Recommended Reading

Highly Recommended

These books will be useful for both qualitative and quantitative researchers, and reflect texts that either we've found invaluable in our own research or those that our clients have recommended to us. Please note that clicking on the thumbnail images of each book will take you through to the Fishpond website, where you can purchase the book and find further information.

Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo
By Patricia Bazeley, 2007

'In plain language but with very thorough detail, this book guides the researcher who really wants to use the NVivo software (and use it now) into their project. The way is lit with real-project examples, adorned with tricks and tips, but it's a clear path to a project' - Lyn Richards, Founder and Non-Executive Director, QSR International Doing Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo is essential reading for anyone thinking of using their computer to help analyze qualitative data. With 15 years experience in computer-assisted analysis of qualitative and mixed-mode data, Patricia Bazeley is one of the leaders in the use and teaching of NVivo software.

From Numbers to Words: Reporting Statistical Results for the Social Sciences
By Tom Reichert and Susan E. Morgan and Tyler R. Harrison, 2002

An invaluable reference tool that guides students through drafting the results of quantitative experiments and investigations. Everyone who does quantitative social science research writes up the results of their experiments and investigations, but most texts offer little guidance on how to do so. This supplemental text teaches students how to draft the results of statistical experiments and investigations in text or visual format. This how-to book, designed to be used in combination with primary statistics or research methods texts, also serves as an effective reference for students new to statistics and for experienced researchers.

Handling Qualitative Data: A Practical Guide
By L. Richards, Tom Richards, 2005

"Handling Qualitative Data" introduces students and practitioners to qualitative research in a uniquely practical manner. Firstly, it recognizes that for many novice researchers, data, rather than methods and their philosophical underpinnings, are the point of departure. Secondly, it advocates a progressive accumulation of skills and understanding of methodological issues as they are needed. This enables the student to perform efficaciously from the start by immediately being in a position to handle, reflect on and get results from, small amounts of data, giving them a launch pad to more complex endeavours.

Using Multivariate Statistics
By Barbara G. Tabachnick, Linda S. Fidell, 2006

This text takes a practical approach to multivariate data analysis, with an introduction to the most commonly encountered statistical and multivariate techniques. Using Multivariate Statistics provides practical guidelines for conducting numerous types of multivariate statistical analyses. It gives syntax and output for accomplishing many analyses through the most recent releases of SAS and SPSS. The book maintains its practical approach, still focusing on the benefits and limitations of applications of a technique to a data set when, why, and how to do it. Overall, it provides advanced students with a timely and comprehensive introduction to today's most commonly encountered statistical and multivariate techniques, while assuming only a limited knowledge of higher-level mathematics.

Readme First for a User's Guide to Qualitative Research
By Lyn Richards, Janice M. Morse, 2007

Providing beginning researchers with the tools that they need to differentiate between approaches to fieldwork, this book guides readers on how different types of qualitative research fit different purposes and produce varied research experiences and outcomes. The Second Edition features the same clear, conversational, and friendly approach. In chapters full of practical advice, authors Lyn Richards and Janice M Morse take the reader through the steps of research design, software choice and use, data making, coding, abstracting and presenting a study.

Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (Introducing Statistical Methods Series)
By Andy Field, 2009

'In this brilliant new edition Andy Field has introduced important new introductory material on statistics that the student will need and was missing at least in the first edition. This book is the best blend that I know of a textbook in statistics and a manual on SPSS. It is a balanced composite of both topics, using SPSS to illustrate important statistical material and, through graphics, to make visible important approaches to data analysis. There are many places in the book where I had to laugh, and that's saying a lot for a book on statistics. His excellent style engages the reader and makes reading about statistics fun' - David C Howell Professor Emeritus, University of Vermont USA.

Business Research Methods

By Alan Bryman and Emma Bell

Business Research Methods 2/e provides essential guidance on the practice of business research and how to carry out a small-scale research project or dissertation for the first time. It offers an encyclopaedic introduction to the core concepts, methods, and values involved in doing business research, from formulating research questions, reviewing the literature, and designing a questionnaire to carrying out data analysis and presenting research results.

Social Research Methods
by Alan Bryman

Now in its third edition, this market-leading textbook continues to provide students with an excellent explanation and demonstration of the main approaches and techniques in social research methods. The book shows students how to assess the contexts within which different research methods may be used, and how they should be implemented. It covers both quantitative and qualitative research and examines the significance of this very distinction. It also covers mixed methods research, a topic on which the author is an authority. In an accessible and student-friendly manner, the book shows students how to go about doing their own research projects and how to write up their research.