* teaches students to think critically and act in research; * covers exploring, explaining, and changing research objectives and what they mean for research; * discusses the entire research process step-by-step, from planning to reporting. why research this is it!? critical thinking and acting with research this is it! students are introduced to all the steps in the research process. it provides clear guidelines for asking good research questions and choosing the right methods. students learn to think critically and act in their research, thereby improving their research process. this is research! guides students through every phase of research: * orientation * gathering information * creating a plan of action * collecting data * analyzing quantitative and qualitative data * reporting this structured approach ensures that students can independently set up and conduct a complete research project. exploring, explaining and changing this new, fourth edition addresses three important research objectives: exploring, explaining, and changing. these objectives help students give direction to their research and make the right choices for questions, methods, and approach. other changes in the fourth edition this edition pays more attention to design and participatory action research. additionally, it discusses the use of ai in exploring issues and analyzing (qualitative) data. each chapter begins with learning outcomes, and after each section, there are assignments that help students develop a draft, such as a research plan or a report. this way, theoretical knowledge is directly applied, and students are trained in their research skills. target audience research this is it! can be used in all higher professional education (hbo) programs and for all phases. digital learning environment with this book you and your students gain access to the extensive online environment of studiemeister. as an instructor, you have access to a wide range of lecture materials, such as additional exercises, case studies, and presentations that can be easily customized. your students deepen their knowledge and improve their skills with explanatory videos, summaries, test questions, and concept trainers. this way, your students are well-prepared, and you can focus on deeper exploration during the lessons! about the authors ben baarda has developed a wide range of standard works in the field of methodology and statistics, based on years of experience as a university lecturer and advisor. rene van vianen is the content coordinator for the master's program in pedagogy at the arnhem and nijmegen university of applied sciences and teaches about research-driven change, guiding students with their projects.