Using jargon-free language, Designing Social Research provides guidance on how to practically plan your research study. This is the perfect starter book for students and researchers looking to design a research project and make sense of and justify the many decisions that go into the research design process. It will help you to assess the appropriateness of a range of methods and to understand the strengths and [imitations of different approaches to research. Greener highlights key debates in the field both philosophical and practical- and presents them in such a way that they remain constantly relevant to the research practice of his readers. Framing an effective research question/problem. Examining the jargon of social research. The links between theory, methodology and method. The role of literature reviewing in research design. Managing and planning the research process. Designing Social Research will be ideal reading for researchers of all levels, from undergraduates planning significant research projects for their dissertations, to PhD students considering how they will go about their research, projects and researchers and academics putting together research grants proposals. Ian Greener is Professor of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University, as well as being the Director of the North East Doctoral Training Centre there.