This comprehensive and easy-to-use book supports postgraduate researchers in the early stages of their project. Written in an engaging and accessible style, it helps readers to clarify what they want to research and how to conduct that research. Each chapter covers a key stage in the process, from selecting an appropriate research topic and developing a working research question through to assimilating and evaluating relevant literature. It then guides researchers through the process of writing a literature review, selecting a research methodology and creating a research proposal. This invaluable guide is ideal for PhD and Masters students alike and will equip them with the skills needed to get their research project underway

'Offers a practical and helpful guidebook both for students and supervisors. It is recommended for research students at the early stages of their research studies, because it provides a thought-provoking account of the different aspects of post-graduate research. Additionally, it can be a useful tool and resource pack for advanced research students who want to think about viva and career options after the completion of the PhD...a useful addition to the growing literature of books on post-graduate research. It provides not only a helpful reading but also a complete multimedia resource pack for new and more-advanced students and supervisors.' - Educate Journal The prospect of undertaking postgraduate research can seem daunting. This thoroughly revised Second Edition of Doing Postgraduate Research will show you how to undertake your research better, quicker, and with as little hassle as possible. The text offers an authoritative and comprehensive guide to better research practice and is fully compliant with research training requirements, including the Joint Research Councils' Skills Statement. Doing Postgraduate Research will enable you to acquire research methods skills as you proceed through your Masters or PhD programme. Key topics include: Designing and organizing a research project Understanding alternative research perspectives Doing a literature review Academic writing IPR and Ethics in research Research presentations Preparing for a viva Career development. Activities are used throughout the book to link the material to student's own research projects, encouraging practical `training by doing'. The book comes with a DVD and website which illustrate key features of the research process, and provide further reading and a guide to additional resources. Visit the companion website at www.sagepub.co.uk/potter Doing Postgraduate Research is an invaluable tool for students, supervisors, and all with research training responsibilities. SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills website for tips, quizzes and videos on study success!

This innovative book provides clear and straight-forward strategies which help students to understand the conventions of academic assignments and what lecturers expect from their work. Simplify Your Study is organised around nine core units which focus on the 'sticking points' of university study, including organisation and planning, reading and note-making strategies, producing essays, critical thinking, delivering presentations and preparing for exams. Packed with tried-and-tested strategies for success, this essential resource will help students of all disciplines and levels to achieve their academic potential.

This handbook provides an in-depth exploration of the entire journey of postgraduate research in the social and behavioural sciences, from enrolment to its culmination in the form of a thesis, dissertation or portfolio, and beyond. It is written in an accessible and example-rich style, offering practical and concrete advice in virtually all areas. It also includes references to additional resources and websites, and each chapter features key recommendations for improving the postgraduate research experience. The book addresses not only research-related aspects (e.g. supervisors; selecting your guiding assumptions; contextualising, framing and configuring research; reviewing literature; sampling; writing proposals; ethics and academic integrity; selecting a data gathering strategy; surviving your thesis/dissertation/portfolio examination; and publishing), but also questions concerning how to integrate, manage, and balance the research journey in the context of the postgraduate student’s broader life-world (e.g. skill development and supervisor relations; effective time and project management; a healthy work–life balance; maintaining motivation; and dealing with criticism). The book adopts an explicitly pluralist perspective on postgraduate research, moving beyond mixed methods thinking, and offers concrete examples from postgraduate students’ real-world experiences.

This is a comprehensive guide to planning and producing high-quality dissertations, written assignments and project reports at undergraduate level. It supports students of all disciplines through each stage of the research process, from drafting questions and reviewing the literature through to collecting data and presenting their work. It provides practical guidance on common problems, including writer's block and managing deadlines, and contextualises this with examples of real students' experience of research. This text will be invaluable to undergraduate students undertaking academic research in all subject areas. New to this Edition: - Features new and updated content on the internet and critical thinking, and analytical skills in relation to developing and following through with a research agenda

Packed with clear guidance on the nuts and bolts of grammar and plenty of examples, this text will help students master the fundamentals of English grammar and tackle written assignments with confidence. 60+ bite-sized units help students overcome common areas of difficulty, such as forming different tenses, using connectives to link ideas and build an argument, punctuating sentences and choosing the right words. Each unit is presented on a double-page spread, making it easy for students to flick through the book and quickly find the unit they need. Short, focused exercises at the end of each unit - with answers provided at the back of the book - make this text ideal for both self-study and classroom use. This 3rd edition contains four new units on hedging, being critical and collocation. Improve Your Grammar is an essential resource for students of all disciplines and levels wanting to excel at writing, and can be used as a self-study workbook or on tutor-led grammar modules.

This engaging guide by bestselling author Bryan Greetham takes students step-by-step through the process of writing a literature review, and equips them with practical strategies to help them navigate each stage. Each bite-sized chapter focuses on a specific aspect of the process, from generating ideas and pinning down the research problem through to searching for sources, citing references and planning, writing and editing the review. Chapters feature examples and exercises to help students apply ideas to their own work. Whether your students are writing a stand-alone review or one that is part of a dissertation or thesis, this guide is their essential companion.

This concise and accessible guide takes referencing apart and rebuilds it in a step-by-step, easy-to-understand and student-centred way. Students will learn what referencing is, how to locate appropriate sources, and how to format citations and references in the Harvard style. A Student-Friendly Guide to Referencing features examples from a wide range of common source types, including books, journals, newspapers, podcasts and online sources. 'Test yourself' exercises allow students to put new skills into practice, with answers provided at the end of each chapter. This text is essential for all students that need to get to grips with referencing, and will be particularly useful for preliminary-year or pre-sessional students.

This practical guide takes undergraduate students step-by-step through the process of completing a dissertation, from the initial stages of generating original ideas and planning the project through to writing their first draft and critically reviewing their own work. It shows students how to choose the most appropriate methods for collecting and analysing their data and how to then integrate this research into their dissertation. Students will learn how to develop consistent and persuasive arguments and write up their research in a clear and concise style. This book is an essential resource for undergraduates of all disciplines who are required to write a dissertation as part of their degree. New to this Edition: - Includes expanded material on research ethics - Contains two new chapters on presenting research posters and delivering oral presentations

This book provides practical guidance and strategies to help students make a successful transition to university and unlock their academic potential. Chapters are organised around five essential skills for success: time management, academic reading, academic writing and group-work, all of which are underpinned by independent learning. Students will learn how to demonstrate critical analysis in their writing, overcome challenges in group projects and deliver presentations with confidence and focus. In bringing together academic and employability skills, readers are encouraged to make connections between the skills they have developed inside and outside the classroom and to start the process of personal development planning sooner rather than later. Packed with activities, 'pause for thought' reflective tasks, student insights and model assignments, Skills for Business and Management is an essential resource for undergraduates and postgraduates on any business and management course. It is also ideal for those studying relating fields, such as accounting, finance, human resource management, hospitality, marketing and tourism management.