Norman Blaikie is former Professor of Sociology at RMIT University Melbourne, and University of Science, Malaysia.Jan Priest is former Adjunct Professor at RMIT University Melbourne, and a past Director of research and performance services at InfoServ Pty Ltd.

‘A masterclass in the logic of anticipation when designing social research. Blaikie and Priest explain the choices to be made – and, oh so important, why those decisions need thoughtful planning in advance. I can’t recommend it enough.’Rosalind Edwards, University of Southampton, Co-director of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods‘This book reviews the key principles of research design and strategy in ways that blend theoretical sophistication with practical strategic advice: a winning formula. If you produce your research design using this book, and if you really engage with the key issues that Blaikie and Priest write so authoritatively about, you can’t go wrong.’Jennifer Mason, University of Manchester

• Introduction1 About the book2 Preparing Research Designs3 Four Research Design Tasks4 Research EthicsPart 1: Focussing5 Research Questions and PurposesPart 2: Framing6 Logics for Answering Research QuestionsPart 3: Selecting7 Concepts, Theories, Hypotheses and Models8 Types, Forms, Sources and Selection of DataPart 4: Distilling9 Methods for Answering Research Questions: Data Gathering, Generation, Reduction and AnalysisResearching Networked Worlds10 Design Considerations11 Ethics ConsiderationsIllustrations12 Sample Research DesignsPostscript

Norman Blaikie is former Professor of Sociology at RMIT University Melbourne, and University of Science, Malaysia.Jan Priest is former Adjunct Professor at RMIT University Melbourne, and a past Director of research and performance services at InfoServ Pty Ltd.

‘A masterclass in the logic of anticipation when designing social research. Blaikie and Priest explain the choices to be made – and, oh so important, why those decisions need thoughtful planning in advance. I can’t recommend it enough.’Rosalind Edwards, University of Southampton, Co-director of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods‘This book reviews the key principles of research design and strategy in ways that blend theoretical sophistication with practical strategic advice: a winning formula. If you produce your research design using this book, and if you really engage with the key issues that Blaikie and Priest write so authoritatively about, you can’t go wrong.’Jennifer Mason, University of Manchester

• Introduction1 About the book2 Preparing Research Designs3 Four Research Design Tasks4 Research EthicsPart 1: Focussing5 Research Questions and PurposesPart 2: Framing6 Logics for Answering Research QuestionsPart 3: Selecting7 Concepts, Theories, Hypotheses and Models8 Types, Forms, Sources and Selection of DataPart 4: Distilling9 Methods for Answering Research Questions: Data Gathering, Generation, Reduction and AnalysisResearching Networked Worlds10 Design Considerations11 Ethics ConsiderationsIllustrations12 Sample Research DesignsPostscript

Norman Blaikie is former Professor of Sociology at RMIT University Melbourne, and University of Science, Malaysia.Jan Priest is former Adjunct Professor at RMIT University Melbourne, and a past Director of research and performance services at InfoServ Pty Ltd.

‘A masterclass in the logic of anticipation when designing social research. Blaikie and Priest explain the choices to be made – and, oh so important, why those decisions need thoughtful planning in advance. I can’t recommend it enough.’Rosalind Edwards, University of Southampton, Co-director of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods‘This book reviews the key principles of research design and strategy in ways that blend theoretical sophistication with practical strategic advice: a winning formula. If you produce your research design using this book, and if you really engage with the key issues that Blaikie and Priest write so authoritatively about, you can’t go wrong.’Jennifer Mason, University of Manchester

• Introduction1 About the book2 Preparing Research Designs3 Four Research Design Tasks4 Research EthicsPart 1: Focussing5 Research Questions and PurposesPart 2: Framing6 Logics for Answering Research QuestionsPart 3: Selecting7 Concepts, Theories, Hypotheses and Models8 Types, Forms, Sources and Selection of DataPart 4: Distilling9 Methods for Answering Research Questions: Data Gathering, Generation, Reduction and AnalysisResearching Networked Worlds10 Design Considerations11 Ethics ConsiderationsIllustrations12 Sample Research DesignsPostscript