Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Perfect, 05 Mar 2007
It's comprehensive covering all you would need whilst studying social science research methods. I've found it extremely helpful in my studies.

The best, 13 Jun 2005
I've almost read all the research texts so far, and this is the best book in the feild of social/business research, especially for postgraduate students.

The best guide to research methods, 18 Dec 2003
This is the best, and most comprehensive guide to social science research methods currently available. It is extremely clear with plenty of examples and a user-friendly layout. It is very up-to-date and well written. The author is an established expert on methodology who has made important original contributions to the development of research methods. For most purposes, the only book you need on social research.

Martin Holborn

not too bad, 12 Nov 2003
Bryman is a perfect book for referal however it does assume prior sociologiacal knowledge and does tend to use specialised language with no explanation.

Apart from this the text is well organised with helpfull conclusions and help boxes to aid the reader.

Agood book to be used for looking up specific answers in detail.

Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Perfect, 05 Mar 2007
It's comprehensive covering all you would need whilst studying social science research methods. I've found it extremely helpful in my studies.

The best, 13 Jun 2005
I've almost read all the research texts so far, and this is the best book in the feild of social/business research, especially for postgraduate students.

The best guide to research methods, 18 Dec 2003
This is the best, and most comprehensive guide to social science research methods currently available. It is extremely clear with plenty of examples and a user-friendly layout. It is very up-to-date and well written. The author is an established expert on methodology who has made important original contributions to the development of research methods. For most purposes, the only book you need on social research.

Martin Holborn

not too bad, 12 Nov 2003
Bryman is a perfect book for referal however it does assume prior sociologiacal knowledge and does tend to use specialised language with no explanation.

Apart from this the text is well organised with helpfull conclusions and help boxes to aid the reader.

Agood book to be used for looking up specific answers in detail.

Great for distance learning M.Sc. project, 19 Jul 2007
I'm doing an M.Sc. in Operational Research by distance learning. I didn't have much of a clue about how to go about organising the research for my dissertation, and this book (out of all that I've bought) has been the best, providing a clear workflow from start to finish. Some really helpful references too.

The best just got better..., 30 Aug 2006
Having used the previous edition for a number of years in postgraduate study, I really didn't think it could be bettered. The great news is it has!

This new edition is a 'must-buy' book for any business student, whether they be undergraduate or postgraduate. Actually, it seems a shame to restrict the recommendation to business students, as most students of the social sciences would find it useful.

What's added enormously to this edition is the inclusion of loads more explanatory diagrams and computer screen-shots. Additionally, there are plenty of step by step examples of the application of theory. I've struggled with statistics despite reading numerous books and playing with very clever software. This book however has sorted me out. It's worth the money for that single chapter alone.

I know many of us students are hard up... but buy it! It's great to have around, rather than hoping the library has it!

An excellent introduction to research methods, 10 Dec 2003
I have used this book as a class text for a number of years (using both this and the previous edition); it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The organisation of the book is a particular strength, making it ideal for self study also.

Excellent book, 17 Aug 2003
The book is extremely helpful in creating a strong base for a research (Dissertation in my case). Reading the book and following the structure presented throughout book provides a certain level of confidence to deal with the research. The language is quite easy to follow and the book also contains some very useful examples.

An Excellent Help, 12 Jul 2003
I've used this book at University now for three years. It's been of invaluable help in all my projects and has allowed me to achieve a good grade in my dissertation. The book is thorough, easy to grasp because of its logical structure. I'm recommending this book to all my friends regardless of whether they're business student's or not.

Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Perfect, 05 Mar 2007
It's comprehensive covering all you would need whilst studying social science research methods. I've found it extremely helpful in my studies.

The best, 13 Jun 2005
I've almost read all the research texts so far, and this is the best book in the feild of social/business research, especially for postgraduate students.

The best guide to research methods, 18 Dec 2003
This is the best, and most comprehensive guide to social science research methods currently available. It is extremely clear with plenty of examples and a user-friendly layout. It is very up-to-date and well written. The author is an established expert on methodology who has made important original contributions to the development of research methods. For most purposes, the only book you need on social research.

Martin Holborn

not too bad, 12 Nov 2003
Bryman is a perfect book for referal however it does assume prior sociologiacal knowledge and does tend to use specialised language with no explanation.

Apart from this the text is well organised with helpfull conclusions and help boxes to aid the reader.

Agood book to be used for looking up specific answers in detail.

Great for distance learning M.Sc. project, 19 Jul 2007
I'm doing an M.Sc. in Operational Research by distance learning. I didn't have much of a clue about how to go about organising the research for my dissertation, and this book (out of all that I've bought) has been the best, providing a clear workflow from start to finish. Some really helpful references too.

The best just got better..., 30 Aug 2006
Having used the previous edition for a number of years in postgraduate study, I really didn't think it could be bettered. The great news is it has!

This new edition is a 'must-buy' book for any business student, whether they be undergraduate or postgraduate. Actually, it seems a shame to restrict the recommendation to business students, as most students of the social sciences would find it useful.

What's added enormously to this edition is the inclusion of loads more explanatory diagrams and computer screen-shots. Additionally, there are plenty of step by step examples of the application of theory. I've struggled with statistics despite reading numerous books and playing with very clever software. This book however has sorted me out. It's worth the money for that single chapter alone.

I know many of us students are hard up... but buy it! It's great to have around, rather than hoping the library has it!

An excellent introduction to research methods, 10 Dec 2003
I have used this book as a class text for a number of years (using both this and the previous edition); it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The organisation of the book is a particular strength, making it ideal for self study also.

Excellent book, 17 Aug 2003
The book is extremely helpful in creating a strong base for a research (Dissertation in my case). Reading the book and following the structure presented throughout book provides a certain level of confidence to deal with the research. The language is quite easy to follow and the book also contains some very useful examples.

An Excellent Help, 12 Jul 2003
I've used this book at University now for three years. It's been of invaluable help in all my projects and has allowed me to achieve a good grade in my dissertation. The book is thorough, easy to grasp because of its logical structure. I'm recommending this book to all my friends regardless of whether they're business student's or not.

Initial Impressions - not so great..., 11 Aug 2003
I've owned this book for a matter of days but have been disappointed. I'm a psychology degree student. Most recent essay - "Consciousness". However, terms like "Access Consciousness; Phenomenal Consciousness; Monitoring Consciousness and Self-Consciousness" are not included. The term "pseudoseizure" is omitted...to name just a handful of words I've tried to look up. I was also disappointed by some of the definitions, finding them too vague. Perhaps I need to give this reference book a chance, but for now, I'm not impressed.
Perhaps I was expecting too much...?

The Ideal book for any student or teacher, 20 Jun 2001
This book is a fantastic book for anyone studying or anyone interested in psychology. It helps find the meanings to many complex words used in psychology,etc. Coming from a student of psychology i have found this book very helpful for essay work. This book has helped me find new words and the layout is easy to read and easy to find any key words

Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Perfect, 05 Mar 2007
It's comprehensive covering all you would need whilst studying social science research methods. I've found it extremely helpful in my studies.

The best, 13 Jun 2005
I've almost read all the research texts so far, and this is the best book in the feild of social/business research, especially for postgraduate students.

The best guide to research methods, 18 Dec 2003
This is the best, and most comprehensive guide to social science research methods currently available. It is extremely clear with plenty of examples and a user-friendly layout. It is very up-to-date and well written. The author is an established expert on methodology who has made important original contributions to the development of research methods. For most purposes, the only book you need on social research.

Martin Holborn

not too bad, 12 Nov 2003
Bryman is a perfect book for referal however it does assume prior sociologiacal knowledge and does tend to use specialised language with no explanation.

Apart from this the text is well organised with helpfull conclusions and help boxes to aid the reader.

Agood book to be used for looking up specific answers in detail.

Great for distance learning M.Sc. project, 19 Jul 2007
I'm doing an M.Sc. in Operational Research by distance learning. I didn't have much of a clue about how to go about organising the research for my dissertation, and this book (out of all that I've bought) has been the best, providing a clear workflow from start to finish. Some really helpful references too.

The best just got better..., 30 Aug 2006
Having used the previous edition for a number of years in postgraduate study, I really didn't think it could be bettered. The great news is it has!

This new edition is a 'must-buy' book for any business student, whether they be undergraduate or postgraduate. Actually, it seems a shame to restrict the recommendation to business students, as most students of the social sciences would find it useful.

What's added enormously to this edition is the inclusion of loads more explanatory diagrams and computer screen-shots. Additionally, there are plenty of step by step examples of the application of theory. I've struggled with statistics despite reading numerous books and playing with very clever software. This book however has sorted me out. It's worth the money for that single chapter alone.

I know many of us students are hard up... but buy it! It's great to have around, rather than hoping the library has it!

An excellent introduction to research methods, 10 Dec 2003
I have used this book as a class text for a number of years (using both this and the previous edition); it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The organisation of the book is a particular strength, making it ideal for self study also.

Excellent book, 17 Aug 2003
The book is extremely helpful in creating a strong base for a research (Dissertation in my case). Reading the book and following the structure presented throughout book provides a certain level of confidence to deal with the research. The language is quite easy to follow and the book also contains some very useful examples.

An Excellent Help, 12 Jul 2003
I've used this book at University now for three years. It's been of invaluable help in all my projects and has allowed me to achieve a good grade in my dissertation. The book is thorough, easy to grasp because of its logical structure. I'm recommending this book to all my friends regardless of whether they're business student's or not.

Initial Impressions - not so great..., 11 Aug 2003
I've owned this book for a matter of days but have been disappointed. I'm a psychology degree student. Most recent essay - "Consciousness". However, terms like "Access Consciousness; Phenomenal Consciousness; Monitoring Consciousness and Self-Consciousness" are not included. The term "pseudoseizure" is omitted...to name just a handful of words I've tried to look up. I was also disappointed by some of the definitions, finding them too vague. Perhaps I need to give this reference book a chance, but for now, I'm not impressed.
Perhaps I was expecting too much...?

The Ideal book for any student or teacher, 20 Jun 2001
This book is a fantastic book for anyone studying or anyone interested in psychology. It helps find the meanings to many complex words used in psychology,etc. Coming from a student of psychology i have found this book very helpful for essay work. This book has helped me find new words and the layout is easy to read and easy to find any key words

Big help, 02 Oct 2008
I am a physiotheapy student, I bought this book before I embarked on my dissertation and found this to be a big help, it was easy to read and easy to follow throughout my literature review. Gave great tips and ideas.

Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Perfect, 05 Mar 2007
It's comprehensive covering all you would need whilst studying social science research methods. I've found it extremely helpful in my studies.

The best, 13 Jun 2005
I've almost read all the research texts so far, and this is the best book in the feild of social/business research, especially for postgraduate students.

The best guide to research methods, 18 Dec 2003
This is the best, and most comprehensive guide to social science research methods currently available. It is extremely clear with plenty of examples and a user-friendly layout. It is very up-to-date and well written. The author is an established expert on methodology who has made important original contributions to the development of research methods. For most purposes, the only book you need on social research.

Martin Holborn

not too bad, 12 Nov 2003
Bryman is a perfect book for referal however it does assume prior sociologiacal knowledge and does tend to use specialised language with no explanation.

Apart from this the text is well organised with helpfull conclusions and help boxes to aid the reader.

Agood book to be used for looking up specific answers in detail.

Great for distance learning M.Sc. project, 19 Jul 2007
I'm doing an M.Sc. in Operational Research by distance learning. I didn't have much of a clue about how to go about organising the research for my dissertation, and this book (out of all that I've bought) has been the best, providing a clear workflow from start to finish. Some really helpful references too.

The best just got better..., 30 Aug 2006
Having used the previous edition for a number of years in postgraduate study, I really didn't think it could be bettered. The great news is it has!

This new edition is a 'must-buy' book for any business student, whether they be undergraduate or postgraduate. Actually, it seems a shame to restrict the recommendation to business students, as most students of the social sciences would find it useful.

What's added enormously to this edition is the inclusion of loads more explanatory diagrams and computer screen-shots. Additionally, there are plenty of step by step examples of the application of theory. I've struggled with statistics despite reading numerous books and playing with very clever software. This book however has sorted me out. It's worth the money for that single chapter alone.

I know many of us students are hard up... but buy it! It's great to have around, rather than hoping the library has it!

An excellent introduction to research methods, 10 Dec 2003
I have used this book as a class text for a number of years (using both this and the previous edition); it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The organisation of the book is a particular strength, making it ideal for self study also.

Excellent book, 17 Aug 2003
The book is extremely helpful in creating a strong base for a research (Dissertation in my case). Reading the book and following the structure presented throughout book provides a certain level of confidence to deal with the research. The language is quite easy to follow and the book also contains some very useful examples.

An Excellent Help, 12 Jul 2003
I've used this book at University now for three years. It's been of invaluable help in all my projects and has allowed me to achieve a good grade in my dissertation. The book is thorough, easy to grasp because of its logical structure. I'm recommending this book to all my friends regardless of whether they're business student's or not.

Initial Impressions - not so great..., 11 Aug 2003
I've owned this book for a matter of days but have been disappointed. I'm a psychology degree student. Most recent essay - "Consciousness". However, terms like "Access Consciousness; Phenomenal Consciousness; Monitoring Consciousness and Self-Consciousness" are not included. The term "pseudoseizure" is omitted...to name just a handful of words I've tried to look up. I was also disappointed by some of the definitions, finding them too vague. Perhaps I need to give this reference book a chance, but for now, I'm not impressed.
Perhaps I was expecting too much...?

The Ideal book for any student or teacher, 20 Jun 2001
This book is a fantastic book for anyone studying or anyone interested in psychology. It helps find the meanings to many complex words used in psychology,etc. Coming from a student of psychology i have found this book very helpful for essay work. This book has helped me find new words and the layout is easy to read and easy to find any key words

Big help, 02 Oct 2008
I am a physiotheapy student, I bought this book before I embarked on my dissertation and found this to be a big help, it was easy to read and easy to follow throughout my literature review. Gave great tips and ideas.

This book saved my academic career, 19 Dec 2007
Simply the best book on introductory SPSS that exists.I know nothing about the author but having bought this book in the middle of a statistics open assignment I can confidently say that I love her and want to marry her. There must be dozens of books that claim to be beginners guides to SPSS- this one actually does what it says; totally brilliant.

Brilliant book for SPSS novices, 19 Nov 2007
For someone who is not only scared by stats but is also pretty clueless about them (like me), this book is brilliant! Whether you have never opened SPSS before or whether you have some basic knowledge but not enough to do what you need, this book fits the bill. The writing is clear and easy to understand, with no jargon and useful examples, the boxes that show how to perform the analysis is just as clear and when used in conjunction with the datasets on the website provide peace of mind on how simple it all is!

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to use SPSS for any type of research (especially at undergraduate dissertation level) as it provides really clear and relevant help on all aspects of SPSS from getting to grips with the programme itself through to inputting the data, choosing the right statistic to analyse your data, and of course how to analyse it and interpret the results.

Quite simply, brilliant!

SPSS made easy, 15 Feb 2006
As a supervisor of potgraduate studies this book is a treasure. Discuss the type of analysis and give the student the book. Its so easy to follow, and even teaches them how to write up the findings. Its also very up-to-date with the latest thinking about analysis, for example the use of parallel analysis to determine the number of significant factors in factor analysis. The student learns all the good habits of SPSS analysis!!!

SPSS a good introduction, 28 Jan 2006
As a newish SPSS user, but by no means a novice, I found this a really useful book. It may not be suited for advanced users, but for newbies or inbetweenies it is great as an introduction or reminder. In particular it is very good at explaining what to look for in the output. I also loved the spiral binding..it stays open while you are trying to get SPSS to work!!

may be bit simple for advanced users, 20 Aug 2005
good as an introduction, but lacks details on more advanced analysis. would recommend andy field's book for more detailed analysis

Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Perfect, 05 Mar 2007
It's comprehensive covering all you would need whilst studying social science research methods. I've found it extremely helpful in my studies.

The best, 13 Jun 2005
I've almost read all the research texts so far, and this is the best book in the feild of social/business research, especially for postgraduate students.

The best guide to research methods, 18 Dec 2003
This is the best, and most comprehensive guide to social science research methods currently available. It is extremely clear with plenty of examples and a user-friendly layout. It is very up-to-date and well written. The author is an established expert on methodology who has made important original contributions to the development of research methods. For most purposes, the only book you need on social research.

Martin Holborn

not too bad, 12 Nov 2003
Bryman is a perfect book for referal however it does assume prior sociologiacal knowledge and does tend to use specialised language with no explanation.

Apart from this the text is well organised with helpfull conclusions and help boxes to aid the reader.

Agood book to be used for looking up specific answers in detail.

Great for distance learning M.Sc. project, 19 Jul 2007
I'm doing an M.Sc. in Operational Research by distance learning. I didn't have much of a clue about how to go about organising the research for my dissertation, and this book (out of all that I've bought) has been the best, providing a clear workflow from start to finish. Some really helpful references too.

The best just got better..., 30 Aug 2006
Having used the previous edition for a number of years in postgraduate study, I really didn't think it could be bettered. The great news is it has!

This new edition is a 'must-buy' book for any business student, whether they be undergraduate or postgraduate. Actually, it seems a shame to restrict the recommendation to business students, as most students of the social sciences would find it useful.

What's added enormously to this edition is the inclusion of loads more explanatory diagrams and computer screen-shots. Additionally, there are plenty of step by step examples of the application of theory. I've struggled with statistics despite reading numerous books and playing with very clever software. This book however has sorted me out. It's worth the money for that single chapter alone.

I know many of us students are hard up... but buy it! It's great to have around, rather than hoping the library has it!

An excellent introduction to research methods, 10 Dec 2003
I have used this book as a class text for a number of years (using both this and the previous edition); it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The organisation of the book is a particular strength, making it ideal for self study also.

Excellent book, 17 Aug 2003
The book is extremely helpful in creating a strong base for a research (Dissertation in my case). Reading the book and following the structure presented throughout book provides a certain level of confidence to deal with the research. The language is quite easy to follow and the book also contains some very useful examples.

An Excellent Help, 12 Jul 2003
I've used this book at University now for three years. It's been of invaluable help in all my projects and has allowed me to achieve a good grade in my dissertation. The book is thorough, easy to grasp because of its logical structure. I'm recommending this book to all my friends regardless of whether they're business student's or not.

Initial Impressions - not so great..., 11 Aug 2003
I've owned this book for a matter of days but have been disappointed. I'm a psychology degree student. Most recent essay - "Consciousness". However, terms like "Access Consciousness; Phenomenal Consciousness; Monitoring Consciousness and Self-Consciousness" are not included. The term "pseudoseizure" is omitted...to name just a handful of words I've tried to look up. I was also disappointed by some of the definitions, finding them too vague. Perhaps I need to give this reference book a chance, but for now, I'm not impressed.
Perhaps I was expecting too much...?

The Ideal book for any student or teacher, 20 Jun 2001
This book is a fantastic book for anyone studying or anyone interested in psychology. It helps find the meanings to many complex words used in psychology,etc. Coming from a student of psychology i have found this book very helpful for essay work. This book has helped me find new words and the layout is easy to read and easy to find any key words

Big help, 02 Oct 2008
I am a physiotheapy student, I bought this book before I embarked on my dissertation and found this to be a big help, it was easy to read and easy to follow throughout my literature review. Gave great tips and ideas.

This book saved my academic career, 19 Dec 2007
Simply the best book on introductory SPSS that exists.I know nothing about the author but having bought this book in the middle of a statistics open assignment I can confidently say that I love her and want to marry her. There must be dozens of books that claim to be beginners guides to SPSS- this one actually does what it says; totally brilliant.

Brilliant book for SPSS novices, 19 Nov 2007
For someone who is not only scared by stats but is also pretty clueless about them (like me), this book is brilliant! Whether you have never opened SPSS before or whether you have some basic knowledge but not enough to do what you need, this book fits the bill. The writing is clear and easy to understand, with no jargon and useful examples, the boxes that show how to perform the analysis is just as clear and when used in conjunction with the datasets on the website provide peace of mind on how simple it all is!

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to use SPSS for any type of research (especially at undergraduate dissertation level) as it provides really clear and relevant help on all aspects of SPSS from getting to grips with the programme itself through to inputting the data, choosing the right statistic to analyse your data, and of course how to analyse it and interpret the results.

Quite simply, brilliant!

SPSS made easy, 15 Feb 2006
As a supervisor of potgraduate studies this book is a treasure. Discuss the type of analysis and give the student the book. Its so easy to follow, and even teaches them how to write up the findings. Its also very up-to-date with the latest thinking about analysis, for example the use of parallel analysis to determine the number of significant factors in factor analysis. The student learns all the good habits of SPSS analysis!!!

SPSS a good introduction, 28 Jan 2006
As a newish SPSS user, but by no means a novice, I found this a really useful book. It may not be suited for advanced users, but for newbies or inbetweenies it is great as an introduction or reminder. In particular it is very good at explaining what to look for in the output. I also loved the spiral binding..it stays open while you are trying to get SPSS to work!!

may be bit simple for advanced users, 20 Aug 2005
good as an introduction, but lacks details on more advanced analysis. would recommend andy field's book for more detailed analysis

Doing your head in: releasing the aggression after trying to read this., 04 Aug 2007
I decided to buy this book having read all the fantastic reviews on here, but was sorely disappointed. I am in the process of writing a postgrad literature review for my CIPD and have to say, this book was absolutely no help whatsoever. Maybe it works for academics, but for business students, I would avoid this like the plague. If you're after a book that gives you practical hints on how to get started with your literature review, don't buy this. I found the content and writing style to be largely theoretical and abstract, which made it difficult to follow or glean any quick pointers from. Having trawled through the whole sorry dirge I was left none the wiser by the end of the book and found much more useful and practical tips online.

A brilliant book on writing a research project literature review!, 08 Jan 2007
I used Chris Hart's book as a postgraduate student and I was more than satisfied to say the least. After reading the book I was able to advise my classmates as to how to write a good literature review.

There are a lot of interesting illustrations which thoroughly explain the process of prior research than needs to be done and then how it's all combined and written up as a document i.e. a literature review.

Moreover, the most important elements that are described within the book are the types of research available to the researcher, the goals of a research, the issues of different types of research, the different ways of argumentation, how to cite references, a checklist of do's and don'ts.

I recommend Hart's book to every postgraduate student bound to a literature review write-up and academics in general.

Excellent!, 01 Aug 2003
A brilliant book written in such a wonderful, transparent and
understandable style. A real gem that is best in its class. Excellent reference when judging graduate and post-graduate thesis works. Recommended warmly!

This is an excellent primer and useful for post-docs too, 12 Feb 2002
The book covers the typical issues in conducting a literature review in the social sciences. It covers the role of the lit review. How to review. Classifying and reading research. Analysing arguments. Organising ideas. Mapping and expressing ideas. The later sections bring to light the real purpose of the review: not to read everything written on x but to put the reasons for your study within the context of the past research in a topic and explore the ideas that have underlain progress in a topic. Excellent

Magnificent guide to literature review, 07 May 2001
Chris Hart's guide to doing a literature review presents a comprehensive perspective on the literature review as a research tool. While it is addressed to scholars in the social sciences, this book is useful in most areas of design research. Hart discusses the role of literature in research. He explains how reviewing earlier work releases the imagination rather than constraining it. He shows how to classify and read research literature, how to analyze arguments, and how to organize and express ideas. He also teaches the reader useful ways to map and analyze the ideas that each body of literature reveals. Finally, he demonstrates in careful, clear stages how to develop and write the literature review. At each point, Hart develops a serious, well-reasoned explanation that helps the scholar to understand why each step is important and how to do it well.

Ken Friedman
Professor
Norwegian School of Management, Oslo, and Denmark's Design School, Copenhagen

This review originally appeared in Design Research News, Volume 6, Number 5, May 2001 ISSN 1473-3862.

Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Perfect, 05 Mar 2007
It's comprehensive covering all you would need whilst studying social science research methods. I've found it extremely helpful in my studies.

The best, 13 Jun 2005
I've almost read all the research texts so far, and this is the best book in the feild of social/business research, especially for postgraduate students.

The best guide to research methods, 18 Dec 2003
This is the best, and most comprehensive guide to social science research methods currently available. It is extremely clear with plenty of examples and a user-friendly layout. It is very up-to-date and well written. The author is an established expert on methodology who has made important original contributions to the development of research methods. For most purposes, the only book you need on social research.

Martin Holborn

not too bad, 12 Nov 2003
Bryman is a perfect book for referal however it does assume prior sociologiacal knowledge and does tend to use specialised language with no explanation.

Apart from this the text is well organised with helpfull conclusions and help boxes to aid the reader.

Agood book to be used for looking up specific answers in detail.

Great for distance learning M.Sc. project, 19 Jul 2007
I'm doing an M.Sc. in Operational Research by distance learning. I didn't have much of a clue about how to go about organising the research for my dissertation, and this book (out of all that I've bought) has been the best, providing a clear workflow from start to finish. Some really helpful references too.

The best just got better..., 30 Aug 2006
Having used the previous edition for a number of years in postgraduate study, I really didn't think it could be bettered. The great news is it has!

This new edition is a 'must-buy' book for any business student, whether they be undergraduate or postgraduate. Actually, it seems a shame to restrict the recommendation to business students, as most students of the social sciences would find it useful.

What's added enormously to this edition is the inclusion of loads more explanatory diagrams and computer screen-shots. Additionally, there are plenty of step by step examples of the application of theory. I've struggled with statistics despite reading numerous books and playing with very clever software. This book however has sorted me out. It's worth the money for that single chapter alone.

I know many of us students are hard up... but buy it! It's great to have around, rather than hoping the library has it!

An excellent introduction to research methods, 10 Dec 2003
I have used this book as a class text for a number of years (using both this and the previous edition); it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The organisation of the book is a particular strength, making it ideal for self study also.

Excellent book, 17 Aug 2003
The book is extremely helpful in creating a strong base for a research (Dissertation in my case). Reading the book and following the structure presented throughout book provides a certain level of confidence to deal with the research. The language is quite easy to follow and the book also contains some very useful examples.

An Excellent Help, 12 Jul 2003
I've used this book at University now for three years. It's been of invaluable help in all my projects and has allowed me to achieve a good grade in my dissertation. The book is thorough, easy to grasp because of its logical structure. I'm recommending this book to all my friends regardless of whether they're business student's or not.

Initial Impressions - not so great..., 11 Aug 2003
I've owned this book for a matter of days but have been disappointed. I'm a psychology degree student. Most recent essay - "Consciousness". However, terms like "Access Consciousness; Phenomenal Consciousness; Monitoring Consciousness and Self-Consciousness" are not included. The term "pseudoseizure" is omitted...to name just a handful of words I've tried to look up. I was also disappointed by some of the definitions, finding them too vague. Perhaps I need to give this reference book a chance, but for now, I'm not impressed.
Perhaps I was expecting too much...?

The Ideal book for any student or teacher, 20 Jun 2001
This book is a fantastic book for anyone studying or anyone interested in psychology. It helps find the meanings to many complex words used in psychology,etc. Coming from a student of psychology i have found this book very helpful for essay work. This book has helped me find new words and the layout is easy to read and easy to find any key words

Big help, 02 Oct 2008
I am a physiotheapy student, I bought this book before I embarked on my dissertation and found this to be a big help, it was easy to read and easy to follow throughout my literature review. Gave great tips and ideas.

This book saved my academic career, 19 Dec 2007
Simply the best book on introductory SPSS that exists.I know nothing about the author but having bought this book in the middle of a statistics open assignment I can confidently say that I love her and want to marry her. There must be dozens of books that claim to be beginners guides to SPSS- this one actually does what it says; totally brilliant.

Brilliant book for SPSS novices, 19 Nov 2007
For someone who is not only scared by stats but is also pretty clueless about them (like me), this book is brilliant! Whether you have never opened SPSS before or whether you have some basic knowledge but not enough to do what you need, this book fits the bill. The writing is clear and easy to understand, with no jargon and useful examples, the boxes that show how to perform the analysis is just as clear and when used in conjunction with the datasets on the website provide peace of mind on how simple it all is!

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to use SPSS for any type of research (especially at undergraduate dissertation level) as it provides really clear and relevant help on all aspects of SPSS from getting to grips with the programme itself through to inputting the data, choosing the right statistic to analyse your data, and of course how to analyse it and interpret the results.

Quite simply, brilliant!

SPSS made easy, 15 Feb 2006
As a supervisor of potgraduate studies this book is a treasure. Discuss the type of analysis and give the student the book. Its so easy to follow, and even teaches them how to write up the findings. Its also very up-to-date with the latest thinking about analysis, for example the use of parallel analysis to determine the number of significant factors in factor analysis. The student learns all the good habits of SPSS analysis!!!

SPSS a good introduction, 28 Jan 2006
As a newish SPSS user, but by no means a novice, I found this a really useful book. It may not be suited for advanced users, but for newbies or inbetweenies it is great as an introduction or reminder. In particular it is very good at explaining what to look for in the output. I also loved the spiral binding..it stays open while you are trying to get SPSS to work!!

may be bit simple for advanced users, 20 Aug 2005
good as an introduction, but lacks details on more advanced analysis. would recommend andy field's book for more detailed analysis

Doing your head in: releasing the aggression after trying to read this., 04 Aug 2007
I decided to buy this book having read all the fantastic reviews on here, but was sorely disappointed. I am in the process of writing a postgrad literature review for my CIPD and have to say, this book was absolutely no help whatsoever. Maybe it works for academics, but for business students, I would avoid this like the plague. If you're after a book that gives you practical hints on how to get started with your literature review, don't buy this. I found the content and writing style to be largely theoretical and abstract, which made it difficult to follow or glean any quick pointers from. Having trawled through the whole sorry dirge I was left none the wiser by the end of the book and found much more useful and practical tips online.

A brilliant book on writing a research project literature review!, 08 Jan 2007
I used Chris Hart's book as a postgraduate student and I was more than satisfied to say the least. After reading the book I was able to advise my classmates as to how to write a good literature review.

There are a lot of interesting illustrations which thoroughly explain the process of prior research than needs to be done and then how it's all combined and written up as a document i.e. a literature review.

Moreover, the most important elements that are described within the book are the types of research available to the researcher, the goals of a research, the issues of different types of research, the different ways of argumentation, how to cite references, a checklist of do's and don'ts.

I recommend Hart's book to every postgraduate student bound to a literature review write-up and academics in general.

Excellent!, 01 Aug 2003
A brilliant book written in such a wonderful, transparent and
understandable style. A real gem that is best in its class. Excellent reference when judging graduate and post-graduate thesis works. Recommended warmly!

This is an excellent primer and useful for post-docs too, 12 Feb 2002
The book covers the typical issues in conducting a literature review in the social sciences. It covers the role of the lit review. How to review. Classifying and reading research. Analysing arguments. Organising ideas. Mapping and expressing ideas. The later sections bring to light the real purpose of the review: not to read everything written on x but to put the reasons for your study within the context of the past research in a topic and explore the ideas that have underlain progress in a topic. Excellent

Magnificent guide to literature review, 07 May 2001
Chris Hart's guide to doing a literature review presents a comprehensive perspective on the literature review as a research tool. While it is addressed to scholars in the social sciences, this book is useful in most areas of design research. Hart discusses the role of literature in research. He explains how reviewing earlier work releases the imagination rather than constraining it. He shows how to classify and read research literature, how to analyze arguments, and how to organize and express ideas. He also teaches the reader useful ways to map and analyze the ideas that each body of literature reveals. Finally, he demonstrates in careful, clear stages how to develop and write the literature review. At each point, Hart develops a serious, well-reasoned explanation that helps the scholar to understand why each step is important and how to do it well.

Ken Friedman
Professor
Norwegian School of Management, Oslo, and Denmark's Design School, Copenhagen

This review originally appeared in Design Research News, Volume 6, Number 5, May 2001 ISSN 1473-3862.

Great for the basics, 17 Jun 2004
I am a first year PhD student (pure research and no taught modules or recommended reading) and found this book to be really helpful for getting started with the basics, even though I have already chosen my research method and proposal. It comes in small bite-size chunks with a few gems to get you thinking. I'm a 'get it done quick' kinda girl, so this was great for my style of 'action' learning. If you're more of a deep thinker, this may not be for you.

A must for students, 15 Aug 2001
One of the recommended course texts for the course I am on, and has been worth every penny! It contains some useful checklists, and although not an exhaustive text on qualitative research, it has been very useful.

Outstanding Book, Outstanding Author, 13 Oct 2008
Although i may appear biased as i have been fortunate enough to have been lectured (stats lecture) by Andy Field I honestly beleive that this book is a MUST for all psychology students around the world who will be using SPSS at some point in their psychology careers! It is simple, witty, funny, and makes stats easy to understand. Brilliant book! =]

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

Perfect, 05 Mar 2007
It's comprehensive covering all you would need whilst studying social science research methods. I've found it extremely helpful in my studies.

The best, 13 Jun 2005
I've almost read all the research texts so far, and this is the best book in the feild of social/business research, especially for postgraduate students.

The best guide to research methods, 18 Dec 2003
This is the best, and most comprehensive guide to social science research methods currently available. It is extremely clear with plenty of examples and a user-friendly layout. It is very up-to-date and well written. The author is an established expert on methodology who has made important original contributions to the development of research methods. For most purposes, the only book you need on social research.

Martin Holborn

not too bad, 12 Nov 2003
Bryman is a perfect book for referal however it does assume prior sociologiacal knowledge and does tend to use specialised language with no explanation.

Apart from this the text is well organised with helpfull conclusions and help boxes to aid the reader.

Agood book to be used for looking up specific answers in detail.

Great for distance learning M.Sc. project, 19 Jul 2007
I'm doing an M.Sc. in Operational Research by distance learning. I didn't have much of a clue about how to go about organising the research for my dissertation, and this book (out of all that I've bought) has been the best, providing a clear workflow from start to finish. Some really helpful references too.

The best just got better..., 30 Aug 2006
Having used the previous edition for a number of years in postgraduate study, I really didn't think it could be bettered. The great news is it has!

This new edition is a 'must-buy' book for any business student, whether they be undergraduate or postgraduate. Actually, it seems a shame to restrict the recommendation to business students, as most students of the social sciences would find it useful.

What's added enormously to this edition is the inclusion of loads more explanatory diagrams and computer screen-shots. Additionally, there are plenty of step by step examples of the application of theory. I've struggled with statistics despite reading numerous books and playing with very clever software. This book however has sorted me out. It's worth the money for that single chapter alone.

I know many of us students are hard up... but buy it! It's great to have around, rather than hoping the library has it!

An excellent introduction to research methods, 10 Dec 2003
I have used this book as a class text for a number of years (using both this and the previous edition); it is an excellent introduction to the subject. The organisation of the book is a particular strength, making it ideal for self study also.

Excellent book, 17 Aug 2003
The book is extremely helpful in creating a strong base for a research (Dissertation in my case). Reading the book and following the structure presented throughout book provides a certain level of confidence to deal with the research. The language is quite easy to follow and the book also contains some very useful examples.

An Excellent Help, 12 Jul 2003
I've used this book at University now for three years. It's been of invaluable help in all my projects and has allowed me to achieve a good grade in my dissertation. The book is thorough, easy to grasp because of its logical structure. I'm recommending this book to all my friends regardless of whether they're business student's or not.

Initial Impressions - not so great..., 11 Aug 2003
I've owned this book for a matter of days but have been disappointed. I'm a psychology degree student. Most recent essay - "Consciousness". However, terms like "Access Consciousness; Phenomenal Consciousness; Monitoring Consciousness and Self-Consciousness" are not included. The term "pseudoseizure" is omitted...to name just a handful of words I've tried to look up. I was also disappointed by some of the definitions, finding them too vague. Perhaps I need to give this reference book a chance, but for now, I'm not impressed.
Perhaps I was expecting too much...?

The Ideal book for any student or teacher, 20 Jun 2001
This book is a fantastic book for anyone studying or anyone interested in psychology. It helps find the meanings to many complex words used in psychology,etc. Coming from a student of psychology i have found this book very helpful for essay work. This book has helped me find new words and the layout is easy to read and easy to find any key words

Big help, 02 Oct 2008
I am a physiotheapy student, I bought this book before I embarked on my dissertation and found this to be a big help, it was easy to read and easy to follow throughout my literature review. Gave great tips and ideas.

This book saved my academic career, 19 Dec 2007
Simply the best book on introductory SPSS that exists.I know nothing about the author but having bought this book in the middle of a statistics open assignment I can confidently say that I love her and want to marry her. There must be dozens of books that claim to be beginners guides to SPSS- this one actually does what it says; totally brilliant.

Brilliant book for SPSS novices, 19 Nov 2007
For someone who is not only scared by stats but is also pretty clueless about them (like me), this book is brilliant! Whether you have never opened SPSS before or whether you have some basic knowledge but not enough to do what you need, this book fits the bill. The writing is clear and easy to understand, with no jargon and useful examples, the boxes that show how to perform the analysis is just as clear and when used in conjunction with the datasets on the website provide peace of mind on how simple it all is!

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to use SPSS for any type of research (especially at undergraduate dissertation level) as it provides really clear and relevant help on all aspects of SPSS from getting to grips with the programme itself through to inputting the data, choosing the right statistic to analyse your data, and of course how to analyse it and interpret the results.

Quite simply, brilliant!

SPSS made easy, 15 Feb 2006
As a supervisor of potgraduate studies this book is a treasure. Discuss the type of analysis and give the student the book. Its so easy to follow, and even teaches them how to write up the findings. Its also very up-to-date with the latest thinking about analysis, for example the use of parallel analysis to determine the number of significant factors in factor analysis. The student learns all the good habits of SPSS analysis!!!

SPSS a good introduction, 28 Jan 2006
As a newish SPSS user, but by no means a novice, I found this a really useful book. It may not be suited for advanced users, but for newbies or inbetweenies it is great as an introduction or reminder. In particular it is very good at explaining what to look for in the output. I also loved the spiral binding..it stays open while you are trying to get SPSS to work!!

may be bit simple for advanced users, 20 Aug 2005
good as an introduction, but lacks details on more advanced analysis. would recommend andy field's book for more detailed analysis

Doing your head in: releasing the aggression after trying to read this., 04 Aug 2007
I decided to buy this book having read all the fantastic reviews on here, but was sorely disappointed. I am in the process of writing a postgrad literature review for my CIPD and have to say, this book was absolutely no help whatsoever. Maybe it works for academics, but for business students, I would avoid this like the plague. If you're after a book that gives you practical hints on how to get started with your literature review, don't buy this. I found the content and writing style to be largely theoretical and abstract, which made it difficult to follow or glean any quick pointers from. Having trawled through the whole sorry dirge I was left none the wiser by the end of the book and found much more useful and practical tips online.

A brilliant book on writing a research project literature review!, 08 Jan 2007
I used Chris Hart's book as a postgraduate student and I was more than satisfied to say the least. After reading the book I was able to advise my classmates as to how to write a good literature review.

There are a lot of interesting illustrations which thoroughly explain the process of prior research than needs to be done and then how it's all combined and written up as a document i.e. a literature review.

Moreover, the most important elements that are described within the book are the types of research available to the researcher, the goals of a research, the issues of different types of research, the different ways of argumentation, how to cite references, a checklist of do's and don'ts.

I recommend Hart's book to every postgraduate student bound to a literature review write-up and academics in general.

Excellent!, 01 Aug 2003
A brilliant book written in such a wonderful, transparent and
understandable style. A real gem that is best in its class. Excellent reference when judging graduate and post-graduate thesis works. Recommended warmly!

This is an excellent primer and useful for post-docs too, 12 Feb 2002
The book covers the typical issues in conducting a literature review in the social sciences. It covers the role of the lit review. How to review. Classifying and reading research. Analysing arguments. Organising ideas. Mapping and expressing ideas. The later sections bring to light the real purpose of the review: not to read everything written on x but to put the reasons for your study within the context of the past research in a topic and explore the ideas that have underlain progress in a topic. Excellent

Magnificent guide to literature review, 07 May 2001
Chris Hart's guide to doing a literature review presents a comprehensive perspective on the literature review as a research tool. While it is addressed to scholars in the social sciences, this book is useful in most areas of design research. Hart discusses the role of literature in research. He explains how reviewing earlier work releases the imagination rather than constraining it. He shows how to classify and read research literature, how to analyze arguments, and how to organize and express ideas. He also teaches the reader useful ways to map and analyze the ideas that each body of literature reveals. Finally, he demonstrates in careful, clear stages how to