Clear, accessible and practical, this guide introduces the first-time researcher to the various instruments used in social research. It assesses a broad range of research instruments - from the well-established to the innovative - enabling readers to decide which are particularly well suited to their research.
The book covers:

• questionnaires
• interviews
• content analysis
• focus groups
• observation
• researching the things people say and do.

This book is particularly suitable for work-based and undergraduate researchers in education, social policy and social work, nursing and business administration. It draws numerous examples from actual research projects, which readers can adapt for their own purposes. Written in a fresh and jargon-free style, the book assumes no prior knowledge and is firmly rooted in the authors' own extensive research experience.
Using Research Instruments is the ideal companion volume to The Researcher's Toolkit. Together they offer a superb practical introduction to conducting a social research project.

About the Author
David Wilkinson is a Research Fellow within the Work-Based Learning Unit at the University of Leeds. Peter Birmingham is a Research Officer at the University of Oxford, Department of Educational Studies.

Reviews

'A useful, accessible and short guide for the novice researcher in social sciences at undergraduate level, and also for those practitioners conducting research within their organizations without seeking academic credit.' - Professor Malcom Tight, Department of Continuing Education, Warwick University on its companion title, The Researchers Toolkit

'...the authors have produced a book that will help new researchers operationalise the process of data collection. What is especially good about the book is that it is not 'precious' about research...the authors have clearly worked in the real world and know that method has to be modelled to suit the situation'. - Professor Peter Newby, Middlesex University

Book Information
ISBN 9780415272797
Author Peter Birmingham
Format Paperback
Page Count 192
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 360g