This book is aimed at various health and social care practitioners including: nurses, midwives, doctors, social workers, health promotion and public health practitioners, health visitors and hospital managers, and in particular, those who are studying a multidisciplinary research course.

There appears to be no single book on the topic of general research issues that is relevant to all of the above. This lack has resulted in requests from a diverse range of research students for the development of a suitable textbook. Thus, the book is intended to complement a multidisciplinary research course or indeed, any other type of research endeavour such as a dissertation.

Furthermore, the book should be of general use to anybody studying health and/or social care research at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Contents include:

• Knowledge and uncertainty
• Evidence-based practice
• Developing a research question
• Quantitative research methods
• Analysis of quantitative data
• Qualitative research methods
• Analysis of qualitative data
• Combining quantitative & qualitative research
• Critical appraisal
• Research writing
• Research governance and ethics
• Conclusion