Is it possible to separate humanitarian action from politics? Drawing on the expertise of practitioners and researchers, and balancing theoretical insights with empirical grounding, field examples and policy recommendations, this book is an essential guide to the thorny interplay between what are too often considered as separate worlds.

This updated fourth edition provides students and researchers with the tools they need to perform critically engaged, theoretically informed research using methods that include interviewing, focus groups, historical research, oral histories, textual analysis, ethnography and participant observation, and digital ethnography and netnography.

This 'How To...' bestseller provides an easy to navigate roadmap for anyone undertaking a research project, from start to finish.

Research Methods: A Practical Guide for the Social Sciences is an essential resource for the social researcher. It offers a comprehensive introduction for first time researchers right through to thorough and practical advice for those undertaking more advanced work. The book draws on real life experiences from a wide variety of disciplines to show how theory translates into practice, and offers a rigorous analysis of why researchers choose the methods they use.

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With contributions from experts across disciplines, this edited collection gives beginner researchers a sound understanding of the theory and practice of conducting social research.