The fifth edition of Exploring Research provides an introduction to research methods in a friendly, approachable writing style. The book explores the use of electronic sources as means to enhance research skills, includes discussions about scientific methods, and the most common types of research in the social and behavioral sciences. Coverage of the research process, problem selection, sampling and generalizability, and the measurement process provides an exhaustive resource for readers seeking to further their research skills. The book also describes how to collect and analyze data, and provides thorough instruction on how to prepare and write a research proposal and manuscript. Principles of data analysis are exemplified using the SR latest version of SPSS. The volume addresses the role and importance of research, the research process, sampling and generalizability, measurement, reliability, and validity, methods of measuring behavior, data collection and descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, nonexperimental research methods, quasi-experimental research methods and writing a research proposal and manuscript. For individuals in business, social work, political science, education and psychology fields that require research.
This is a great book for people who are new to research. It is just an overview, so don't expect to be able to apply complicated statistical formulas after reading, but it's a good way to begin.
My one complaint is that there are a lot of typos, which will hopefully be cleared up in the next edition.
It was well organized and for the beginner, non-major, & those not intending to pursue research further than required; however, I found the sections on statistics to be lacking.
really good for beginners in MA/postgraduate studies & as a reference simple and clear language to make you understand new terms & concepts it was assigned by my program in Linguistics and provided me with a comprehensive outlook on researching it is available online :)
This text was used in my undergraduate introduction to statistics class. Most of the book is extremely simplistic and would make a good basic survey for someone who has never been exposed to stats. If you have some knowledge, definitely skip this one.