ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines obstacles in research planning, which include deciding who to research, dealing with shifts in theory in the field mid-project, positioning oneself as an outside researcher and negotiating complex and collaborative projects. It outlines problems that arise in the data collection phase of a research project. The book presents some problems which include dealing with participant attrition in longitudinal studies and low response rates in qualitative and quantitative studies. It explores particular issues that arise in applied linguistics and education, focusing on vulnerable groups with whom we often work. The book considers problems that arise in the data analysis phase of a research project. It also outlines problems that arise in the report stage of a research project, including dealing with missing data, writing the doctoral dissertation, and overcoming rejection when publishing.
