Robson Real World Research Ebook: A Review of the Fourth Edition and Its Features
Robson Real World Research Ebook: A Comprehensive Guide for Applied Researchers
If you are looking for a practical and reliable guide to conduct applied research in the social sciences, you might want to check out Robson Real World Research Ebook. This ebook provides a clear route-map of the various steps needed to carry out a piece of applied research to a high professional standard. It is accessible to those without a social science background while providing rigorous and fully up-to-date coverage of contemporary issues and debates. It brings together materials and approaches from different social science disciplines, seeing value in both quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as their combination in mixed-method designs. In this article, we will introduce you to the main features of Robson Real World Research Ebook, show you how to use it effectively, and discuss its benefits and challenges for applied researchers.
Robson Real World Research Ebook
Introduction
What is Real World Research?
Real world research is a type of research that aims to address real-life problems or questions that are relevant to practitioners, policymakers, or communities. Unlike pure or basic research, which is driven by theoretical or academic interests, real world research is motivated by practical or applied purposes. Real world research can be conducted in various fields and contexts, such as education, health, business, social work, or criminal justice. Real world research can also use different methods and designs, depending on the nature and scope of the research problem.
Why is Real World Research Important?
Real world research is important because it can help us understand and improve the complex and dynamic situations that we face in our everyday lives. By conducting real world research, we can generate evidence-based knowledge that can inform decision-making, policy-making, or practice improvement. Real world research can also empower stakeholders and participants to voice their opinions, experiences, or needs, and to collaborate in finding solutions to their problems. Furthermore, real world research can contribute to social change and innovation by addressing issues that matter to society.
What are the Main Features of Robson Real World Research Ebook?
Robson Real World Research Ebook is a comprehensive guide that covers all the essential aspects of conducting real world research. Some of the main features of this ebook are:
It provides a clear and logical structure that guides you through the various stages of real world research, from identifying a research problem to reporting the results.
It offers practical advice and examples on how to choose a suitable research topic and design, how to collect and analyze data, how to evaluate and report results, and how to deal with ethical and practical issues.
It covers both quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as mixed-method designs, explaining their strengths and limitations, and how to integrate them effectively.
It draws on materials and approaches from different social science disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, education, health, and criminology, showing how they can be applied to real world research.
It is accessible and affordable, as it is available in ebook format, which can be downloaded and read on various devices, such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones.
How to Use Robson Real World Research Ebook
Choosing a Research Topic and Design
Identifying a Research Problem
The first step in conducting real world research is to identify a research problem that is relevant, feasible, and interesting. A research problem is a gap or a need that exists in a specific context or situation, and that requires a solution or an answer. To identify a research problem, you can use various sources, such as your own experience, observation, or intuition, the literature review, the feedback from stakeholders or participants, or the analysis of existing data. You should also consider the following criteria when choosing a research problem:
It should be significant and meaningful to the field or the context of your research.
It should be clear and specific, not vague or broad.
It should be researchable, meaning that it can be answered or solved by using appropriate methods and data.
It should be original and novel, not already answered or solved by previous research.
Reviewing the Literature
The next step in conducting real world research is to review the literature related to your research problem. The literature review is a process of searching, reading, and synthesizing existing sources of information, such as books, articles, reports, or websites, that are relevant to your research topic. The purpose of the literature review is to:
Provide background and context for your research problem.
Identify the key concepts, theories, models, or frameworks that inform your research.
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of previous research on your topic.
Identify the gaps or limitations in the existing knowledge base.
Establish the significance and originality of your research contribution.
Selecting a Research Approach
The final step in choosing a research topic and design is to select a research approach that suits your research problem and purpose. A research approach is a general strategy or orientation that guides your research process and methods. There are three main types of research approaches: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods. Each of these approaches has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the nature and scope of your research problem. Here is a brief overview of each approach:
Quantitative ApproachQualitative ApproachMixed-Method Approach
Uses numerical data and statistical analysis to test hypotheses or measure variables.Uses textual or visual data and thematic analysis to explore meanings or experiences.Uses both numerical and textual data and combines quantitative and qualitative analysis to address complex or multifaceted problems.
Suitable for research problems that require objective, generalizable, or causal explanations.Suitable for research problems that require subjective, contextualized, or interpretive understandings.Suitable for research problems that require comprehensive, integrated, or complementary insights.
Examples of methods: surveys, experiments, tests, scales.Examples of methods: interviews, observations, focus groups, documents.Examples of methods: sequential design (quantitative followed by qualitative), concurrent design (quantitative and qualitative conducted simultaneously), embedded design (quantitative or qualitative embedded within another).
Collecting and Analyzing Data
Sampling and Data Collection Methods
Once you have selected a research approach, you need to decide how to collect data that will answer your research question or test your hypothesis. Data collection is the process of gathering information from various sources or participants that are relevant to your research problem. To collect data effectively, you need to consider two main aspects: sampling and data collection methods. Sampling is the process of selecting a subset of individuals or units from a larger population that represents the characteristics or features of interest. Data collection methods are the techniques or tools that you use to obtain data from your sample. Here are some examples of sampling and data collection methods for each type of research approach:
Quantitative ApproachQualitative ApproachMixed-Method Approach
Data Analysis Techniques
After you have collected your data, you need to analyze it to answer your research question or test your hypothesis. Data analysis is the process of transforming, organizing, and interpreting data using various techniques or tools. The type of data analysis you use depends on the type of data you have collected and the type of research approach you have chosen. Here are some examples of data analysis techniques for each type of research approach:
Quantitative ApproachQualitative ApproachMixed-Method Approach
Data analysis techniques: descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, frequency, etc.), inferential statistics (correlation, regression, t-test, ANOVA, etc.), or advanced statistics (factor analysis, cluster analysis, structural equation modeling, etc.).Data analysis techniques: content analysis (coding and categorizing textual data), thematic analysis (identifying and analyzing themes or patterns in textual data), discourse analysis (analyzing language use and communication in textual data), or narrative analysis (analyzing stories or narratives in textual data).Data analysis techniques: mixed-methods analysis (integrating quantitative and qualitative data and analysis), convergent design (comparing and contrasting quantitative and qualitative results), explanatory design (using qualitative data to explain quantitative results), or exploratory design (using quantitative data to supplement qualitative findings).
Examples of tools: SPSS, Excel, R, Stata.Examples of tools: NVivo, Atlas.ti, MAXQDA.Examples of tools: Dedoose, QDA Miner.
Benefits and Challenges of Robson Real World Research Ebook
Benefits of Robson Real World Research Ebook
Accessibility and Affordability
One of the main benefits of Robson Real World Research Ebook is that it is accessible and affordable to anyone who wants to conduct real world research. As an ebook, it can be downloaded and read on various devices, such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones. You can also access it anytime and anywhere, without having to carry a heavy book around. Moreover, as an ebook, it is cheaper than a printed book, which can save you money and resources.
Rigor and Relevance
Another benefit of Robson Real World Research Ebook is that it provides rigorous and relevant guidance on how to conduct real world research. It covers all the essential aspects of real world research, from choosing a research topic and design, to collecting and analyzing data, to evaluating and reporting results. It also offers practical advice and examples on how to deal with ethical and practical issues that may arise in real world research. Furthermore, it updates you on the latest developments and debates in the field of real world research, ensuring that your research is current and valid.
Interdisciplinarity and Flexibility
A third benefit of Robson Real World Research Ebook is that it supports interdisciplinarity and flexibility in real world research. It draws on materials and approaches from different social science disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, education, health, and criminology, showing how they can be applied to real world research. It also covers both quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as mixed-method designs, explaining their strengths and limitations, and how to integrate them effectively. Moreover, it allows you to choose the most suitable research approach for your research problem and purpose, giving you the freedom and creativity to conduct real world research.
Challenges of Robson Real World Research Ebook
Ethical and Practical Issues
One of the main challenges of Robson Real World Research Ebook is that it does not eliminate the ethical and practical issues that may arise in real world research. Ethical issues are related to the moral principles or values that guide your research conduct. Practical issues are related to the feasibility or logistics of your research process. Some examples of ethical and practical issues are:
Informed consent: How do you obtain permission from your participants to take part in your research?
Confidentiality: How do you protect the identity and privacy of your participants?
Harm: How do you avoid causing physical or psychological harm to your participants or yourself?
Access: How do you gain access to the data or the setting that you need for your research?
Resources: How do you manage the time, money, or equipment that you need for your research?
Reliability: How do you ensure the consistency and accuracy of your data and analysis?
Robson Real World Research Ebook provides some tips and examples on how to deal with these issues, but it does not provide definitive answers or solutions. You need to use your own judgment and discretion to decide how to handle these issues in your specific research context.
Quality and Validity Criteria
Another challenge of Robson Real World Research Ebook is that it does not provide clear and universal criteria for assessing the quality and validity of your research. Quality and validity are related to the trustworthiness and credibility of your research findings. Different types of research approaches have different criteria for quality and validity. For example, quantitative research often uses criteria such as validity, reliability, and generalizability, while qualitative research often uses criteria such as credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. However, these criteria are not always agreed upon or applicable to all types of real world research. You need to use your own judgment and discretion to decide which criteria are most relevant and appropriate for your research.
Mixed-Method Designs and Integration
A third challenge of Robson Real World Research Ebook is that it does not provide comprehensive and detailed guidance on how to conduct mixed-method designs and integration. Mixed-method designs are research designs that use both quantitative and qualitative methods and data in a single study. Integration is the process of combining or synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data and analysis to address complex or multifaceted problems. Mixed-method designs and integration can offer many benefits for real world research, such as:
Comprehensiveness: They can provide a more complete and holistic understanding of the research problem.
Integration: They can address the limitations or gaps of one method by using another method.
Complementarity: They can enhance or enrich the findings of one method by using another method.
However, mixed-method designs and integration also pose many challenges for real world research, such as:
Complexity: They can be more difficult and time-consuming to plan, conduct, and report.
Incompatibility: They can create conflicts or contradictions between different methods or data.
Inadequacy: They can fail to achieve the intended goals or outcomes of the research.
Robson Real World Research Ebook provides some tips and examples on how to conduct mixed-method designs and integration, but it does not provide in-depth and specific guidance on how to do so. You need to use your own judgment and discretion to decide how to design and integrate your mixed-methods research.
Conclusion
Summary of Key Points
In this article, we have introduced you to Robson Real World Research Ebook, a comprehensive guide for applied researchers in the social sciences. We have shown you how to use this ebook effectively, by following these steps:
Define the aim of your research by identifying a research problem and formulating a research question.
Choose your data collection method by selecting a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approach.
Plan your data collection procedures by deciding on sampling and data collection methods.
Collect the data by applying the chosen methods to your sample.
Analyze the data by using appropriate techniques or tools for quantitative or qualitative data.
Evaluate and report the results by assessing the quality and validity of your findings and communicating them clearly.
We have also discussed the benefits and challenges of Robson Real World Research Ebook, such as:
The benefits of accessibility, affordability, rigor, relevance, interdisciplinarity, and flexibility.
The challenges of ethical and practical issues, quality and validity criteria, mixed-method designs and integration.
Recommendations for Future Users
If you are interested in using Robson Real World Research Ebook for your own real world research project, we recommend that you:
Read the ebook carefully and thoroughly before starting your research project.
Use the ebook as a guide, not as a rulebook. Adapt the ebook's suggestions to your specific research context and purpose.
Consult other sources of information or guidance if you encounter any difficulties or doubts in your research process.
Finally, we have provided some frequently asked questions and answers about Robson Real World Research Ebook, based on some of the examples we found online:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Robson Real World Research Ebook and other research methods books?
Robson Real World Research Ebook is different from other research methods books in several ways. First, it focuses specifically on real world research, which is a type of research that aims to address real-life problems or questions that are relevant to practitioners, policymakers, or communities. Second, it covers both quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as mixed-method designs, showing how they can be applied and integrated in real world research. Third, it draws on materials and approaches from different social science disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, education, health, and criminology, showing how they can be used in real world research. Fourth, it is available in ebook format, which makes it accessible and affordable to anyone who wants to conduct real world research.
Who can benefit from using Robson Real World Research Ebook?
Robson Real World Research Ebook can benefit anyone who wants to conduct real world research in the social sciences. This includes students, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, or community members who are interested in solving real-life problems or answering real-world questions. Robson Real World Research Ebook can help them plan, design, conduct, analyze, and report their real world research projects effectively and efficiently.
How can I access Robson Real World Research Ebook?
You can access Robson Real World Research Ebook by purchasing it online from various platforms, such as Google Play or Wiley. You can also access it through your library or institution if they have a subscription or a license to the ebook. Once you have purchased or accessed the ebook, you can download it and read it on various devices, such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones.
How can I use Robson Real World Research Ebook for my own real world research project?
You can use Robson Real World Research Ebook as a guide for your own real world research project by following the steps and suggestions provided in the ebook. You can also use the ebook as a reference for specific topics or issues that you encounter in your researc