A Student′s Guide to Methodology

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

About the Author :
Peter Clough is Professor of Education at the University of Brighton. Often using innovative, arts-based qualitative methodologies, his research is concerned particularly with the inclusion of marginalised voices, and spans all age phases. Among his many publications are Inclusion in the Early Years (Sage), and Narratives and Fictions in Educational Research (OUP). Recent research includes the Family Literacy in Prisons project in collaboration with the Prison Advice and Care Trust.  Cathy Nutbrown is President of Early Education and Professor of Education in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield. Her research over the last 30 years, has focussed on young children’s learning and work with parents to support young children’s literacy development.  She won an ESRC Award for Research with Outstanding Impact on Society and a Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award. She is author of over 150 publications including Early Literacy Work with Families (with Hannon and Morgan, Sage, 2005), Early Childhood Educational Research (Sage, 2019), and Home Learning Environments for Young Children (with Clough, Davies and Hannon, Sage, 2022).

Review :
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 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 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 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.