This text aims to cut through the complexities of educational research to give the novice reader a sound basis to define, develop, and conduct study, while providing insights for even the accomplished reader. It should of value to social researchers, but in particular to upper-level undergraduate and graduate students as well as researchers employed in private industry, management and government agencies. The author discusses the research process and offers a research framework: collect the data, analyze it and write it into a credible paper or thesis. He balances the the quantitative and qualitative perspectives through both the academic and consulting research traditions.