Davina Allen is Director of Research at Cardiff University. She has a background in adult nursing and sociology. Her research interests centre on the social organisation of healthcare work.Patricia Lyne was formerly Professor of Nursing Research at Cardiff University. Originally a biochemist, she changed career after being inspired by the care she observed as a volunteer in terminal care. She has since sought to combine the insights of her scientific training with her understanding of health care and health systems to promote research and evidence based practice in nursing.

The authors expressed aims are to 'tell it as it is' to provide a 'critical analysis of the nursing research context' and ' to bring these two threads together in the form of practical advice to those embarking on the research journey for the first time' They have succeeded admirably. Dr Christine Hallett, University of ManchesterThe book is particularly helpful for those embarking on researching marginalised groups. The complexity of lived experience is addressed clearly but without oversimplification. Gina Finnerty, University of Surrey UK

• Part 1: The Reality of Nursing Research: Historical and Political Context Introduction 1. Where Are We Now? 2. How Did We Get There? 3. Expectations of Research 4. The Research Field 5. The Continuum of Research Engagement Part 2: The Reality of Nursing Research: Tales from the Field Introduction 6. Selecting a Topic 7. Negotiating a Proposal through Gate-Keeping Committees 8. Data Generation 9. Researching Practice, Service Delivery and Organization 10. Researching Your Own Clients/Students 11. Relationship with the Data (Analysis) 12. Relationship with Multidisciplinary Research Teams 13. Disseminating Research Findings

Davina Allen is Director of Research at Cardiff University. She has a background in adult nursing and sociology. Her research interests centre on the social organisation of healthcare work.Patricia Lyne was formerly Professor of Nursing Research at Cardiff University. Originally a biochemist, she changed career after being inspired by the care she observed as a volunteer in terminal care. She has since sought to combine the insights of her scientific training with her understanding of health care and health systems to promote research and evidence based practice in nursing.

The authors expressed aims are to 'tell it as it is' to provide a 'critical analysis of the nursing research context' and ' to bring these two threads together in the form of practical advice to those embarking on the research journey for the first time' They have succeeded admirably. Dr Christine Hallett, University of ManchesterThe book is particularly helpful for those embarking on researching marginalised groups. The complexity of lived experience is addressed clearly but without oversimplification. Gina Finnerty, University of Surrey UK

• Part 1: The Reality of Nursing Research: Historical and Political Context Introduction 1. Where Are We Now? 2. How Did We Get There? 3. Expectations of Research 4. The Research Field 5. The Continuum of Research Engagement Part 2: The Reality of Nursing Research: Tales from the Field Introduction 6. Selecting a Topic 7. Negotiating a Proposal through Gate-Keeping Committees 8. Data Generation 9. Researching Practice, Service Delivery and Organization 10. Researching Your Own Clients/Students 11. Relationship with the Data (Analysis) 12. Relationship with Multidisciplinary Research Teams 13. Disseminating Research Findings

Davina Allen is Director of Research at Cardiff University. She has a background in adult nursing and sociology. Her research interests centre on the social organisation of healthcare work.Patricia Lyne was formerly Professor of Nursing Research at Cardiff University. Originally a biochemist, she changed career after being inspired by the care she observed as a volunteer in terminal care. She has since sought to combine the insights of her scientific training with her understanding of health care and health systems to promote research and evidence based practice in nursing.

The authors expressed aims are to 'tell it as it is' to provide a 'critical analysis of the nursing research context' and ' to bring these two threads together in the form of practical advice to those embarking on the research journey for the first time' They have succeeded admirably. Dr Christine Hallett, University of ManchesterThe book is particularly helpful for those embarking on researching marginalised groups. The complexity of lived experience is addressed clearly but without oversimplification. Gina Finnerty, University of Surrey UK

• Part 1: The Reality of Nursing Research: Historical and Political Context Introduction 1. Where Are We Now? 2. How Did We Get There? 3. Expectations of Research 4. The Research Field 5. The Continuum of Research Engagement Part 2: The Reality of Nursing Research: Tales from the Field Introduction 6. Selecting a Topic 7. Negotiating a Proposal through Gate-Keeping Committees 8. Data Generation 9. Researching Practice, Service Delivery and Organization 10. Researching Your Own Clients/Students 11. Relationship with the Data (Analysis) 12. Relationship with Multidisciplinary Research Teams 13. Disseminating Research Findings