Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (5th. ed.)

At over 500 pages long, Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (5th. ed.) written by Ranjit Kumar simplifies the discussion relating to the “taken for granted” vocabulary and suggested steps in research methodology. Social science students unfamiliar with the vocabulary and steps in research methodology and negotiating the field of research methodology for the first time will find this text informative. This volume would be a recommendation for the bookshelf of advanced undergraduate students and graduate students new to research methods. This text should also be useful for graduate students seeking additional clarity on concepts and early researchers looking for a quick reference. Although Kumar seemingly wants to provide a smooth landscape for the reader unfamiliar with the terrain, he adds more distractions, which may be interpreted as artistic liberties. Readers familiar with the field will need to decide how much of the artist presentation gets in the way. Kumar uses an unusual shape, multiple fonts, and a cacophony of colors that make this read more like a cookbook. The overall feel (structure) and presentation (substance) makes it more useful as a reference guide than as a textbook for the classroom.