Description
This title is a Pearson Global Edition. The Editorial team at Pearson has worked closely with educators around the world to include content which is especially relevant to students outside the United States.
For introductory Research Methods courses in any area of study.
An engaging, cross-disciplinary guide to research methodology
Practical Research: Planning and Design is a do-it-yourself, how-to manual for planning and conducting research. Suitable for a wide variety of courses in basic research methodology, the book uses a conversational tone, step-by-step instructions, and practical suggestions to guide the reader from the selection of a problem to the preparation of a completed report.
The 12th Edition has been updated to include the latest technology-based strategies and online tools. Other key changes include a better balance between quantitative and qualitative methods and the addition of a new chapter on action research.
Pearson MyLab Education is not included. Students, if Pearson MyLab Education is a recommended/mandatory component of the course, please ask your instructor for the correct ISBN. Pearson MyLab Education should only be purchased when required by an instructor. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.
Reach every student by pairing this text with Pearson MyLab Education
MyLabTM is the teaching and learning platform that empowers you to reach every student. By combining trusted author content with digital tools and a flexible platform, MyLab personalizes the learning experience and improves results for each student. Pearson MyLab Education helps students bridge the gap between theory and practice–better preparing them for success in their future endeavors.
Features
Help students plan, conduct, report on, and evaluate a research project
- UPDATED: Practical Applications, Guidelines, and Checklists help readers enhance their research skills by translating abstract concepts and ideas into specific strategies and explicit criteria. (Chs. 2, 6, and 8-12 contain new or significantly revised features).
- UPDATED: Conceptual Analysis exercises allow readers to practice applying chapter content in activities such as “Identifying Independent, Dependent, Mediating, and Moderating Variables” and “Identifying Mixed-Methods Research Designs” (Chs. 2, 6, and 8-12 contain new or significantly revised exercises).
- Using Technology margin icons call out content that reflects the use of digital technologies for planning a research project, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting and disseminating the findings.
Showcase effective methodologies and report-writing strategies
- Illustrative excerpts and end-of-chapter Dissertation Analysis features provide examples of annotated, student-written dissertations and theses, showing readers how their peers have successfully completed these papers (Chs. 3 and 5-12).
Reflect contemporary trends in research design and data analysis
- NEW: Action research is covered in an entirely new chapter to provide guidance on using this increasingly popular form of research (Ch. 10).
- NEW: Tips for identifying a theoretical or conceptual framework for a research study are included in a new section. Readers learn to: 1) more effectively ground a study within current theoretical perspectives and research literature and/or 2) propose a new framework through which the results of their study may be meaningfully interpreted (Ch. 1).
- NEW: Included at the end of each chapter, Application Exercises help readers implement their understanding of various tasks essential to conducting research, such as selecting a topic, doing a literature review, collecting and analyzing research data, and writing up a proposal.
- REVISED: Expanded and updated discussions of qualitative and mixed-methods designs address the increasing popularity of these studies in many academic disciplines (Chs. 8, 9, and 12).
Also available with Pearson MyLab Education
MyLabTM Education is not included. Students, if Pearson MyLab Education is a recommended/mandatory component of the course, please ask your instructor for the correct ISBN. Pearson MyLab Education should only be purchased when required by an instructor. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.
- Deliver trusted content: You deserve teaching materials that meet your own high standards for your course. That’s why we partner with highly respected authors to develop interactive content and course-specific resources that you can trust–and that keep your students engaged.
- UPDATED: Interactive Practice Thinking Like a Researcher activities allow the reader to actively engage in their learning as they analyze the research process.
- Empower each learner: Each student learns at a different pace. Personalized learning pinpoints the precise areas where each student needs practice, giving all students the support they need–when and where they need it–to be successful.
- UPDATED: Self-Check Assessments present students with opportunities to check their understanding.
- Teach your course your way: Your course is unique. So whether you’d like to build your own assignments, teach multiple sections, or set prerequisites, MyLab gives you the flexibility to easily create your course to fit your needs.
- Improve student results: </b
New to this Edition
Help students plan, conduct, report on, and evaluate a research project
- Practical Applications, Guidelines, and Checklists help readers enhance their research skills by translating abstract concepts and ideas into specific strategies and explicit criteria. (Chs. 2, 6, and 8-12 contain new or significantly revised features).
- Conceptual Analysis exercises allow readers to practice applying chapter content in activities such as “Identifying Independent, Dependent, Mediating, and Moderating Variables” and “Identifying Mixed-Methods Research Designs” (Chs. 2, 6, and 8-12 contain new or significantly revised exercises).
- Application Exercises, an entirely new feature, help readers implement their understanding of various tasks essential to conducting research, such as selecting a topic, doing a literature review, collecting and analyzing research data, and writing up a proposal.
Reflect contemporary trends in research design and data analysis
- Action research is covered in an entirely new chapter to provide guidance on using this increasingly popular form of research (Ch. 10).
- Tips for identifying a theoretical or conceptual framework for a research study are included in a new section. Readers learn to: 1) more effectively ground a study within current theoretical perspectives and research literature and/or 2) propose a new framework through which the results of their study may be meaningfully interpreted (Ch. 1).
- Expanded and updated discussions of qualitative and mixed-methods designs address the increasing popularity of these studies in many academic disciplines (Chs. 8, 9, and 12).
Also available with Pearson MyLab Education
MyLabTM Education is not included. Students, if Pearson MyLab Education is a recommended/mandatory component of the course, please ask your instructor for the correct ISBN. Pearson MyLab Education should only be purchased when required by an instructor. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.
- Deliver trusted content: You deserve teaching materials that meet your own high standards for your course. That’s why we partner with highly respected authors to develop interactive content and course-specific resources that you can trust–and that keep your students engaged.
- Interactive Practice Thinking Like a Researcher activities allow the reader to actively engage in their learning as they analyze the research process.
- Empower each learner: Each student learns at a different pace. Personalized learning pinpoints the precise areas where each student needs practice, giving all students the support they need–when and where they need it–to be successful.
- Self-Check Assessments present students with opportunities to check their understanding.
- Teach your course your way: Your course is unique. So whether you’d like to build your own assignments, teach multiple sections, or set prerequisites, MyLab gives you the flexibility to easily create your course to fit your needs.
- Improve student results: When you teach with MyLab, student performance often improves. That’s why instructors have chosen MyLab for over 15 years, touching the lives of over 50 million students.
Table of Contents
- PART I: THE FUNDAMENTALS
- 1. THE NATURE AND TOOLS OF RESEARCH
- PART II: FOCUSING YOUR RESEARCH EFFORTS
- 2. THE PROBLEM: THE HEART OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS
- 3. REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE
- 4. PLANNING YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT
- 5. WRITING THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
- PART III: RESEARCH DESIGNS
- 6. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
- 7. EXPERIMENTAL, QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL, AND EX POST FACTO DESIGNS
- 8. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
- 9. MIXED-METHODS DESIGNS
- 10. ACTION RESEARCH
- PART IV: DATA ANALYSES
- 11. ANALYZING QUANTITATIVE DATA
- 12. ANALYZING QUALITATIVE AND MIXED-METHODS DATA
- PART V: RESEARCH REPORTS
- 13. PLANNING AND PREPARING A FINAL RESEARCH REPORT
- APPENDICES
- Appendix A: USING A SPREADSHEET: MICROSOFT EXCEL
- Appendix B: USING SPSS
- GLOSSARY
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