Doing Your Research Project A Guide for First-time Researchers

Abstract

I have been helped throughout the preparation of all six editions of this book by the interest of friends, colleagues and former research students who have given strong support in often difficult times. I am particularly grateful to Stephen Waters, an outstanding former research student. Stephen has supported me in the writing of this edition with invaluable work on reading, drafting and updating

chapters and his collaboration has been a real asset. He also contrib- uted the new Chapter 8, ‘Using social media in research’, to this sixth

edition, which provides an introduction to how social networks can be harnessed to enhance the research process. Brendan Duffy, another exceptional former student, wrote Chapter 7. ‘The analysis of documentary evidence’, included in this and earlier editions. I am very grateful for his continued contribution.