Practical research : [electronic resource] planning and design / Paul D. Leedy; Jeanne Ellis Ormrod.

pt. I. The fundamentals. The nature and tools of research -- pt. II. Focusing your research efforts. The problem: the heart of the research process -- Review of the related literature -- Planning your research project -- Writing the research proposal -- pt. III. Quantitative research. Descriptive research -- Experimental, quasi-experimental, and ex post facto designs -- Analyzing quantitative data -- pt. IV. Qualitative research. Qualitative research methods -- Historical research -- Analyzing qualitative data -- pt. V. Mixed-methods research. Mixed-methods designs -- pt. VI. Research reports. Planning and preparing a final research report -- Appendix A. Using a spreadsheet: Microsoft Excel -- Appendix B. Using SPSS.

"Practical Research: Planning and Design is a do-it-yourself, understand-it-yourself manual for planning and conducting research. Suitable for a wide variety of courses in basic research methodology, the text guides the reader, step-by-step, from the selection of a problem, through the process of conducting authentic research, to the preparation of a completed report, with practical suggestions throughout. The authors emphasize the idea that quality research demands planning and design, and they provide what is needed for readers to be able to execute their own research projects effectively and professionally."