How to do Your First Research Project: A Beginner’s Guide to Planning, Conducting, and Surviving Your First Research Study

Format: PDF Number of pages: 150

Written in a refreshingly honest, down-to-earth style, How to Do Your First Research Project is the ultimate roadmap for students and early-career researchers diving into the world of qualitative research. Whether you're writing a dissertation, thesis, or independent study, this book walks you through every single step of the process - from picking a topic to writing the final chapter.

The author, Dr Jaroslaw Kriukow, is an experienced data analyst, academic tutor, and research consultant, with a decade of experience supporting students and researchers around the world. He has worked with leading universities and global companies — including Oxford, Edinburgh, York, HSBC, and Uber — helping hundreds of people not just survive, but succeed in their research journeys.

Example questions this book answers:

• How many participants are “enough” in a qualitative study?
• What is the difference between a method, methodology, and a paradigm?
• What are paradigms, and why do they matter in research?
• How do I write clear, meaningful research questions?
• Should I conduct interviews, focus groups, or surveys — and how do I choose?
• What makes a good literature review?
• What is reflexivity, and how do I write about it?
• What’s the difference between inductive, deductive, and abductive analysis?
• How do I start analysing my data when I don’t know where to begin?
• What are the differences between Braun & Clarke, Bazeley, and Miles & Huberman’s approaches?
• What kind of structure should my dissertation or thesis follow?
• Can I use AI like ChatGPT for my data analysis — and if so, how do I do it ethically?

The book covers everything you need to know about qualitative research — including research questions, design, paradigms, sampling, interviews, ethics, data analysis, and writing up results — in a way that’s clear, practical, and non-intimidating.

✔️ Perfect for undergraduate and postgraduate students

✔️ Equally useful for educators, supervisors, and early-career researchers

✔️ Packed with advice and tips that demystify the research process

Have a look at the table of contents, and if you still have questions, feel free to reach out and ask!