David Hand

A hard-to-find textbook, Advising on Research Methods: A Consultant’s Companion is one of the most impressive books on methodology I have read in recent years. Filled with practical, efficient strategies, it is made to help consultants in their daily exercise in order to find ‘what does the client want to know and how to investigate?’. It is presented by the publisher as aiming to assist researchers ‘in the social and behavioral sciences, including . . . medicine and epidemiology’ (see back cover). ..... ..... This book could be used in at least two ways: either for real consultants who already have some advanced knowledge in quantitative methodology, or in the university classroom for courses and seminars in research methods, since exercises and even ‘topics for classroom discussion’ are provided (p. 67). Herman Adèr, Don Mellenbergh and David Hand have made a tremendous job, even though they leave many questions unanswered in their book (although they provide the publisher’s e-mail address if readers need some specific answers to some of the exercises; see remark, p. 17).