R. Murray Thomas is professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara.Dale L. Brubaker is Professor, Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

..students in the social and behavioral sciences-and in such allied fields as education, social work, and business are likely the ones for whom this volume will be most useful. The writing style throughout is intentionally conversational, as is the authors were talking directly with students…The book includes a current, extensive bibliography and subject index.

• PrefaceThe Nature of Theses and DissertationsPreparing the WaySources of GuidanceSearching the LiteratureChoosing and Defining Research TopicsSources and Types of Research ProblemsBuilding and Adapting TheoriesStating the Problem and Its RationaleCollecting InformationTypes of Research Methods and Sources of InformationData Collection Techniques and InstrumentsThings That Go WrongOrganizing InformationClassification PatternsSummarizing Information Verbally, Numerically, and GraphicallyInterpreting the ResultsModes of InterpretationPresenting the Finished ProductWriting the Final VersionMounting a Persuasive DefenseReaching a Wider AudienceAppendix: Outline of a Dissertation ProposalReferencesIndex

R. Murray Thomas is professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara.Dale L. Brubaker is Professor, Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

..students in the social and behavioral sciences-and in such allied fields as education, social work, and business are likely the ones for whom this volume will be most useful. The writing style throughout is intentionally conversational, as is the authors were talking directly with students…The book includes a current, extensive bibliography and subject index.

• PrefaceThe Nature of Theses and DissertationsPreparing the WaySources of GuidanceSearching the LiteratureChoosing and Defining Research TopicsSources and Types of Research ProblemsBuilding and Adapting TheoriesStating the Problem and Its RationaleCollecting InformationTypes of Research Methods and Sources of InformationData Collection Techniques and InstrumentsThings That Go WrongOrganizing InformationClassification PatternsSummarizing Information Verbally, Numerically, and GraphicallyInterpreting the ResultsModes of InterpretationPresenting the Finished ProductWriting the Final VersionMounting a Persuasive DefenseReaching a Wider AudienceAppendix: Outline of a Dissertation ProposalReferencesIndex