Textbooks and journal articles on research methods are rarely of help regarding what to do when your research project goes off track. Written by experienced researchers, PhD supervisors and examiners, it should prepare the reader for all that can go wrong when researching a PhD or any large research project.

Contents: 1. Shit happens, but you have a job to do! Keith Townsend and Mark N.K. Saunders PART I GETTING STARTED 2. Developing research ideas Bill Lee 3. On the path to enlightenment? Reviewing the literature systematically – or not Céline Rojon 4. The Master and Apprentice: Lessons from two PhD supervisors and a recent PhD graduate Jillian Cavanagh, Hannah Meacham and Timothy Bartram 5. “Finders, keepers, losers, weepers!”: A doctoral candidate’s reality of changing thesis advisors Polly Black 6. Reply all, tweets and social media: Technological friends for developing a professional identity that need to be treated with care Hugh T.J. Bainbridge 7. Coming up with a research question: opinions, feedback, and networking Deisi Yunga PART II GETTING DATA 8. Finding Epistemology Neve Isaeva 9. Bounce back, firewalls and legal threats: reaching respondents using Internet Questionnaires Mark N.K. Saunders and David E. Gray 10. Finding the truth amongst conflicting evidence Heather Short 11. Rolling with the punches Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, Julia Carins and Christiane Stock 12. Access, Involvement and Interference: encounters and experiences of case studies Kenneth Cafferkey 13. Is a pilot necessary? Polly Black 14. The precarious nature of access Wojciech Marek Kwiatkowski 15. The diminishing dissertation: seven cases to three+ Ashlea Kellner 16. So, I Guess We’re Probably Finished Then Keith Townsend 17. Your Incentives are Too Lucrative: Caution in Rewarding Interview Participants Catheryn Khoo-Lattimore 18. Sales Skills for Researchers Colin Hughes 19. Being flexible in interviews: Make sure that you account for power imbalance Qian Yi Lee PART III GETTING IT TOGETHER 20 . “… just one goat”: The importance of interpretation in qualitative data analysis Keith Townsend and Rebecca Loudoun 21. Analysing Quantitative Data Sameer Qaiyum and Catherine L. Wang 22. When the words just won’t come Dawn C. Duke 23. I’m a paper person or maybe not? Ilenia Bregoli 24. A Mug of Stress Rohit Talwar 25. Excuse me… Should that comma be there? Dealing with awkward questions. Kenneth Cafferkey 26. Finding the time to progress your research, and the big lie that you are part of! Jennifer Kilroy PART IV GETTING FINISHED 27. Authorship in Action Kate L. Daunt and Aoife M. McDermott 28. ‘They think I'm stupid’: Dealing with supervisor feedback Amanda Lee 29. Grasping roses or nettles? Losing and finding ourselves in research projects Kiran Trehan, Alex Kevill and Jane Glover 30. Using social media to enhance your research Angelique Gatsinzi 31. Organisations, clients and feminists: Getting in, coming back and having fun Marian Baird 32. Born to… write, rewrite and rewrite again Mark N.K. Saunders 33. ‘I’m over it …’ Peter J. Jordan Index

'Stories of the conception, undertaking and writing of research projects can be as valuable as the books, theses and papers themselves. But we tend to suppress or side-line these stories, especially when projects deviate from planned, expected or approved paths. This richly detailed and entertaining book provides much-needed openness about the agonies of real-world research, such as failure to gain access to research sites, data being lost, unworkable ethical governance frameworks, breakdowns in professional relationships, inabilities to find the words, and those ''what the hell just happened?'' moments that can ambush even the most seasoned field researcher. This book is an indispensable guide to the twists and turns of the research journey, from the initial ideas scrawled on the back of a beer mat to the publishing of a major academic work.' --Leo McCann, University of Manchester, UK'This is an accessibly written and multi-faceted edited collection which illustrates the myriad of experiences and challenges that researchers may have to face. It is an engaging book which invites the reader to consider the various issues entailed in ''doing research'' and, crucially, how to negotiate and enjoy the journey. It makes a fresh and important addition to the literature.' --MariaLaura Di Domenico, University of Surrey, UK'This is a must-read for all PhD students, postgraduate supervisors and early- to mid-career researchers. The authors demonstrate the inevitable challenges that arise when conducting research and offer practical and insightful solutions. Read this book - and learn from the best.' --Maura Sheehan, Edinburgh Napier University, UK