1. The role of research in the health and social care professions -- 2. The nature of knowledge in health and social care -- 3. Overview of the research process -- 4. Ethical issues -- 5. Searching and reviewing the literature -- 6. Approaches to and design of research in health and social care -- 7. Research problems, aims, questions and hypotheses -- 8. Sampling -- 9. Understanding data collection techniques -- 10. Making sense of data analysis -- 11. Critical appraisal of health and social care research -- 12. Disseminating and implementing research -- Appendix 1. Literature searching -- Appendix 2. Three stages in critical appraisal -- Appendix 3. Critical appraisal framework