Maqsut Narikbayev University
This guide helps you find resources for each stage of a research project: developing a question, finding and evaluating literature, planning data collection, analysing data, writing and preparing a publication. It is intended primarily for master's students in the School of Liberal Arts at Maqsut Narikbayev University and may also be useful for undergraduate students and researchers.
This guide combines general research resources with subject collections for education and applied linguistics, psychology, business and tourism.
Search runs across every entry in all 14 sections and opens the matching resource directly.
Start with your current research task in the contents below. Each section suggests methodological guides, tools and readings for that stage.
Access labels: Open access, MNU access, Paid. An open publisher page does not mean that a book's full text is free. Most international resources are in English. Resources in Kazakh and Russian are marked in their descriptions.
Sections 1 to 11 help you select resources by task. Sections 12 to 14 provide the complete collection of recommended readings, official sources and authors for further exploration.
Subject and regional pathways from Section 11.
Filter the entries of the guide by research task, resource type, access status and subject area. Each result opens the full entry in its section.
Start with a problem and a research question. Identify the data needed to answer the question and explain why your chosen approach fits the task.
Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J., & FitzGerald, W. T. (2024). The craft of research (5th ed.). University of Chicago Press. Helps you move from a topic to a problem, question, evidence and argument. A starting resource for undergraduate and master's students.
MNU accessThe MNU library holds the 4th edition (2016) in print.
Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (3rd ed.). SAGE. Helps align goals, the conceptual framework, questions, methods and threats to validity. Particularly useful when designing a qualitative research project.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (6th ed.). SAGE. Compares qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods designs and shows how to structure a proposal. Useful when choosing and justifying an overall approach.
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in.
Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2023). Research methods for business students (9th ed.). Pearson. For planning research in business, management and tourism. Read the chapters relevant to your design.
MNU accessThe MNU library holds earlier editions in print.
Sagintayeva, A., Kambatyrova, A., Karabassova, L., Kanay, G., & Almukhambetova, A. (2022). Введение в образовательные исследования: теория, методы и практики [Introduction to educational research: Theory, methods and practices]. Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education. Explains methodological decisions through examples from educational research.
Open accessFull texts in Russian and Kazakh are available in the NU repository and the MNU catalogue.
By the end of this stage, you should have a short problem statement, a research question and a justified plan. You do not need to cite every book in this section. Cite only the sources you actually use.
For initial searches, exact title searches, and following Cited by and Related articles. Results include different document types, including theses and preprints.
Open accessFull texts are not always available. Verify records on the publisher's website or in a repository.
A specialised search service for educational research. Use the thesaurus and the "Peer reviewed only" and "Full text available on ERIC" filters.
Open accessA record does not necessarily provide full text or indicate peer review.
A visual tool for discovering publications related to a selected paper. Useful for exploring a research topic and identifying additional literature.
Open accessFree plan with a monthly graph limit. Paid plans offer unlimited graphs.
A literature discovery tool for exploring connections between papers and authors. Useful for finding related studies and expanding your reading list.
Open accessFree plan available. Additional features require a paid ResearchRabbit+ subscription.
These tools supplement database searches. They do not guarantee complete coverage of the literature or provide access to every article's full text.
The MNU library subscribes to the databases below. On campus, access works through the university network. To use them from home, ask the library how to connect. The list follows information from the library website as of autumn 2026; check the website for current collections. The library also announces free online training on Web of Science and research publishing on its website.
| Database | What you will find | Access notes |
|---|---|---|
| Web of Science | Bibliographic records and citation links across disciplines | Not a full text library. Journal Citation Reports access depends on the subscription. |
| Scopus | Abstracts and citations; check whether a journal is indexed | Not a full text library. Links to full texts where MNU has access. |
| Taylor & Francis Online | Social sciences and humanities journal articles | MNU access includes the Social Science and Humanities Library Collection. It does not include all Taylor & Francis books. |
| Wiley Online Library | Journal articles across disciplines | The library reports access to the 1997–2022 archive. Newer articles may be unavailable. |
| JSTOR | Social sciences and humanities journal archives | The most recent 3 to 5 years of many journals are not included. |
| ScienceDirect (Elsevier) | Elsevier journal articles and books | Access to individual articles depends on the subscription. |
| SpringerLink | Springer journals and books | The library lists access as restricted. Check individual articles. |
| eLIBRARY.RU | Russian-language scholarly publications | Registration may be required for full texts. |
| IPR books, Lan | Russian-language textbooks and academic books | Ask the library for login details. |
| BESTPROFI | Kazakhstan legal and regulatory documents | Requires a login and password. Ask the library. |
| KYOBO | Books in Korean | Registration follows library instructions. |
MNU accessCurrent list of databases and access conditions on the MNU library website.
MNU accessSearch the MNU library catalogue for print books and e-books. Several key methods textbooks are available as e-books after you sign in, including Creswell and Creswell (2023), Cohen, Manion and Morrison (2018), Merriam and Tisdell (2016), Miles, Huberman and Saldaña (2014) and Braun and Clarke (2013).
PaidSAGE Research Methods offers methodology books, cases and learning materials. It is not among the MNU library's listed subscriptions, so full texts may be unavailable. Some open learning materials are available on the platform.
Open accessFree platforms for finding full texts: CORE (open access research papers), OATD (theses and dissertations worldwide) and CyberLeninka (Russian-language articles). All three are recommended on the MNU library website.
If you cannot access a full text, check "All versions" in Google Scholar, the author's university repository or the Unpaywall browser extension for a legal open copy. You can also email the author and ask for a copy. If these options do not work, contact the MNU library.
A literature review explains what is known about a question, how that knowledge was produced and where disagreements remain. Record the design, sample, context and limitations as well as the findings.
Questions for critically appraising research. Use the qualitative checklist for a qualitative article, rather than criteria designed for an experiment.
Open accessDeveloped mainly for health research. In other social sciences, adapt the questions to the study design.
Checklists for assessing the trustworthiness, relevance and results of published research. Different checklists are available for different study designs.
Open accessFreely available checklists.
A tool for appraising qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies included in systematic mixed studies reviews.
Open accessFreely available tool and user guide.
A tool for assessing the methodological quality of quantitative public health studies. Use it where its criteria fit the review question and the included study designs.
Open accessFreely available tool and supporting materials.
Choose an appraisal tool that matches the study design and review methodology. These tools are not interchangeable. Use the relevant guidance to explain and justify your assessments.
Guidance for transparent reporting of systematic reviews, including a checklist and selection flow diagram. Use it when conducting a systematic review.
Open accessUse it for systematic reviews, not for every literature review. For a scoping review, use PRISMA-ScR.
The following tools help organise study selection and other stages of an evidence review. They are particularly useful for systematic reviews, but are not required for every literature review.
Helps researchers screen titles and abstracts, record eligibility decisions and collaborate during the study selection process.
Open accessFree plan with limits. Advanced features require a paid subscription.
Supports title and abstract screening, full text eligibility assessment, data extraction and quality assessment workflows.
PaidA limited free trial is available.
Supports evidence reviews through study screening, coding, data extraction and synthesis.
PaidTrial access is available.
Supports collaborative citation screening and uses machine learning to prioritise records for researchers to assess.
Open access
Software supports the review process but does not replace a review protocol, clear eligibility criteria or researcher judgement. Document screening decisions and reasons for excluding studies at the full text stage.
A table for comparing sources. Suggested fields: reference, research question, country and context, theory, design and sample, analysis, main finding, limitations and relevance to your question.
Use Excel, Google Sheets or a table in a document.
Instead of summarising each article separately, group studies around questions: what explanations do they offer, what data support them and why do they reach different conclusions? For example, digital literacy studies using self reported skills and studies using practical tasks measure different aspects and should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
Does the design fit the question? How was the sample selected? How were concepts operationalised? Do the data support the conclusions? Were alternative explanations considered? What limits applicability to Kazakhstan? Check corrections and publication status on the publisher's website.
For multilingual searching, keep a vocabulary of terms in Kazakh, Russian and English. Record databases, dates, search strings and selection criteria. If you exclude a language, explain how this limits coverage.
Access conditions and plan limits may change. Check each provider's website for current details. The inclusion of a resource in this guide does not mean that MNU holds a subscription. Confirm institutional access with the university library.
Stores bibliographic records, PDFs and notes, organises collections, and inserts citations and bibliographies in Word and other editors. Suitable for individual and collaborative work.
Open accessFree software. Includes 300 MB of free cloud storage for attachments. Additional cloud storage is paid. This quota does not limit local storage. Check authors, year, title and DOI after importing a record.
The official source for APA guidance on references, paper structure, tables, language and reporting. Start with examples matching your source type.
Open accessAlso follow the requirements of your course, programme or journal.
An educational guide to APA 7 with formatting examples. Useful for undergraduate and master's students, particularly when preparing a paper for the first time.
Open accessFor disputed points, consult official APA Style guidance.
Create a project collection in Zotero. Add publications by DOI or through Zotero Connector. Check the metadata. In your notes, distinguish direct quotations with page numbers from your own paraphrases. Insert citations through the plugin and check the final bibliography.
List only sources you have read and used. Always check automatically generated bibliographies.
Kazakhstan Educational Research Association with NU GSE (2020). Guidance on researcher responsibility and research involving people in the local context.
Open accessIn Kazakh and Russian. Primarily relevant to education. It does not replace MNU ethical review procedures.
British Educational Research Association (2024). Ethical guidelines for educational research (5th ed.). For planning informed consent, relationships with participants and researcher responsibilities.
Open accessAn international reference for education, to be used alongside MNU and Kazakhstan requirements.
Guidance on documentation, consent, storage, anonymisation and preparing data for reuse. Examples involving interviews and tabular data are particularly useful.
Open accessIn English. UK legal provisions should not automatically be applied to Kazakhstan.
Use the current official text to check legal requirements concerning personal data.
Open accessOfficial text on Adilet. Read the current version with all amendments.
Before collecting data, describe what you will collect, where it will be stored, who will have access, how identifiers link to participants, what backups will be made, how long data will be retained and what can be shared. Align retention periods with the approved protocol and university requirements.
Anonymising interviews requires checking indirect identifiers: roles, unusual experiences, organisations and combinations of details. Replacing a name with a pseudonym does not ensure complete anonymity.
Before using a cloud service or AI for transcription or analysis, check data transfer and storage terms, participant consent and the approved protocol. Document the tool's role and verify its output against the original materials.
Roulston, K. (2022). Interviewing: A guide to theory and practice. SAGE. Further reading on interview design and the relationship between interview techniques and methodological assumptions.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Brinkmann, S., & Kvale, S. (2018). Doing interviews (2nd ed.). SAGE. For preparing interviews, developing questions and interacting with participants.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. A methodological article for evaluating documents' origins, purposes and content.
PaidPublished by Emerald. Check for an open copy through Google Scholar.
A tool for creating forms and collecting data, including in settings with limited connectivity. For surveys and fieldwork. Check wording, language versions and question routing.
Open accessA free Community Plan is available for non-profit use, alongside paid plans. Check current terms and limits before choosing a plan.
For cleaning tables: identifying variations in category names, handling duplicates and transforming data. Keep an original copy and a record of changes.
Open accessFree, open source software that runs on your computer.
For small projects, Word, Excel, Google Forms or Microsoft Forms may be sufficient if you control where the data is stored and who can access it. Surveys need justified questions, participant selection, piloting and an analysis plan. For psychological scales, check the validity of the language version and the conditions of use.
Saldaña, J. (2025). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (5th ed.). SAGE. Practical guidance on selecting coding methods, moving between stages and writing analytic memos.
MNU accessThe 5th edition is paid. The MNU catalogue has the 2nd edition (2013) as an e-book.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE. For reflexive thematic analysis. Read current explanations by the authors alongside their 2006 article.
PaidThe authors' website is open. The MNU catalogue has their earlier book, Successful Qualitative Research (2013), as an e-book. In reflexive thematic analysis, agreement between coders is not a required quality criterion.
Schneijderberg, C., Wieczorek, O., & Steinhardt, I. (2026). The handbook of qualitative and quantitative content analysis: Introduction to classical, digital, AI-supported, and automated data analysis. Routledge. For content analysis, including manual and automated procedures. Start with chapters on concepts, research quality and qualitative content analysis.
Open accessChapter 10 addresses AI support for qualitative content analysis.
For organising materials, coding, analytic memos, searching and retrieving excerpts. Can support different qualitative approaches.
MNU access According to the MNU library, it is installed on two computers in the Centre for Korean Literature. Ask the library about the version, arrangements for using these computers and any possibility of installation on a personal computer.
A free alternative for coding text, images, audio and video, writing memos and producing reports. For students needing a tool on a personal computer.
Open accessFree, open source software that runs on your computer. Check the data protection terms before using its optional AI features.
MAXQDA and ATLAS.ti are paid alternatives for qualitative analysis. Compare support for data types, collaboration and project export. Trials are for evaluation and have limitations. MAXQDA terms prohibit research work in its demo version. For a free option, use QualCoder.
Analysis should produce an explanation of patterns supported by evidence and context. A set of codes or a list of frequent words does not, by itself, constitute interpretation.
jamovi supports descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlation and regression through a graphical interface. Navarro, D. J., & Foxcroft, D. R. (2025). Learning statistics with jamovi: A tutorial for beginners in statistical analysis. Open Book Publishers. The book explains procedures and provides practice data.
Open accessThe desktop software and the book are free. Save the project file and analysis settings.
An alternative graphical interface for frequentist and Bayesian statistical analysis. Suitable for psychology and social research.
Open accessChoose procedures based on your question and variable types.
R is an environment for statistical analysis. Wickham, H., Çetinkaya-Rundel, M., & Grolemund, G. (2023). R for data science (2nd ed.). For importing, transforming, visualising and reproducibly documenting data.
Open accessFree desktop software; the online book is openly available. Coding skills are required. The book does not replace a textbook on statistical inference.
A tool for corpus analysis, concordance searches and frequency patterns. Suitable for language and media research.
Open accessFree software. Check how it handles texts in your language, especially Kazakh and Russian.
Francom, J. (2025). An introduction to quantitative text analysis for linguistics: Reproducible research using R. Routledge. A practical route through text analysis with code and learning materials.
Open accessA specialised resource for language analysis.
For mapping bibliometric networks, including coauthorship and citation. Use it when bibliometrics is justified by the research question.
Open accessFree software. Maps depend on the database and settings you choose.
SPSS and Stata are paid statistical packages. Ask your programme whether licences are available. For a first project, choose one free programme and the matching learning guide above.
McEnerney, L. (2014, June 26). Leadership Lab: The craft of writing effectively. UChicago Social Sciences. A video lecture on readers, the value of an argument and moving from demonstrating knowledge to writing research.
Open accessFree video lecture. Useful for master's students and researchers.
University of Manchester. Examples of language for describing problems, methods, results, limitations and relationships between ideas.
Open accessThe main website is free. Adapt phrases to your own meaning and data.
Return to section 4 for references, tables and structure. For a journal article, consult the selected journal's Instructions for Authors.
Open accessSome journals and disciplines use other citation styles.
MNU accessThe Center for Empirical Social and Humanities Research in the School of Liberal Arts runs a Writing Center series on the key stages of research and thesis writing, Research Talks seminars, and support for master's research projects.
State your main conclusion in one sentence. For each claim, check the supporting data. In the discussion, distinguish findings from interpretation, compare them with the literature and explain limitations. Do not extend conclusions beyond the evidence.
Check every suggested source against the original. Do not use generated quotations without verification. Retain responsibility for facts, interpretations and wording. Disclose AI use according to course and journal rules. Do not upload confidential materials without checking service terms and the agreed procedure.
A checklist for evaluating a journal or publisher. Helps check editors, peer review, indexing, archiving, contact details and publication charges.
Open accessAlso consider topic fit and the quality of recent articles. For conferences, use the companion checklist Think. Check. Attend.
A directory of open access journals. Use it to discover journals and check their details.
Open accessInclusion does not mean that publishing is free; check the journal's article processing charges.
For organising projects and registering research plans. Preregistration records decisions made before analysis, particularly in confirmatory research.
Open accessFree features are available. Check the storage conditions.
For depositing materials, data and code that may be shared, with persistent identifiers.
Open accessBefore uploading, check rights, consent, confidentiality and journal requirements.
APA JARS provides reporting standards for quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research. Helps check whether methods and decisions are described in sufficient detail.
Open accessSelect standards according to design and journal requirements.
Before submission, agree authorship and contributions, and check journal requirements, source status, citations, limitations, ethics statements and data availability statements. If data cannot be shared openly, explain why and any conditions for access. Open science does not require disclosing identifiable participant information.
Start with NU GSE (2022), Maxwell and ERIC. For case studies: Stake, R. E. (1995). The art of case study research. SAGE. For choosing among qualitative traditions: Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2024). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (5th ed.). SAGE. Covers narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and case study. The 5th edition is paid; the MNU catalogue has the 3rd edition (2013) as an e-book.
For language data: AntConc and Francom (2025). For interviews and participants' experiences: thematic analysis or another justified approach. Do not combine Stake's and Yin's approaches into one procedure without explaining their compatibility.
Start with jamovi, Navarro and Foxcroft (2025), JASP and APA JARS. For qualitative projects: Braun and Clarke. Russian language books in the MNU catalogue include «Организация и планирование психологического исследования» [Organising and planning psychological research] by Koroleva, Bogdanovskaya and Proekt (2020), and «Дизайн психологического исследования: планирование и организация» [Psychological research design: Planning and organisation] by Dermanova and Manukyan (2018). Both are available as e-books in the MNU catalogue after signing in. For measurement, check reliability, validity, and cultural and linguistic adaptation of scales.
Start with Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2023), statistical analysis in jamovi, and interviews or document analysis as appropriate. Use factor and cluster analysis after learning their assumptions and selection criteria. For market data, check the source, collection methods and commercial access restrictions.
| Source | What you will find |
|---|---|
| Kazakhstan Bureau of National Statistics | Social, economic, education and tourism indicators. Check definitions, periods, units and methodological changes. |
| Adilet | Official regulatory documents. Distinguish document provisions from empirical evidence of implementation. |
| NU and other university repositories | Open regional research. Check document type and peer review status. |
| UNESCO UIS, OECD Data and World Bank Data | International indicators and comparisons. Check definitions for comparability and Kazakhstan data availability. |
Kuzhabekova, A., Kim, T., & Mamyrbekov, A. (2026). Factors of research misconduct in transitional contexts: Perceptions of faculty from Kazakhstan. Higher Education Quarterly, 80(3), e70135. Based on interviews with 19 faculty members. Examines perceived factors contributing to misconduct, rather than its prevalence across all universities in Kazakhstan.
This collection brings together books and articles recommended by faculty of the School of Liberal Arts. Each entry includes bibliographic details, its purpose and a link to the publisher, journal or library catalogue. Read according to your research question and method. A recommendation does not mean you must cite the source.
Classic works are retained for studying methodological foundations. Check current guidance for software, ethics and legislation. An open book page or catalogue record does not mean that the full text is open.
Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J., & FitzGerald, W. T. (2024). The craft of research (5th ed.). University of Chicago Press.
From choosing a topic and formulating a question to developing an argument and presenting results. For undergraduate and master's students.
MNU accessThe MNU library holds the 4th edition (2016) in print.
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed.). Pearson.
A general guide to educational research. Supplement it with current guidance on digital tools and ethics.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8th ed.). Routledge.
A reference for design, data collection, analysis and reporting in education. Read according to your chosen method.
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in.
Johnson, R. B., & Christensen, L. (2020). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (7th ed.). SAGE.
Explains qualitative, quantitative and mixed approaches, proposal preparation and appraisal of published research. The seventh edition remains useful as a textbook.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
O'Leary, Z. (2021). The essential guide to doing your research project (4th ed.). SAGE.
A practical project sequence: question, design, data collection, analysis and writing. For a first independent study.
PaidSupporting learning materials are available on the SAGE website.
Sagintayeva, A., Kambatyrova, A., Karabassova, L., Kanay, G., & Almukhambetova, A. (2022). Введение в образовательные исследования: теория, методы и практики [Introduction to educational research: Theory, methods and practices]. Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education.
An introduction to educational research, explaining methodological decisions through examples. Full texts in Russian and Kazakh.
Open access
Crotty, M. (1998). The foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the research process. Routledge.
For aligning epistemology, theoretical perspective, methodology and methods. Conceptual guidance rather than software instructions.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Denzin, N. K., Lincoln, Y. S., Giardina, M. D., & Cannella, G. S. (Eds.). (2023). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (6th ed.). SAGE.
Advanced reading on qualitative inquiry, research paradigms and the politics of knowledge production. Select chapters relevant to your project.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Flick, U. (Ed.). (2022). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research design. SAGE.
A two volume reference on diverse qualitative designs. For master's students and researchers refining the foundations of their approach.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2024). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (5th ed.). SAGE.
Compares narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and case study. Helps justify the choice of approach.
PaidThe 5th edition is paid; the MNU catalogue has the 3rd edition (2013) as an e-book.
Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (3rd ed.). SAGE.
For aligning goals, the conceptual framework, questions, methods and threats to validity. Useful when developing a qualitative project.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2016). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
A practical introduction to qualitative research: design, sampling, data collection, analysis and presentation.
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in.
Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1989). Fourth generation evaluation. SAGE.
A constructivist approach to programme evaluation, attentive to stakeholders and negotiated interpretations. A specific methodological position rather than a universal quality standard.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Stake, R. E. (1995). The art of case study research. SAGE.
Qualitative study of a bounded case, with attention to context, interpretation and description. For projects with a clearly defined and justified case.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Merriam, S. B. (1988). Case study research in education: A qualitative approach. Jossey-Bass.
A classic guide to case study research in education. Use alongside more recent methodological and ethical guidance.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Yin, R. K. (2012). Applications of case study research (3rd ed.). SAGE.
Examples of case study applications and methodological decisions. Do not combine Yin's assumptions with interpretive approaches without justification.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Yin, R. K. (2013). Validity and generalization in future case study evaluations. Evaluation, 19(3), 321–332.
Discusses alternative explanations, triangulation, logic models and analytical generalisation. For justifying conclusions from a limited number of cases.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Savin-Baden, M., & Major, C. H. (2013). Qualitative research: The essential guide to theory and practice. Routledge. Chapter 5: Personal stance, positionality and reflexivity.
For explaining researcher positioning and its influence on a project.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Holmes, A. G. D. (2020). Researcher positionality: A consideration of its influence and place in qualitative research: A new researcher guide. Shanlax International Journal of Education, 8(4), 1–10.
An introductory conceptual article on researcher positionality. For preparing a substantive reflexivity statement. Not an empirical test of the effectiveness of reflexivity.
Open access
Arksey, H., & Knight, P. T. (1999). Interviewing for social scientists: An introductory resource with examples. SAGE.
For preparing interviews, transcription and linking interviews to the research question. Consult current guidance on digital data collection and protection.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Brinkmann, S., & Kvale, S. (2018). Doing interviews (2nd ed.). SAGE.
For developing questions, interacting with participants and learning interview practice. Suitable for undergraduate and master's projects.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Archibald, M. M., Ambagtsheer, R. C., Casey, M. G., & Lawless, M. (2019). Using Zoom videoconferencing for qualitative data collection: Perceptions and experiences of researchers and participants. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 18, Article 1609406919874596.
A study of experiences of remote interviews in a health research context. For planning online data collection. Particular participants' experiences do not establish a platform's suitability for every project.
Open access
Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40.
For selecting documents, evaluating their origins and interpreting them. Useful for policy, educational materials and institutional texts.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Saldaña, J. (2013). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (2nd ed.). SAGE.
Guidance on coding and analytic memos. Section 7 also lists the 5th edition (2025).
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in. Section 7 also lists the 5th edition (2025).
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE.
For organising analysis, working with matrices and visual displays, developing explanations and checking conclusions. Choose tools consistent with the design.
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
A foundational thematic analysis article. Read alongside the authors' later explanations of the reflexive approach.
PaidCheck access through MNU's Taylor & Francis subscription or look for an open author copy.
Schneijderberg, C., Wieczorek, O., & Steinhardt, I. (2026). The handbook of qualitative and quantitative content analysis: Introduction to classical, digital, AI-supported, and automated data analysis. Routledge.
For classical, digital and automated content analysis. Chapter 10 addresses AI support for qualitative content analysis.
Open access
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). To saturate or not to saturate? Questioning data saturation as a useful concept for thematic analysis and sample-size rationales. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13(2), 201–216.
For sample justification in reflexive thematic analysis. Challenges the use of saturation in this approach. Do not generalise its conclusions to all qualitative methods. Published online in 2019.
PaidCheck access through MNU's Taylor & Francis subscription or look for an open author copy.
Motulsky, S. L. (2021). Is member checking the gold standard of quality in qualitative research? Qualitative Psychology, 8(3), 389–406.
A conceptual analysis of the assumptions, practical challenges and limitations of member checking. For justifying its use or omission.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Lloyd, N., Hyett, N., & Kenny, A. (2024). To member check or not to member check? An evaluation of member checking in an interpretive descriptive study. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 23, Article 16094069241301383.
A retrospective assessment of member checking in one interpretive descriptive study. For discussing particular quality decisions, rather than establishing a universal requirement.
Open access
Naeem, M., Smith, T., & Thomas, L. (2025). Thematic analysis and artificial intelligence: A step-by-step process for using ChatGPT in thematic analysis. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, Article 16094069251333886.
Prompts and an example of the authors' systematic thematic analysis. This is distinct from Braun and Clarke's reflexive approach. Demonstrating one workflow does not prove universal quality improvements or the elimination of bias.
Open access
Nguyen-Trung, K. (2025). ChatGPT in thematic analysis: Can AI become a research assistant in qualitative research? Quality & Quantity, 59(6), 4945-4978.
Further reading on ChatGPT's role in thematic analysis. Use for critical discussion of possibilities and limitations, retaining responsibility for analysis and data protection.
PaidCheck access through MNU's SpringerLink subscription.
Sieber, J. E., & Tolich, M. B. (2013). Planning ethically responsible research (2nd ed.). SAGE.
For ethical planning in social and behavioural research. Supplement with current MNU procedures and applicable Kazakhstan requirements.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
McNamee, M., & Bridges, D. (Eds.). (2002). The ethics of educational research. Blackwell.
A collection of philosophical and methodological discussions of ethical conflicts in education. Advanced reading rather than a current institutional code.
PaidISBN 978-0-631-23167-7. Ask the MNU library about access.
Resnik, D. B., Antes, A., & Mozersky, J. (2024). Should researchers destroy audio or video recordings? Ethics & Human Research, 46(2), 30-35.
An ethical essay on retaining and deleting audio and video recordings. For justifying a data management plan. Does not establish a mandatory MNU retention period.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access. A record is also available in PubMed.
McCrae, N., & Murray, J. (2008). When to delete recorded qualitative research data. Research Ethics, 4(2), 76-77.
A short report on sensitive recordings, security and reasons for retention or deletion. Read alongside current data requirements.
Open access
Kazakhstan Educational Research Association. (2020). Этический кодекс исследователей образования Казахстана [Ethical code for education researchers in Kazakhstan] (1st ed.).
A local professional reference for education research involving people. Russian and Kazakh versions are available. Does not replace MNU ethical review.
Open access
O'Dwyer, L. M., & Bernauer, J. A. (2014). Quantitative research for the qualitative researcher. SAGE.
For researchers with a qualitative background learning measurement, sampling, design and statistical procedures.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2023). Research methods for business students (9th ed.). Pearson.
For business, management and tourism research, from question and design development to analysis and writing.
MNU accessThe MNU library holds earlier editions in print.
Galitskaya, E. G., & Galitsky, E. B. (2006). Кластеры на факторах: как избежать распространенных ошибок? [Clusters on factors: How to avoid common mistakes?]. Социология: методология, методы, математическое моделирование, 22, 145–161.
Specialised reading on the relationship between factor and cluster analysis. Useful when selecting these procedures, but requires statistical preparation.
Open accessThe journal provides an open issue containing the article PDF.
Galitskaya, E. G., & Galitsky, E. B. (2012). Маркетинговые исследования [Marketing research]. Yurait.
A textbook on organising marketing research, collecting information and analysing it.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Puglielli, A., & Frascarelli, M. (2011). Linguistic analysis: From data to theory. De Gruyter Mouton.
Structural and theoretical language analysis. Suitable for linguistic questions rather than as general guidance for analysing interviews.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Francom, J. (2025). An introduction to quantitative text analysis for linguistics: Reproducible research using R. Routledge.
A practical route through quantitative text analysis in R, with exercises and materials supporting reproducible work.
Open access
Dixon, R. M. W. (2021). The essence of linguistic analysis: An integrated approach. Brill.
For analysing relationships between vocabulary, grammar, semantic roles and syntactic functions. A specialised linguistic monograph.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Weisser, M. (2016). Practical corpus linguistics: An introduction to corpus-based language analysis. Wiley Blackwell.
A practical introduction to preparing and analysing corpus data. Print edition published in 2016; electronic publication in December 2015.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Heine, B., & Narrog, H. (Eds.). (2015). The Oxford handbook of linguistic analysis (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
An advanced reference on approaches to language analysis. Choose chapters according to your project's theoretical framework.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Королева, Н. Н., Богдановская, И. М., & Проект, Ю. Л. (2020). Организация и планирование психологического исследования [Organising and planning psychological research]. Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia.
For formulating a problem, planning psychological research, choosing methods and presenting results. In Russian; the English title is a descriptive translation.
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in. In Russian; the English title is a descriptive translation.
Дерманова, И. Б., & Манукян, В. Р. (2018). Дизайн психологического исследования: планирование и организация [Psychological research design: Planning and organisation]. Saint Petersburg University Press.
For initial research planning, method selection, evaluation of empirical evidence sources and ethical questions. In Russian; the English title is a descriptive translation.
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in. In Russian; the English title is a descriptive translation.
Пучкова, Г. В. (2013). Теоретические основы психологического исследования [Theoretical foundations of psychological research]. Togliatti State University.
For theoretical foundations, research methods and experimental design. In Russian; the English title is a descriptive translation.
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in. The Lan platform is also available through the MNU library. In Russian; the English title is a descriptive translation.
Волков, Б. С., Волкова, Н. В., & Губанов, А. В. (2005). Методология и методы психологического исследования [Methodology and methods of psychological research] (4th ed., revised and expanded). Academic Project; Mir Foundation.
A guide to experiments, observation, interviews, questionnaires and other methods. Use for basic concepts alongside current statistics and ethics resources. In Russian; the English title is a descriptive translation.
MNU accessAvailable as an e-book in the MNU catalogue after signing in. In Russian; the English title is a descriptive translation.
Kuzhabekova, A., Kim, T., & Mamyrbekov, A. (2026). Factors of research misconduct in transitional contexts: Perceptions of faculty from Kazakhstan. Higher Education Quarterly, 80(3), e70135.
A qualitative study of perceived factors contributing to research misconduct, based on interviews with 19 faculty members. For discussing the academic environment. Does not estimate national prevalence.
Open access
Blum, D. W. (2015). The social process of globalization: Return migration and cultural change in Kazakhstan. Cambridge University Press.
A monograph on return migration and cultural change. For research on globalisation and mechanisms of cultural exchange in Kazakhstan.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Tajik, M. A., & Makoelle, T. M. (Eds.). (2024). Redefining educational leadership in Central Asia: Selected cases from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Emerald Publishing.
A collection of educational leadership studies. Cite a specific chapter by its author and title.
PaidAsk the MNU library about access.
Lodhi, I., & Ilyassova-Schoenfeld, A. (2023). The Bologna process and its impact on the higher education reforms in Kazakhstan: A case of policy transfer and translations. Studies in Higher Education, 48(1), 204–219.
A regional example of research on policy borrowing and translation in higher education reform. A contextual study rather than general methodological guidance.
PaidCheck access through MNU's Taylor & Francis subscription or look for an open author copy.
Tajik, M. A., Namyssova, G., Shamatov, D., Manan, S. A., Zhunussova, G., & Antwi, S. K. (2025). Navigating the potentials and barriers to EMI in the post-Soviet region: Insights from Kazakhstani university students and instructors. International Journal of Multilingualism, 22(2), 990–1010.
A qualitative study of EMI experiences in three Kazakhstani universities. This entry uses the 2025 journal issue details. Published online in 2023.
Open access
Huisman, J., Smolentseva, A., & Froumin, I. (Eds.). (2018). 25 years of transformations of higher education systems in post-Soviet countries: Reform and continuity. Palgrave Macmillan.
A comparative collection on higher education transformations in former Soviet republics. For regional context and comparative questions.
Open access
McEnerney, L. (2014, June 26). Leadership Lab: The craft of writing effectively [Video]. UChicago Social Sciences.
A lecture on readers, the value of an argument and research writing. A learning resource rather than a peer reviewed article.
Open access
This section lists official platforms, policy documents and statistical sources for methodological searching, context and policy analysis. Platforms, legal acts and research articles serve different purposes and should not be used interchangeably.
Methodology books, cases, reference works and learning materials on research methods. Choose by method and level of preparation.
PaidOfficial resource It is not among the MNU library's listed subscriptions, so full texts may be unavailable.
Law No. 94 V of 21 May 2013. An official source for working with personal data. Read the current version in relation to your project and institutional procedures.
Open accessOfficial resource Open official resource in Kazakh and Russian. English translations may lag behind amendments.
Kazakhstan Law No. 171 VI of 4 July 2018 amending legislative acts. For analysis of higher education reform and regulation. Also check current versions of the laws amended.
Open accessOfficial resource Open official resource. A legal document rather than a research study.
International indicators and metadata, including education. For comparisons, check indicator definitions, periods and comparable data availability for Kazakhstan.
Open accessOfficial resource Open resource. Cite the specific dataset rather than using a homepage as a bibliographic record.
Official documents, goals and materials on the sustainable development agenda. For analysing policy frameworks and selecting indicators.
Open accessOfficial resource Open resource. A policy framework does not establish that its goals have been achieved.
A historical document for examining goals, discourse and policy change. The Prime Minister's website retains its text. Do not present it as a plan for the current period.
Open accessOfficial resource Open official source. Check legal status and amendment history in Adilet.
Official address texts. For documentary and discourse analysis of policy priorities. Cite the specific title, author and date of the selected text.
Open accessOfficial resource Open official resource. Distinguish stated goals from evidence of implementation.
Publications, indicators, methodological descriptions and comparative reports for education, economic and social research.
Open accessOfficial resource Many materials are open. Check access and terms for each dataset or publication.
Official Kazakhstan statistics and indicator search tools. For education, demographic, economic and tourism analysis. Document dates, definitions and units.
Open accessOfficial resource Open indicator search. Some functions may require registration.
Publications, analysis and education assessment materials in Kazakhstan. This education organisation and portal is distinct from the Bureau of National Statistics' TALDAU statistical system.
Open accessOfficial resource Open pages and publications. Check access to individual datasets on the portal.
Search for laws, policy concepts, resolutions and other regulatory documents. For legal and documentary analysis.
Open accessOfficial resource Open official resource. Cite the specific act and version.
The researchers below work on topics relevant to the School of Liberal Arts, including language policy, multilingualism and education in Kazakhstan. The links lead to university profiles or example publications. Cite specific publications after reading them.
Profile and publications in the NU research portal.
NU profileProfile and publications on language policy, multilingualism and education.
NU profileGoogle Scholar profile with publications on language policy and sociolinguistics.
Google Scholar profileAn example publication in the NU portal.
Example publicationProfile and publications in the NU research portal.
NU profileAn example publication in the NU portal for exploring the author's work.
Example publicationAn example publication in the NU portal for exploring the author's work.
Example publicationProfile and publications in the NU research portal.
NU profileUniversity page with research interests and publications.
University profileProfile and publications on the Arizona State University website.
University profileResearch on education and student well-being. ResearchGate profile with publications.
ResearchGate profile MNU pageFind further works through Google Scholar, ORCID and university repositories. Verify names, coauthors and topics, particularly where researchers share the same surname.
