"Creswell's Research Design is an accessible and useful book that stimulates students through walk through experiences, use of exercises, and production of actual writing samples. It is a book that models the types of issues that best suit different approaches and allows students to understand when to use mixed methods. Furthermore, its focus on theory and paradigms is done in a way that helps students decode their meaning." --MARTHA MONTERO-SIEBURTH, University of Massachusetts, Boston "One of the most formidable challenges of research design is stating your purpose. Creswell's approach takes the guesswork out of the process." --STEVE GUERRIERO, Organization & Management, Antioch New England Graduate School The Second Edition of the bestselling Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches offers a unique comparison of three key approaches to inquiry. This comparison begins with preliminary consideration of knowledge claims for all three approaches, a review of the literature, and reflections about the importance of writing and ethics in scholarly inquiry. The book also addresses the key elements of the process of research: writing an introduction; stating a purpose for the study; identifying research questions and hypotheses; using theory; defining, delimiting and stating the significance of the study; and advancing methods and procedures for data collection and analysis. Key Features: Provides a clear presentation of how to implement a mixed methods design in your proposal or plan as well as show how to implement qualitative and quantitative approaches Presents the ethical issues that may arise in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies Offers extensive writing tips to help get your research plan started in the right direction Contains the latest developments in qualitative inquiry--including advocacy, participatory, and emancipatory approaches This book is ideal for readers who seek assistance in designing a full research study or planning a proposal for a scholarly journal article, dissertation or thesis. The book is an invaluable reference on the basics of research design as well as an effective text for graduate courses in Research Methods, Research Design, and related topics. The book serves a broad audience of social and human scientists in fields of marketing, management, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, K-12 education, higher and post-secondary education, nursing, health sciences, urban studies, and family research.