Doing Research in the Real World

The book will be accompanied by a companion website, featuring tutor's notes, powerpoint slides, downloadable additional readings and weblinks.

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART ONE: PRINCIPLES AND PLANNING FOR RESEARCH Theoretical Perspectives and Research Methodologies Selecting and Planning Research Proposals and Projects Research Ethics Searching, Reviewing and Using the Literature PART TWO: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research Design: Quantitative Methods Research Design: Qualitative Methods Research Design: Mixed Methods Designing Descriptive and Analytical Surveys Designing Case Studies Designing Evaluations Action Research and Change PART THREE: DATA COLLECTION METHODS Collecting Primary Data: Questionnaires Collecting Primary Data: Interviewing Collecting Primary Data: Observation Collecting Primary Data: Unobtrusive Measures PART FOUR: ANALYSIS AND REPORT WRITING Analyzing and Presenting Quantitative Data Analyzing and Presenting Qualitative Data Writing up the Research Preparing for Presentations and Vivas

About the Author :
David Gray was Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at the University of Greenwich. His research interests, and publication record, included research methods, management learning (particularly coaching and mentoring), professional identity, action learning, reflective learning, management learning in SMEs and the factors that contribute to SME success. He published books and articles on research methods, organizational learning, and coaching and mentoring. David led a number of EU-funded research programmes including one examining the impact of coaching on the resilience of unemployed managers in their job-searching behaviours and another on how action learning can sustain unemployed managers in starting their own business. He also completed a global survey into the professional identity of coaches.

Review :
′This new edition is a comprehensive yet easy to read text that is written in a practical and accessible style. It takes the reader stepwise through the research process from the philosophy of research, through its conduct to its dissemination and implementation making it highly useful for students of all levels. I thoroughly recommend this book′ - Dr Emma Ream, Programme Leader MRes in Health and Social Care, King’s College London ′The book takes the reader through the process of completing a research project and clearly defines the many ways of approaching, collecting, analysing and presenting data..The emphasis in [the book] is placed upon conducting research within organisational contexts...The difference between conducting research for organizations and carrying out research for academic purposes is not always obvious. When contextual differences are made explicit, however, as they are in the discussion of presentations and vivas towards the end of the book, the advice that Gray gives is invaluable. Thus, as long as the reader is aware of its organisational emphasis, [this book] is a helpful introduction to the process of conducting social research′ - International Journal of Social Research