Table of Contents

Introduction
Research and the Research Problem
Aims
Introduction
What Is Research?
What Is It for: The Objectives of Research
Types of Research
The Research Process
Starting Your Own Research
Planning a Research Project
The Next Steps: Finding Your Research Problem Area
Further Reading
Research Theory and the Nature of Knowledge
Aims
Philosophy and the Debate About the Structure of Science and the Nature of Knowledge
Hypothesis
Approaches to Social Research
Conclusions
The Next Steps: The Theoretical Basis of Your Research Project
Further Reading
Concepts, Language and Argument
Aims
Introduction
Concepts and Theory
Language and Argument
Conclusions
The Next Steps: Which Type of Research for Your Topic?
Further Reading
Information and How to Deal With It
Aims
Introduction
Finding the Literature
Dealing With Information
Doing a Literature Review
Conclusions
The Next Steps: Devising your Own Information System and Writing Your Literature Review
Further Reading
Research Methods
Aims
Introduction
Data Collection and Analysis
Collecting Secondary Data
Analysing Secondary Data
Collecting Primary Data
Combined Data Generation and Analysis
Analysing Data
Conclusions
The Next Steps: Which Research Methods Will You Use?
Further Reading
Honesty and Research Ethics
Aims
Introduction
Honesty In Your Work
Situations That Raise Ethical Issues
Ethics Policies, Permissions and Committees
Conclusions
The Next Steps: Plan Your Code of Ethics
Further Reading
Preparing the Research Proposal and Starting to Write
Aims
Introduction
The Recipe for a Successful Research Proposal
Types of Research Proposal
The Main Ingredients and Sequence
Finalizing Your Proposal
How To Get Started With Writing
Conclusions
The Next Steps: Your Research Proposal
Further Reading
Answers to Exercises
Key Words Glossary
References
Index

About the Author

Nicholas Walliman is a qualified architect and Senior Lecturer in the School of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes University and a researcher associate in the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development. After many years of practice in architecture in the UK and abroad, he returned to academic life to do his PhD. This experience raised his interest in research theory and methods, and he was subsequently asked by the university to write a distance learning course to guide postgraduate students embarking on research degrees. This course provided the raw material and incentive for writing this book. He has subsequently published several other books on research theory and methods for students and practitioners at various levels of expertise. He is currently conducting research with a team of architects and environmental scientists as part of the Oxford Brookes Institute for Sustainable Development. They are engaged in nationally and internationally funded projects on a range of aspects of building technology, such as energy saving building envelope design, mitigation of the effects of floods on buildings and advanced construction methods. He has published numerous research papers on aspects of architectural technology. He is also supervising several PhD and Masters students. Despite this emphasis on science and technology, his work with research students covers many other aspects of architecture and its relationship to society, such as vernacular architecture, the effects of westernisation, architectural education, conservation, administration and sustainable design.

Reviews

I can heartily recommend the third edition of this popular text. It has been up-dated and enhanced to recognise the needs of both undergraduate and postgraduate students who are new to the research process, and deserves to be on every reading list
Graham Stew
Principal Lecturer in Health, University of Brighton This book is a must have for anyone embarking on a research project. It guides the reader through each step of the research project, providing clear summary boxes and exercises, making it particularly relevant for students and lecturers alike
Kalwant Bhopal
Head of the Social Justice and Inclusive Education Research Centre, University of Southampton ′Having run a PhD programme (comprising over 40 students) for six years and supervised 16 research students, nine to completion, I feel qualified to testify to the value of this book. Learning has become increasingly structured in the last two decades and new research students are often overwhelmed by the demands of PhD study, which requires conceptual thinking, independence, self-motivation and creativity. In my view, this unique publication offers an excellent and indispensable guide to research for first-timers. I wholeheartedly recommend it
Elizabeth Burton
Professor of Sustainable Building, Design and Wellbeing, University of Warwick The third edition of Walliman′s guide for novice researchers has been thoroughly updated to reflect methodological developments. It retains the unique characteristics which made earlier versions so successful: a theoretically-informed introduction to the research process grounded in an understanding of how individuals learn most effectively
Emma Wincup
University of Leeds