This is the third edition of an introductory text intended to be of use specifically to nurses and allied health professionals, given the levels of further education and study that they are expected to attain following qualification in their speciality. The text covers quantitative research methodology in simple language with a straightforward approach. Each chapter concludes with self-assessment tests to ensure that the reader has understood what has been read. It demonstrates how to plan a research project, through subject selection to project design, collection and analysis of data, and presentation and critical evaluation of results. The new edition includes the following changes: sections have a general introduction linking and setting the chapters into broader context; sections conclude with a research-related discussion of more complex issues accompanied by problems with suggested answers; there is greater emphasis on critical evaluation of published research; and there is more guidance on formulating the research question, deciding on a hypothesis and writing a proposal.