A practical, step-by-step guide to planning, researching and writing a research project for undergraduate students approaching a research project for the first time. Undertaking a large-scale, original research project can be extremely daunting and challenging to any student. Using the tried-and-tested Smarter Student series approach, style and pedagogy to deliver timely, practical, hands-on guidance based on real-life experience from students and lecturers alike, this book will be an invaluable tutorial and reference for any student approaching an undergraduate or masters research project for the first time. This book will guide the student through all of the key areas that they will need to deliver a successful research project, providing practical guidance, examples and hints and tips for success on areas such as: Choosing a theme and topic for your research Writing the proposal Working with your supervisor Planning and managing your time and activity Analysing and evaluating data Successful academic writing styles and conventions Correct citing, referencing and avoiding plagiarism Ethics in research Researching and compiling the literature survey Methods of collecting and analysing data Writing-up and presenting your findings An essential guide to academic success!

Comprehensive and accessible, Successful Research Projects provides a practical, research-based framework to help examine practice, solve problems and plan research effectively. With key practical tips throughout, it draws on examples from across disciplines and across the world ensuring best practice for those completing projects in the fields of science, health care, social sciences, arts and humanities as well as multi-disciplinary projects. This book covers the key questions, challenges and solutions, exploring: Organising time efficiently Working effectively with colleagues Getting the best out of a supervisor and understanding what help is available Demonstrating good practice in academic writing Differences between research projects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels Staying motivatived and balanced in order to excel throughout the process Ways to use research to help career planning Providing the significant theories behind ways of managing projects, identifying important goals and solving problems, Successful Research Projects is the perfect companion for the busy student facing a postgraduate research project. This is the companion guide to the second edition of Successful Research Supervision, a research-based practical framework for academics to examine and develop their effectiveness as supervisors. It helps supervisors to move their students towards the ultimate goal of being able to study independently in a thoughtful, coherent and efficient manner and is a go-to guide for both novice and experienced supervisors seeking to develop their practice.

Keys to Running Successful Research Projects: All the Things They Never Teach You provides a step-by-step guide for the management of a successful research project or program. Through the use of illustrative case studies, the book covers all aspects of management that should be included during researcher training, helping researchers overcome the many challenges they face in their day-to-day management of people, time and resources. Links throughout provide more detailed information from gold standard sources on every topic. It is a must-have reference for postdocs, research managers and administrators in colleges, universities, hospitals and research institutes. In addition, it is an ideal resource for those working in grant and contract funding groups in the life sciences and medical fields. - Covers the nuts and bolts of research management in the life sciences, medical and health fields - Provides simple solutions to issues that come up on the job - Ensures that hard-fought for money is spent wisely and well

This straightforward, student-friendly guide contains all the practical advice for successfully undertaking a research project, leading students through all the stages of the research process. The second edition of this no-nonsense textbook supports students in conducting their own research projects, whatever discipline they are from. Describing processes, tools and strategies in a simple, succinct way, it supports the reader carefully through the planning and design stages, to implementation, analysis and completion. Doing a Successful Research Project is suitable for an interdisciplinary audience all over the world. It is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking a research project or dissertation across the social sciences, applied social sciences, education, health and business studies. It can also be used as essential or complimentary reading on modules on qualitative and quantitative research and research design.“br/> New to this Edition: - Enhanced coverage of essential topics, including research ethics, the literature review and online methodologies - Increased coverage on quantitative methods - New up-to-date examples of real-life research studies - Broadened scope to encourage appeal to a wide range of academic disciplines

The ability to carry out research successfully has come to be seen as a 'key transferable skill' required of all higher education students - and The Management of a Student Research Project addresses directly the skill element of this. Furthermore the research process, at all levels, is far more systematized than in the past. This is a hugely popular and highly successful textbook.

How to do your Social Research Project or Dissertation provides a straight-talking, easy-to-navigate, and reassuring guide to support final-year social science undergraduates. Uniquely shaped by real social science undergraduates from a range of institutions, the book includes their advice to help you through with what can be a daunting, but rewarding stage of your degree. From the look and feel of the book, to the development of the chapter content and the advice it provides, students have been involved at every stage of the book's development to ensure it is focused on what's important to you. Expert advice from real supervisors across the subject disciplines in the 'Working with your supervisor' feature also helps you to make the most of research supervision, and learn from the experience of real researchers in your chosen field. By providing anecdotes, words of wisdom, scenarios, or simply reminders, hints, and tips on how best to prepare for meetings, and communicate effectively, How to do your Social Research Project or Dissertation is the most complete guide to facilitate the student-supervisor working relationship. Dedicated chapters cover all the typical stages of a research project or dissertation in the social sciences, while their carefully constructed structure allows you to quickly and efficiently navigate the content. Throughout the book, you'll focus on three key questions: 'What do I need to know?', 'What do I need to think about?' and 'What do I need to do?'. In so doing, each chapter gives you a clear and direct checklist of actions as you progress through your dissertation or research project, keeping you organized, motivated, and confident. The book's online resources include a wealth of free-to-access materials, including: DT Author-led videos for each chapter of the book focussing on key areas of social research including supervision, thinking up research questions and ethical challenges in social research among others. DT Student videos focussing on key issues in undertaking a research project or dissertation and how these have been overcome. DT 'Finding your Way' research pitfalls and how to avoid them. DT General dissertation template. DT Good and bad examples of various research tools: questionnaires, interview questions, observation plans. DT Good and bad examples of extracts from literature reviews. DT Downloadable research checklist. DT Further reading/research suggestions, broken down by chapter. DT A list of links to online time-management tools. DT Research plan templates. DT Links to freely available datasets. DT Tips on increasing your sample size. DT SPSS/NVIVO links/resources. DT Interactive activity to help narrow down research topics. DT Mind-mapping tool. DT Interactive editing exercise to practise writing-up, and making efficient use of word count.

This brief, practical guide offers a clear and comprehensive strategy for conceptualizing, approaching, and executing the task of writing a research paper in the humanities and social sciences. In addition, it provides: a critical and process-oriented approach to the tasks of topic selection, formulation of the research question, thesis development, and argumentation. judiciously selected examples drawn from a broad range of disciplines. concise treatment of the aims, methods, and conventions of scholarly research, including the opportunities and pitfalls of Internet use. a wealth of conceptual and organizational tools, and more.

Direct, informative and accessible the new edition of Gary Thomas's bestselling title is essential reading for anyone doing a research project. Packed full of relevant advice and real world examples the book guides you through the complete research process. Using refreshingly jargon-free language and anecdotal evidence it is a witty, easy to follow introduction that will answer your questions, set out best practice and walk you through every stage of your project step-by-step. It covers: - How to choose your research question - Project management and study skills - Doing an effective literature review - Methodology, theory and research design - Design frames - Ethics and access - Tools for data collection - Effective data analysis - Discussing findings, concluding and writing up The expanded, insightfully redesigned second edition has a fully integrated companion website including student worksheets, annotated examples and links to SAGE Journals. Gary Thomas also has an exciting new video in which he explains what’s new to this Second Edition. This popular book is ideal for anyone undertaking a research project in the applied social sciences.