Policy Press

Doing Your Research Project with Documents

A Step-By-Step Guide to Take You from Start to Finish

By Aimee Grant

Published

Mar 15, 2022

Page count

220 pages

ISBN

978-1447344032

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 15, 2022

Page count

220 pages

ISBN

978-1447344049

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 15, 2022

Page count

220 pages

ISBN

978-1447344049

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press
Doing Your Research Project with Documents

Students and researchers have an abundance of materials and sources available to them via the internet for use in their projects. However, there is little practical guidance available on the fundamentals of performing qualitative research with documents.

This valuable book enables readers to undertake high-quality, robust research using documents as data. Encouraging critical consideration of research design, the book guides readers step-by-step through the process of planning and undertaking a research project based on documentary analysis. It covers selecting a research topic and sample through to analysing and writing up the data.

The book includes:

• a wealth of case studies demonstrating how lessons can be applied in practice;

• summary boxes and suggestions for further reading in each chapter to guide learning;

• helpful online resources to facilitate designing your own research.

Accessible and comprehensive, this book will be invaluable for both students and researchers alike who are new to documentary analysis.

All the resources included in this book are available to download on the book’s webpage at https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/doing-your-research-project-with-documents/online-resources. Look for the Online Resources logo throughout the book.

Aimee Grant is a qualitative researcher with a long-standing interest in documentary analysis. She is based at Swansea University’s Centre for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translational Research.

Introduction

PART I: GETTING GOING

Working productively

Working with your supervisor

Working ethically

Working reflexively and safely

PART II: MAKING DECISIONS

Reviewing literature and writing your literature review

Finding sources

Choosing an analysis approach

Writing research questions and your methods chapter

PART III: GETTING IT DONE!

Collecting and analysing data and writing your results chapter

Assessing data quality and writing your discussion chapter

Creating the final dissertation

Concluding remarks