This collection of essays aims to fill a notable gap in the existing literature on research methods in the social sciences. While the methods literature is indeed large, it is rare for authors to discuss the practical issues and challenges they routinely confront in the course of their research projects. As a result, editor Eszter Hargittai argues, each new cohort is effectively forced to reinvent the wheel, making mistakes that previous generations have already confronted and resolved. "Research Confidential" sets out to address this failing by supplying new researchers with the kind of detailed practical information that can make or break a given project. Written in an informal, accessible, and engaging manner by a group of prominent young scholars, many of whom are involved in groundbreaking research in online contexts, this collection promises to be a valuable tool for graduate students and educators across the social sciences.Eszter Hargittai is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Northwestern University and is a Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard.