee their congregations. Most leaders are unpaid. Untrained or undertrained leaders have an inadequate knowledge of scripture, and lack understanding of its interpretation. They also lack the skills they need to communicate its truths. Even so, they preach up to 90% of the sermons in rural Africa. Despite a tremendous hunger for training among many of those preachers, “traditional” college based theological education cannot keep up with the demand for trained pastors and preachers in an affordable or culturally appropriate manner.

This practical book sets out how to approach each stage of your research project, from choosing a research design and methodology to collecting and analysing data and communicating your results – and showcases best practice along the way. Packed with pragmatic guidance for tackling research in the real world, this fourth edition: Offers support for diving into a project using digital data, with how-to guidance on conducting online and social media research Empowers you to confidently disseminate your work and present with impact Helps you map out your research journey and put a plan in place with decision trees in every chapter Challenges you to be reflective and critical about the research you consume and undertake Zina O′Leary′s detailed and down-to-earth approach gives you the research skills and momentum you need to successfully complete your research project.