Context --
The nature of research --
The nature of research within the creative industries --
The importance of research within the creative industries --
The practitioners: Rachel Cooper on credibility in creative research --
Part one: defining the research problem --
What makes a good research topic? --
Generating and refining research ideas --
Turning ideas into research projects --
Understanding research philosophies --
Research approaches --
Ethnography and design ethnography --
Empathy --
Multiple methods --
The practice: a research-approached case study --
Gerry Johnson on creating a framework --
Part two: managing the research design --
Developing a research design and strategy --
Creating the research framework --
Making research credible : the influence of ethics --
Your research proposal --
Making research credible --
The influence of ethics --
The practice: a well-structured research project --
Pradeep Sharma on the creative influence --
Part three: managing the research process --
Using the literature --
The literature review --
The process of analysis --
Using secondary data --
Using primary data --
Questionnaires --
Observations --
Interviews --
Visual research --
Photography --
Narrative --
Case study --
Emerging tools --
The practice: an example of elicitation techniques --
The practitioners: Bettina Kolb on participatory photo-interview --
Part four: managing the research --
Ideology in design --
How can semiotics and symbols be used in design research? --
The pilot study --
Analysing qualitative data --
Analysing quantitative data --
Sampling --
From critical reading to critical writing --
Guidelines for drawing conclusions and making recommendations --
The practice: a visual research approach : photographic ethnography --
The practitioners: Sapsed et al. on the economic value of research --
Appendices --
Working with your supervisor --
Time management --
Written communication --
Guidelines for non-discriminatory language --
Systems of referencing.

Creative Research helps readers define their research problem, decide on an appropriate research process and then undertake the project. Throughout the book, Hilary Collins introduces and analyzes different techniques and procedures for collecting and analyzing a variety of data. The skills necessary to promote the effectiveness and validity of research within the creative industries are highlighted in case studies, all of which also demonstrate what a well-designed research project can achieve. New to the second edition are detailed explorations of design thinking and ethnography as well as all new case studies throughout