Praise for the first edition of Research into Practice and Research Methods for Nurses and the Caring Professions:

These books provide a good introduction for the uninitiated to reading and doing research. Abbott and Sapsford provide a clearly written and accessible introduction to social research ... One of their aims is to 'de-mystify' research, and in this they succeed admirably... After reading the text and the articles in the reader, and working through the various research exercises, readers should have a clear appreciation of how to evaluate other people's research and how to begin their own.
-David Field, Journal of Palliative Medicine

This book, now substantially revised in its second edition, is about the appreciation, evaluation and conduct of social research. Aimed at nurses, social workers, community workers and others in the caring professions, the book is particularly focused on research which evaluates and contributes to professional practice. The authors have provided many short, practical exercises in the text, and the examples are drawn mostly from projects carried out by one or two people rather than large research teams. The clear, accessible style will make this the ideal introductory text for those undertaking or studying research for the first time.

The book may be used in conjunction with Research into Practice (Open University Press), a reader of useful examples selected by the same authors.

"This is an excellent introduction to the evaluation and conduct of research. It will continue to be required reading for students of health professional courses and for other practitioners new to research." - Journal of Nursing Management

Pamela Abbott is Director and Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Teesside. She is a well known researcher in the fields of health, nursing, women's employment and community care.

Roger Sapsford is a senior lecturer in research methods at the Open University. He has carried out extensive research in a number of fields and was previously employed by the Home Office Research Unit and in market research.