Research Design

Creating Robust Approaches for the Social Sciences

This is a landmark text in the neglected field of research design. Gorard provides a unique introduction to planning and executing a research project that is both grounded in well-established traditions and radical in its approach. Perhaps the most important methods text published in many years
Patrick White
University of Leicester

For the first time this book has made me realize the need and worth of doing real social science research. Page after page made me think clearly about research design and its essential importance. The book will have an everlasting impact on my view of any research project. I must say that it is the only book I have ever come across that reads so simply and so naturally about research design in social sciences. This book is surely the 'bible' of social science research for me
Nadia Siddiqui
Lecturer, Fatima Jinnah Women's University, Pakistan

This well-elaborated book does in no sense exclude traditional views on how to plan, organize and execute a research project, but tries to highlight the new approaches that can help a researcher develop his project as authentically as possible via the appropriate choice of the design for his research. The intended audience of this book can be wide as it can vary from beginners such as students; as it serves as an excellent textbook, teachers who can employ it in teaching, tutoring and working in his research; or workers in the field of research in social sciences.

Research design is an essential element of any research that other important elements of research are reliant on it... Gorard, in this book, has provided a comprehensive view of the research design that may work as a guide for researchers through the journey of research.

It is rare to find a clearly written social science research book that is entirely generalizable across the social sciences and even more rare to find one that is genuinely enjoyable to read. However, with his new book entitled 'Research Design: Creating Robust Approaches for the Social Sciences', Stephen Gorard has managed to achieve the seemingly impossible. The book not only provides an essential introduction to research design in the socials sciences for new researchers, but also acts as a good reminder of best practice design for seasoned researchers. Best of all, throughout the entire book, Gorard provides clear instructions, examples, and rationale for the various types and components of research design.

The book combines being a good read for experienced researchers who want to remind themselves of how to design good quality, rigorous, research, with being an excellent introduction for those new to the field in how to plan and execute inherently useful research for any evidence base. It also strongly emphasises the ethics of research – why we should be clear about the purpose of the research and how we will analyse the data (not just data dredging for results). The book gives several examples of research that has been badly designed, and which could be damaging. These examples demonstrate the importance of getting it right, and the book gives the tools to do just that.