Designed to lead readers through the entire research process from start to finish, the text is divided into three parts:
Essentials of Research: this section introduces the whys of research, outlines the process and the proposal stage, and finally explores the ethics involved with all research undertakings.
Research Set-Up: now readers are familiar with the research process, this section introduces the different types of research. Beginning with a chapter on qualitative research, this part also features chapters on sampling strategies, interviews, surveys, observational research, ethnography and ends with a chapter on experiments.
Conducting the Research: this third section illustrates how best to conduct research, exploring the theory and practice of secondary data, measurements, field work and questionnaires. The text ends with a chapter that explains how best to write and present your research once it is complete, an essential skill for any good researcher!
A fourth part of the book (which covers the Statistical Background of research) is made available to readers on a CD-ROM that comes free with every copy of Business Research Methods. Designed to be used easily in conjunction with the text by those that need a more statistical perspective on research, the CD includes chapters on exploring, displaying and examining data, testing hypothesis, measuring association and an overview on multivariate analysis. Providing integrated coverage of advanced statistical methods, techniques and analysis, these chapters provide the perfect add-on for those that need it. Indexed and page numbered, it can be used easily in conjunction with the rest of the text.
