Understanding Research: A Simplified Form [Second Edition]

Description

This book is a step by step practical guide designed to provide students with technical and methodological skills to enable them to make sense of qualitative and quantitative research in a simplified form. The text is based on lecture notes and personal experiences of the authors acquired over several years of lecturing research methods course to undergraduate and postgraduate students and engaging fellow scholars of research methods during research workshops and seminars. The book is meant to be a resource material to students particularly those undertaking research methodology courses to think critically and logically as they engage in the research activities. The book explains, with relevant examples, the basics of research in social sciences. Moreover, the authors have used a simple language, devoid of jargon, in their quest to communicate salient research terms and concepts. This book covers major stages and procedures in basic research processes namely: background of the study, statement of the problem, research objectives, research questions and hypothesis, justification of the study, scope of the study, and structure of the research report. This Second Edition has been updated to adhere to the APA 7th Edition and expanded with an additional chapter on mixed methods research.

Prof. David Kipchirchir Serem is a Professor Emeritus at Moi University with researches interests in Educational Leadership and Management and Qualitative Research. He has published extensively in  Educational Leadership and Management.

Prof. John Mugun Boit is a Professor of Economics of Education at the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Moi University. He has published extensively and supervised various post-graduate students.  He is a specialist in Quantitative Research Methods.

Prof. Mellitus Nyongesa Wanyama is a music educator, composer, arranger, choral trainer, dance choreographer and adjudicator of music and dance. He has over 30 years of experience teaching music dance at primary, secondary and university levels. He is the Founding Dean of the School of Music and Media at Kabarak University, where he is also a Professor of Music (Musicology and Ethnomusicology).

Prof Madimabe Geoff Mapaya is an African scholar. He lends his authority in African musicology to this book. As a founding member of the Indigenous Music and Oral History Project at the University of Venda, he has made noteworthy contributions to the field. His skill as a performing musician, educator, and researcher draws attention to artistic and performative methodologies.