RESEARCH METHODS FOR POSTGRADUATES, 3RD EDITION

About the Author ix
List of Contributors xi
Preface to the Third Edition xiii
Preface to the Second Edition xix
Preface to the First Edition xxi
• Part I FIRST STEPS 1
1 A View of Research 3
2 The Research Journey: Four Steps to Success 7
3 Managing Your Doctorate 13
4 Documenting Your Work 34
5 Ethics of Research 46
6 Plagiarism 56
7 Critically Reviewing Your Own Research 60
• Part II SUPPORT 69
8 Research Proposals for Funding 71
9 Who Can Help? 81
10 Information and Library Services 86
11 Research Methods for Advanced Web Searching 94
12 Searching in Unfamiliar Fields 113
13 Sources of Population Statistics 121
14 An Introduction to Bibliometrics 130
15 Choosing and Using Software for Statistics 144
16 Computer Support for Data Analysis 152
• Part III MEASUREMENT AND EXPERIMENTATION 157
17 Instrumentation in Experimentation 159
18 Randomised Trials 171
19 Laboratory and Industrial Experiments 180
20 Experiments in Biological Sciences 193
21 Survey Research 202
22 Theory and Practice of Qualitative Research 214
23 Kansei Engineering 231
24 Principles of Sampling 244
25 Sampling in Human Studies 255
26 Interviewing 264
27 Measurement Error 275
• Part IV DATA ANALYSIS 287
28 Elementary Statistics 289
29 Further Statistical Methods 299
30 Spreadsheets: A Few Tips 307
• Part V SPECIAL TOOLS 323
31 The Value of Mathematical Models 325
32 Deterministic Models 342
33 Stochastic Models and Simulation 357
34 Optimisation 372
• Part VI PRESENTATION 387
35 Writing the Thesis 389
36 The Logic of a Research Report 400
37 Presenting Data 412
38 Presenting and Sharing Your Research 419
39 Reporting Research 429
40 Social Media – How to Make ItWork for You as a Post-Graduate 440
• Part VII NEXT STEPS 455
41 Protection and Exploitation of Intellectual Property 457
42 Career Opportunities 470
Index 479

Research Methods for Postgraduates brings together guidance for postgraduate students on how to organise, plan and do research from an interdisciplinary perspective. In this new edition, the already wide-ranging coverage is enhanced by the addition of new chapters on social media, evaluating the research process, Kansei engineering and medical research reporting. The extensive updates also provide the latest guidance on issues relevant to postgraduates in all subject areas, from writing a proposal and securing research funds, to data analysis and the presentation of research, through to intellectual property protection and career opportunities.

This thoroughly revised new edition provides:
• Clear and concise advice from distinguished international researchers on how to plan, organise and conduct research.
• New chapters explore social media in research, evaluate the research process, Kansei engineering and discuss the reporting of medical research.
• Check lists and diagrams throughout.

Praise for the second edition:
“... the most useful book any new postgraduate could ever buy.” (New Scientist)

“The book certainly merits its acceptance as essential reading for postgraduates and will be valuable to anyone associated in any way with research or with presentation of technical or scientific information of any kind.”(Robotica)
Like its predecessors, the third edition of Research Methods for Postgraduates is accessible and comprehensive, and is a must-read for any postgraduate student.

Author Information
• Tony Greenfield, Industrial Statistics Research Unit (ISRU), University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
• Sue Greener, Brighton Business School, Brighton, UK