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Research Methods: Step-by-Step Guide

16 steps from a vague topic to a finished, defended research project: dissertations, theses, master’s projects, the IB Extended Essay, A-level NEA and the EPQ. Quantitative and qualitative methods side by side, each step with worked examples, six practice questions with worked answers and a quick self-check.

Unit 1: Starting a Research ProjectSteps 1–4 · what research is, your question, the literature and ethics
  1. What Is Research?
  2. From Topic to Research Question
  3. Reviewing the Literature
  4. Research Ethics and Integrity
Unit 2: Designing the StudySteps 5–8 · design, sampling, measurement and questionnaires
  1. Research Design
  2. Sampling and Sample Size
  3. Measurement, Validity and Reliability
  4. Designing Questionnaires and Surveys
Unit 3: Collecting and Analysing DataSteps 9–14 · interviews, coding, statistics, regression and mixed methods
  1. Interviews, Focus Groups and Observation
  2. Analysing Qualitative Data
  3. Describing and Visualising Data
  4. Choosing and Running Statistical Tests
  5. Regression and Causal Questions
  6. Secondary Data, Mixed Methods and Systematic Reviews
Unit 4: Writing It UpSteps 15–16 · the dissertation chapters, referencing and the viva
  1. Writing the Dissertation
  2. Referencing, Presentations and the Viva

Which step do I need?

You are…Steps
Choosing a dissertation topic1, 2 and 3
Writing a research proposal2–6, then 15
Running a survey4, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12
Doing interviews or focus groups4, 9 and 10
Using secondary or published data5, 11–14
Analysing your quantitative results11, 12 and 13
Writing up and preparing for a viva15 and 16
IB Extended Essay, A-level NEA or EPQ1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 15 and 16
Taking a research methods moduleAll 16 in order

Every step follows the same plan: what you will learn, the idea explained with worked examples from one running project on students’ part-time jobs, common mistakes, an “in your dissertation” tip, six practice questions with worked answers and a three-question self-check. Need more statistics? See the Statistics guide and the Econometrics guide.

The books behind the guide

Each step is a short version of one chapter of Research Methods Made Simple, which gives the full explanation, 43 ready-to-use templates, the companion data and every analysis in Python and R.

Research Methods Made Simple textbook coverAll 16 chapters of Research Methods Made Simple cover every step in full, with 71 worked examples and 43 templates.Get the textbook · $15Research Methods Made Simple Practice Questions coverPractise until it sticks: Research Methods Made Simple Practice Questions has 1,004 questions, each with a worked answer.Get the practice book · $9Research Methods Made Simple bundle coverThe textbook and the practice book together: the Research Methods Made Simple bundle for $19 (was $24).Both books · $19

Research starter kits: $5 each

Need the templates without the whole book? Each kit is a short, fill-in PDF for one stage of the project, and every product page has a free sample.

Research Proposal Kit
Topic to approvable proposal · $5Literature Review Toolkit
Search, sort, synthesise · $5Research Ethics Pack
Consent, info sheet, risk plan · $5Statistical Test Chooser
Pick the right test fast · $5Survey and Questionnaire Toolkit
Questions, scales, codebook · $5Interview and Thematic Analysis Kit
Interview guide to themes · $5Dissertation Planner and Viva Prep
Plan, write, defend · $5
Research Starter Kit bundle coverAll seven kits in one download: the Research Starter Kit for $19 ($35 bought separately).All 7 kits · $19

Studying more than one subject? The Complete Book Bundle includes every Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Econometrics and Research Methods book. Teaching it? See the Research Methods Teacher Pack.