This practice-oriented study book, written by Rob de Lange, Hans Schuman and Nicolina Montesano Montessori, has been developed for students and professionals at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. It provides a thorough and up-to-date introduction to research methods, with special attention to practice-oriented research and the development of reflective professionals. The revised edition includes new chapters on experiments, implementation research, standardized tests, and quantitative analysis techniques such as the t-test and factor analysis.
The book supports students in carrying out analyses independently with practice materials via a linked website, including step-by-step instructions in SPSS and Excel. With its focus on practice and reflection, it is suitable for both education programmes and professional practices in education, healthcare, and the social sciences.
The authors are experienced in teaching and research in the social sciences and are affiliated with institutions such as Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and the University of Amsterdam. Their expertise contributes to a current, practice-oriented approach to research skills for professional development.