Research sources and methods

The purpose of this chapter is fivefold. First, the definition of the term 'research' is presented to give an introduction to the topic at hand. Second, the reader will learn about the commonly-used steps in the research process. Third, an overview of the typical resources to tap into for various research undertakings is given along with the referencing technique used by the American Psychological Association (APA). Fourth, the differences between qualitative and quantitative research are explained and finally, ethical issues that should be addressed throughout the research process are discussed.