Workplace Research

Zina O’Leary is an internationally recognized leader in research methodologies and has a keen interest in the application of research to evidence-based decision-making. Zina is an Adjunct Professor at the Joseph R. Biden Jr, School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware as well as a Senior ­Fellow at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government where she coordinates research and project units for their Executive Masters and Executive Education Programmes. Zina also has an extensive history as a consultant to both government and the private sector and was the research coordinator for the Centre for Environmental Health Development at the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. She is the author of Researching Real World Problems, The Social Science Jargon Buster, Workplace Research and three books in Sage’s Little Quick Fix Series: Research Questions; Research Proposals; and Presenting Your Research. Jennifer S. Hunt is the Internship Program Coordinator and Lecturer at the University of Sydney US Studies Centre.

A much needed book. Practical, full of examples, it will be a valuable companion to any student who undertakes workplace learning. More and more students are undertaking work placements and internships as part of their studies. O’Leary and Hunt’s book will help them to navigate the experience, define their research, and undertake it to benefit themselves and the workplace.

• 1. Understanding small- scale applied workplace based research2. Finding your way through workplace3. Developing practicable and valuable research questions4. Doing the prep: Literature reviews, research plans & proposals5. Working with existing data6. Gathering primary data7. Analysing your data8. Producing effective deliverables