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Research Methodology
A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Sixth Edition
- Ranjit Kumar - University of Western Australia, Australia
Additional resources:
December 2026 | 424 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Research made doable.
Research Methodology offers a clear, no-fluff, 8-step route from first idea to final report. With real-world examples, hands-on tasks, and complete projects students can follow from start to finish, it transforms research from something daunting into something achievable.
Guiding students step-by-step through the entire research journey, the book covers everything needed to complete a first project with confidence. It moves from choosing and refining a research problem, reviewing the literature, and designing a study, through to data collection, analysis, and writing up findings. Clear, structured chapters support key decision-making across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research, with practical coverage of sampling, research instruments, ethics, validity and reliability, and presenting data clearly and effectively.
Ideal for beginners across the social sciences, this is a straightforward, confidence-building guide that helps students move from uncertainty to completed research—one clear step at a time.
Research Methodology offers a clear, no-fluff, 8-step route from first idea to final report. With real-world examples, hands-on tasks, and complete projects students can follow from start to finish, it transforms research from something daunting into something achievable.
Guiding students step-by-step through the entire research journey, the book covers everything needed to complete a first project with confidence. It moves from choosing and refining a research problem, reviewing the literature, and designing a study, through to data collection, analysis, and writing up findings. Clear, structured chapters support key decision-making across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research, with practical coverage of sampling, research instruments, ethics, validity and reliability, and presenting data clearly and effectively.
Ideal for beginners across the social sciences, this is a straightforward, confidence-building guide that helps students move from uncertainty to completed research—one clear step at a time.
Chapter 1: Research: a way of thinking
Chapter 2: The research process: a quick glance
Step 1: Formulating a research problem
Chapter 3: Reviewing the literature
Chapter 4: Formulating a research problem
Chapter 5: Identifying variables
Chapter 6: Constructing hypotheses
Step 1 Appendix: Exercises for formulating a research problem
Step 2: Conceptualising a research design
Chapter 7: The research design
Chapter 8: Selecting a study design
Step 2 Appendix: Exercises for conceptualising a study design
Step 3: Constructing an instrument for data collection
Chapter 9: Selecting a method of data collection
Chapter 10: Collecting data using attitudinal scales
Chapter 11: Establishing the validity and reliability of a research instrument
Step 3 Appendix: Exercises for developing a research instrument
Step 4: Selecting your sample
Chapter 12: Selecting a sample
Step 4 Appendix: Exercises for selecting a sample
Step 5: Writing your research proposal
Chapter 13: Writing a research proposal
Step 5 Appendix: Exercises for writing a research proposal
Step 6: Collecting data
Chapter 14: Considering ethical issues in data collection
Step 6 Appendix: Exercises for data collection (Ethical issues in data collection)
Step 7: Processing and displaying your data
Chapter 15: Processing data
Chapter 16: Displaying data
Step 7 Appendix: Exercises for processing and displaying data
Step 8: Writing your research report
Chapter 17: Writing a research report
Step 8 Appendix: Exercises for report writing