This text is written for undergraduate, postgraduate and professional students in business studies, social sciences, health studies and education who need to undertake research projects as part of their studies. It offers a pragmatic approach which is particularly suitable for those who are interested in how to use research methods for a specific piece of small-scale research and for whom time is extremely limited. Such "project" researchers can avoid elementary errors in the design and execution of their research by using the "checklists" which highlight crucial factors associated with the production of good social research. Features includes: identification of the range of methods and their respective advantages and disadvantages; practical guidance on how to use the methods; checklists to help researchers evaluate their methods and avoid fundamental errors; and presentation with lists and summaries, text boxes and key points.