Brian Roberts is Principal Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Huddersfield.

• PART ONE: THE RESEARCHERThe Conduct of ResearchWhat is Research? What is a ′Researcher′?Images of Sociology and the SociologistResearch Roles and Researcher CharacteristicsPART TWO: RESEARCH STYLES, ROLES AND CONTEXTS Styles of Research - Qualitative and Quantitative Research ExperienceThe Status and Stance of Styles of ResearchHow important is being a researcher to you? Where do research topics come from?Networking - research as market/research as friendshipThe Search for FundsResearch Relations in Different Social SettingsCompeting Research Roles PART THREE: THE ′EMOTIONAL′ ASPECTS OF RESEARCH Research and ′Emotional Labour′′Reflexivity′ and the Research ExperienceEveryday Life Skills in ResearchExperiential DistractionWorking with Others in ResearchSubjective SupportOvercoming IsolationDealing with Anxiety and StressPART FOUR: ENTERING THE RESEARCH - THE PRESENTATION OF THE RESEARCHER′S SELFThe Researcher′s Self in ResearchSociological Imagination and Research PracticeEarly Days in Research Reasons to ResearchThe PhD ExperienceResearch ′Hold-ups′PART FIVE:INTERPRETATION IN RESEARCHThe Researcher-as-Interpreter/TheoristThe Research Diary Data, and yet More DataOrganising Interpretations and New IdeasPART SIX: WRITING RESEARCHAcademic Writing as a GenreNew Writing Practices and Representation Writing and Relations with OthersResearch Autobiographies and Auto/ethnography. The Researcher Account and ′Confessions′′Writing Up′ ResearchWriting BlockagesWriting for an AudiencePART SEVEN:DISSEMINATIONWhat is ′Research Dissemination′?Dissemination and Audience IssuesThe Doctoral ThesisThe Research Report and BriefingThe Conference PaperArticles in Books and JournalsBooks - Proposals and PublishersThe InternetResearch and Teaching - the use of research in the classroomPART EIGHT:REACTION TO RESEARCHReactions to Research Dissemination′Self′ and Audience Reactions to ResearchFeedback on Journal and Article SubmissionPART NINE: WHAT NEXT IN MY RESEARCH? End of the ′Adventure′ - what next?Academic Labour and its OrganisationProfessional and Personal Identities in the Conduct of ResearchRewriting the CVThe Researcher′s Life/Life as Research Career - in Academia?PART TEN: CONCLUSION - THE RESEARCHER′S EXPERIENCE OF RESEARCHResearcher Experience in ResearchResearcher Experience and the EmotionsResearcher Insights and ReflectionsOrientations to the Researched Revisited

"Roberts offers an easy-to-read introduction to managing both the research process and the emotional challenges often associated with it."  —CHOICE