ROGER GOMM is Lecturer in Health and Social Welfare at The Open University, UK. He has been widely published in the field of social research and methods, and is Co-editor of Using Evidence in Health and Social Care, Evaluating Research in Health and Social Care: A Reader and Case Study Method: Key Issues, Key Texts. This book draws on his long experience of teaching research methods to students.

Praise for the first edition: 'Essential inclusion of emancipatory and participatory research. This is the research methodology of the 21st century.' - Annette Rimmer, School of Community, Health Sciences and Social Care, University of Salford, UK 'An easily digestible book providing a clear introduction for undergraduates. I especially like the explanations given for the example data analyses. Students and teachers will find the activities useful. I will be recommending this text for purchase.' - Kevin Power, School of Nursing and Midwifery, De Montford University, UK 'An excellent selection of historically important pieces of writing.' - Dr Patrick White, Department of Sociology, University of Leicester, UK 'Excellent coverage of content analysis - a method often glossed over in other texts.' - Dr Ian Hume, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (Psychology), Coventry University, UK 'This book has lots of very practical examples which help get your teeth into what can be a complex area. Very useful for students undertaking research dissertation.' - Patricia Hafford-Letchfield, Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, UK 'A very systematic and structured approach that will do down well with students new to social science research methodology.' - Jack Fawbert, School of Maternal and Child Health, University of the West of England, UK 'This book is more engaging for students than the plethora of 'how to' research methods books in that it helps students to think critically about the design of social research.' - Dr Paul Iganski, Lancaster University, UK

• List ofFiguresList of TablesList of PanelsList of TranscriptsAcknowledgementsPreface to second editionOverview of the bookInstruments and instrument designControlled experimentsMore naturalism in experimentsComputer simulation and complexitySample surveys and representativenessNatural experimentsControlling for time in natural experimentsUsing administrative data in researchQuestions and answersAnalysing the results of qualitative interviewsObserving naturally occurring eventsAnalysing written documentsEvaluative and emancipatory researchSystematic reviews, meta-analysis andsynthesis from diverse sourcesResearch ethicsBibliographyIndex.