Researchers need to find information to inform their work and support their arguments. This book works through the process, from planning to evaluation and results.

Since it was first published in the late 1980s, this book has become something of a bible for first-time researchers in social science. The current edition (the third) reflects advances in technology and methodology, but its formula remains essentially the same because of its ability to offer two key benefits: it enables students to get through their first research project successfully, and helps them develop sound techniques and good practices which will serve them well in the future.

Despite all of the information that exists to encourage students to attend and do well in college, this is the first research-based guide that directly advises first- and second-year college students. With a focus on the needs and interests of students who are underrepresented in the academy (African American, Latinx, low-income, and first-generation students), this book will help all students take full advantage of the academic resources that the university setting has to offer. The authors introduce students to different types of research across the disciplines, showing them how to work with professors to build a course of study, how to integrate research work into coursework, and how to write and present research. This timely volume will also assist faculty, staff, and parents in providing the needed tools to promote student success. Book Features: Prepares students for the transition from high school to college with a focus on writing, time management, and research skills.Addresses the challenges that face high-achieving, underrepresented students.Empowers students to seek out resources and research opportunities to achieve their full academic potential.Includes models, approaches, student voices, and vignettes from the authors’ successful undergraduate research program. “A must read for every college student. This practical guide provides a roadmap for success as a researcher, a scholar, and a learner.” —Tia Brown McNair, Association of American Colleges & Universities “Faculty mentors and administrative leaders who aspire to be effective sponsors and supporters of students from diverse backgrounds should definitely acquire this resource.” —Elizabeth L. Ambos, Council on Undergraduate Research “What I love about this book is the broader, humanistic conversation about how pursuing research becomes a window into how one becomes a supremely informed and critical citizen.” —Armando Bengochea, director, Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program

The Facts On File Guide to Research is a comprehensive guide to doing thorough and accurate research. It includes a detailed listing of available resources and explains general research methods and proper citation of sources. An invaluable reference, this book helps researchers make use of the many new resources available today. Divided into four sections, this easy-to-use guide helps students and general readers prepare for research papers and class studies. Step-by-step guides, detailed explanations, and valuable appendixes covering style guides, such as APA. MLA, and The Chicago Manual of Style, combine to create an incredibly authoritative accessible reference.

Covering all aspects of research methodology, this research tool also deals with planning issues and self-management techniques needed by the researcher. It contains information on data analysis and advice for staff members needing support from their institutions to pursue research.

IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO A RESEARCH PROJECT, THEN THIS IS THE IDEAL GUIDE FOR YOU. A Gentle Guide to Research Methods explains what research is, andguides you through choosing and using the method best suited to yourneeds, with detailed examples from a wide range of disciplines. It alsogives you practical “nuts and bolts” advice about how to avoid classicproblems and how to get the most out of your project. Written in a down-to-earth and highly accessible style, this unique bookprovides an overview of the “big picture” of research and of how this linksto practical details. It covers the whole process of conducting research,including: Choosing a research topic and research design Data collection methods Data analysis and statistics Writing up The authors also provide invaluable advice about planning your researchso that it can help you with your career plans and life aspirations. Drawing on numerous examples from student projects, A Gentle Guideto Research Methods will guide you through your project towards ahappy ending.

Observations Plus Recipes It has been said that science is the orderly collection of facts about the natural world. Scientists, however, are wary of using the word ‘fact. ’ ‘Fact’ has the feeling of absoluteness and universality, whereas scientific observations are neither ab- lute nor universal. For example, ‘children have 20 deciduous [baby] teeth’ is an observation about the real world, but scientists would not call it a fact. Some children have fewer deciduous teeth, and some have more. Even those children who have exactly 20 deciduous teeth use the full set during only a part of their childhood. When they are babies and t- dlers, children have less than 20 visible teeth, and as they grow older, children begin to loose their deciduous teeth, which are then replaced by permanent teeth. ‘Children have 20 deciduous [baby] teeth’ is not even a complete scientific sta- ment. For one thing, the statement ‘children have 20 deciduous teeth’ does not tell us what we mean by ‘teeth. ’ When we say “teeth,” do we mean only those that can seen be with the unaided eye, or do we also include the hidden, unerupted teeth? An observation such as ‘children have 20 deciduous teeth’ is not a fact, and, by itself, it is not acceptable as a scientific statement until its terms are explained: scientifically, ‘children have 20 deciduous teeth’ must be accompanied by definitions and qualifiers.