Research Methods for Students, Academics and Professionals

Kirsty Williamson has focused her career almost entirely on research since 1996 when she obtained her PhD. For much of that time she was Director of the research group, Information and Telecommunications Needs Research (ITNR), a joint initiative of Monash University and Charles Sturt University in Australia. She has undertaken many research projects and has received many research grants from a range of different non-government and government organisations, including the principal funding body of Australian Universities, the Australian Research Council (ARC). Her research has been widely published.

• Section 1 Introduction to research methods: Introduction to research in relation to professional practice; The two major traditions of research; The beginning stages of research; Ethics in research. Section 2 Methods: Survey research; Case study research; Experimental research designs; System development in information systems research; Action research; Ethnography; Historical research; The Delphi method. Section 3 Techniques: Research techniques: Sampling; Research techniques: Questionnaires and interviews; Research techniques: Focus groups; Ethnographic techniques. Section 4 Data analysis: Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data; Evaluation of published research.

"The strengths of this work include its coverage of a very wide range of methods, clear and straightforward explanations of often quite complex issues, and simple, useful diagrams." --Australian Academic and Research Libraries"...this is a worthwhile, well written text which should, and undoubtedly will, join postgraduate reading lists across the country. For many, it could well be a first choice., Australian Academic and Research LibrariesWilliamson's text is carefully crafted around themes moving from an analysis of the major traditions of research through to the deconstruction of method and techniques… A very readable, cogent and accessible text… A glossary and clearly illustrated graphics are both valuable to the new researcher and vital to the overall clarification of ideas expounded within the text." --Access