What is methodology? How should one design a research project? What is the relationship between theory and method in social research? What do students and new researchers need to know in order to plan and conduct high quality research for themselves? In this intelligent and accessible book, the authors explore the relationship between the philosophical principles of the social sciences and the methods at our disposal to study the social world. They examine how we can design achievable and valid research projects by looking closely at the choices that all researchers and students face when designing a research project. Much of the existing literature glosses over the often difficult inter-relationship between practical research design and the theoretical underpinnings of methodology. However, this text addresses such issues head on, and in the process helps the reader to better understand each stage of the research process. Coverage includes: - How do we ask valid research questions? - How do we develop a research design to best answer our questions? - What is the difference between 'methodology' and 'methods'? - How do we formulate research concepts? - How do we select and access a sample? - What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative approaches? - How do we handle our data? This book is essential reading for any student or new researcher on a research methods course and who is faced with the prospect of understanding the research process for themselves or designing their own research project.