Doing a Successful Research Project—Using Qualitative or Quantitative Methods:

This book is introduced as being ‘unashamedly practical’ in its aim to provide a simple approach to conducting a successful research project. It is written for students, undergraduate or postgraduate, conducting research for the first time and is packed full of useful advice. ‘Keeping it simple’ at an early stage in one’s research career is the sound and over-riding message from the authors. This second edition is authored by Martin Davies, Professor Emeritus at the University of East Anglia, UK, who has extensive social science research experience, and Nathan Hughes, Director of Education and Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Social Work at the Institute of Applied Social Studies, University of Birmingham, UK. Therein lies the major issue I have with this book which, despite its title, has a predominant bias towards the social and psychological sciences. The focus of the book on the practical and the simple should be common across all academic disciplines; indeed many, if not all, the research students I have mentored over the years in the biological and health sciences would have benefitted greatly from reading this book. The book itself is set out in four parts. Part 1, ‘Planning Your Research Project’, sets out the options—the nature of research and the basic rules for a successful project, defining the research question and identifying appropriate methodology and doing the preparatory groundwork. Part 2, ‘Quantitative Research’, focuses on sampling, questionnaires and survey interviewing with chapters on analysis and testing for statistical significance. Part 3 covers ‘Qualitative Research’ with the focus being on the use of small samples, interviewing and the analysis of qualitative data. Finally a short Part 4, ‘The Last Lap’, discusses report writing. Throughout the book there are helpful case studies, exercises, summary tables and recommendations for further (book) reading on major topics. Each of the two central parts also has a final ‘briefing sheet’, which provides ‘10 golden rules for research’ (quantitative and qualitative, respectively), and a concise glossary. The primary audience for this book is the first time researcher and as such the emphasis is on research methodologies appropriate for that situation. Although there is reference to more advanced methodologies, these are not discussed in any detail. This in many ways is the strength of this book. However, it is important in any book such as this not to confuse the reader and unfortunately a significant error has found its way into the text in the opening chapter (p. 7). When discussing distinctions between the independent and dependent variables, we find ‘A research project typically seeks to identify cause and effect – the effect on the independent variable caused by the explanatory variables’ (!?). Almost certainly a proofing error, and readily corrected, it is nevertheless an error too many. I was interested to see that this edition included additional discussion in a section on research ethics but felt that in view of the emphasis on the practical there could have been more practical detail included throughout the book. To give two examples: firstly where mobile phones/emails are being used within the research, personal numbers/addresses should not be given by researchers to participants and it is necessary to set up specific accounts for personal ‘safety’. Secondly where convenience sampling using friends and relatives is being employed, measures should be in place to mitigate coercion. It could also be useful to highlight these practical ethical issues in the exercises and case studies. Finally, I felt that a specific section on involving (school) children and young people as research participants would be helpful. Despite my comment and criticisms, including that of bias, this is an excellent book, which should be essential reading for anyone about to conduct their first piece of research. It is practical, simple and covers the methodologies most frequently used by those fulfilling the requirements of an MSc or Faculty dissertation. Following the advice in this book should enable candidates to survive the perils and pitfalls of conducting a piece of research, both to a satisfactory conclusion and on schedule. HHHH (Essential for those about to undertake a piece of research)