First Steps In Research

At some point or other in their academic careers, most tertiary-level students are going to be faced with having to do a research project. It is a fundamental part of further education that many students find daunting. This need not be the case. First steps in research uses the most current perspectives in the field both locally and internationally to provide practical guidelines on how to conduct and report on research at undergraduate and postgraduate level.



First steps in research facilitates the understanding and application of theories, goals, methods and strategies, being easy to read and use without diluting the conceptual and terminological complexities of the field. It examines the historical and philosophical underpinnings of qualitative, quantitative and integrated or mixed methods of conducting research and suggests how these three approaches may best be used. It also elaborates on the methodological dimensions of action research processes and exemplifies participatory reflection.