Section 1: Getting started in social research --1. Introducing social research in a global context - Claire Wagner --2. Developing a research topic and planning the research project - Claire Wagner, Anja Botha and Melody Mentz -- 3. Writing a literature review - Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie and Rebecca K. Frels -- 4. Selecting a research approach: paradigm, methodology and methods - Bagele Chilisa and Barbara B. Kawulich -- 5. Ethical considerations in conducting research - Tamra Ogletree and Barbara B. Kawulich -- Section 2: Identifying a useful methodology and methods -- 6. Measurement - Melody Mentz and Anja Botha -- 7. Methods of sampling - Sumaya Laher and Anja Botha --8. Survey research - Melody Mentz -- 9. Experimental research - Craig A. Mertler -- 10. Qualitative research - Jan Nieuwenhuis and Brigitte Smit -- 11. Document analysis - Adilia S.F. Silva -- 12. Collecting data through observation - Barbara B. Kawulich -- 13. Multi-method research - Charles Potter -- Section 3: Analysing and presenting data: Exercises in analysis and interpreting your research -- 14. Descriptive statistics - Melody Mentz and Anja Botha -- 15. Inferential statistics - Melody Mentz and Anja Botha -- 16. Qualitative data analysis - Barbara B. Kawulich and Laurel Holland -- 17. Writing up your research - Mark Garner and Anne Ryen.