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A Student's Guide to Methodology
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A Student's Guide to Methodology

Third Edition


February 2012 | 288 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
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.

 
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

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 process
Dr. 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 researcher
Karen Wild
Lecturer in Nursing, Keele University


A fresh approach to research. Students will enjoy the activities and examples of what research can be
Ally Dunhill
Director of Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education. Hull Universit
y


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 user
Prof. Collette Tayler
The 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. Gorman
Online Information Revie
w


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

This is a really comprehensive book which takes postgraduate students deeper into some complex concepts without losing them.

Mrs Victoria Brown
Primary Education Dept, Plymouth Marjon University
March 14, 2024

The book is very useful to help student to develop their research design.

Dr Eva Fleischer
Social Work, Management Center Innsbruck
August 12, 2014

Updates key information from previous edition. Easy to read for undergrads with good contextualised examples.

Mrs Karen Tait
education and society, Sunderland University
March 21, 2014

Great text which is not too daunting for undergraduate students

Ms Michelle Groves
Faculty of Education, Royal Academy of Dance
January 30, 2014

Thank you very much for this book. I am using it as one of two research books for my course. Very clear and easy to understand book. Highly recommended.

Mr Sizwe Zondo
Dept of Psychology, Rhodes University
January 17, 2014

An excent reference guide for any student studying for the first time research methodology

Mrs Deborah Humphreys
Faculty of Education, Edge Hill University
December 12, 2013

Recommended for any undergraduate student embarking on research for the first time. A great refresher for tutors delivering research methods as part of a programme of study

Ms Michelle Groves
Faculty of Education, Royal Academy of Dance
December 2, 2013

A useful, accessible text which part time students find useful.

Mr Ian Robson
Health Community and Education Studies, Northumbria University
November 21, 2013

For instructors

Select a Purchasing Option


Paperback
ISBN: 9781446208625
£39.99

Hardcover
ISBN: 9781446208618
£129.00

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.

With SAGE Research Methods, researchers can explore their chosen method across the depth and breadth of content, expanding or refining their search as needed; read online, print, or email full-text content; utilize suggested related methods and links to related authors from SAGE Research Methods' robust library and unique features; and even share their own collections of content through Methods Lists. SAGE Research Methods contains content from over 720 books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks, the entire “Little Green Book,” and "Little Blue Book” series, two Major Works collating a selection of journal articles, and specially commissioned videos.