'œThe emphasis on minority populations has caught my attention and sustained my loyalty. Donna is so sensitive in exploring those issues, a first in a text for that class and a welcome addition.' -Nick Eastmond, Utah State UniversityFocused on discussing what is considered to be 'œgood' research, this text explains quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods in detail, incorporating the viewpoints of various research paradigms into the descriptions of these methods. Approximately 60% of the content in this Third Edition is new, with lots of fresh examples.Key FeaturesPostpositivist, constructivist, transformative, and pragmatic paradigms discussed Conducting research in culturally complex communities emphasized throughout A step-by-step overview of the entire research process providedNew to this EditionAccompanied by a Student Web site with links to flashcards, mini-cases, and SAGE journal articles at www.sagepub.com/mertensstudy New coverage on how to write a literature review and plan a dissertation New pedagogy including 'œExtending Your Thinking' throughoutThis is a core or supplemental text for research courses in departments of education, psychology, sociology, social work and other human-services disciplines.