![](https://csdnimg.cn/release/download_crawler_static/10555573/bg12.jpg)
xvii
This book is written with a progressive logic, which means that terms and concepts are
defined when they are first introduced. One implication of this is that it is sensible for you
to start at the beginning and to work your way through the text, various boxes, self-check
questions, review and discussion questions, case studies and case study questions. You can
do this in a variety of ways depending on your reasons for using this book. However, this
approach may not necessarily be suitable for your purposes, and you may wish to read the
chapters in a different order or just dip into particular sections of the book. If this is true for
you then you will probably need to use the glossary to check that you understand some of the
terms and concepts used in the chapters you read. Suggestions for three of the more common
ways in which you might wish to use this book are given below.
As part of a research methods course or for
self-study for your research project
If you are using this book as part of a research methods course the order in which you read
the chapters is likely to be prescribed by your tutors and dependent upon their perceptions
of your needs. Conversely, if you are pursuing a course of self-study for your research
project, dissertation or consultancy report, the order in which you read the chapters is your
own choice. However, whichever of these you are, we would argue that the order in which
you read the chapters is dependent upon your recent academic experience.
For many students, such as those taking an undergraduate degree in business or
management, the research methods course and associated project, dissertation or consul-
tancy report comes in either the second or the final year of study. In such situations it is
probable that you will follow the chapter order quite closely (see Figure P.1 ). Groups of
chapters within which we believe you can switch the order without affecting the logic of
the flow too much are shown on the same level in this diagram and are:
• those chapters associated with data collection ( Chapters 8 , 9 , 10 and 11 );
• those associated with data analysis ( Chapters 12 and 13 ).
Within the book we emphasise the importance of beginning to write early on in the
research process as a way of clarifying your thoughts. In Chapter 1 we encourage you to
keep a reflective diary or notebook throughout the research process so it is helpful to read
this chapter early on. We recommend you also read the sections in Chapter 14 on writing
prior to starting to draft your critical review of the literature ( Chapter 3 ).
Alternatively, you may be returning to academic study after a gap of some years, to
take a full-time or part-time course such as a Master of Business Administration, a Master
of Arts or a Master of Science with a Business and Management focus. Many students in
such situations need to refresh their study skills early in their programme, particularly
those associated with critical reading of academic literature and academic writing. If you
How to use this book