Caroline Harper & Nicola Jones 
Research for Development [EPUB ebook] 
A Practical Guide

Research for Development offers a comprehensive guide to commissioning, managing and undertaking research in development work. It serves both as a practical reference manual and an indispensable learning tool.

Divided into three parts, the book provides a complete overview of the research process spanning:

– the uses, planning and management of research

– reviewing existing evidence

– learning development research skills

– choosing research methods

– undertaking ethical research

– writing an effective research report

– promoting research uptake and assessing research

– monitoring and evaluation

This fully revised second edition also includes a new section on how to use the internet for research. Its 16 chapters are enriched by a variety of international case studies, checklists of key points, learning exercises, helpful references to further reading and engaging illustrations. The book also includes a detailed glossary of terms.

Drawing on considerable hands-on experience, Research for Development is an ideal practical companion for students of development studies and public policy, as well as practitioners in the field.

Cover image © Jenny Matthews / World Vision/ Photo Voice

Cuprins

How to use this book

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION AND PLANNING YOUR RESEARCH

Introduction: Why Research for Development Matters

So What Is Research?

′But I′m not a Researcher′: The Contribution of the Development Worker

Who Should Do Research for Development Work? The Broader Issues

Research and Social Change

How to Tell When Research is the Best Approach to a Problem

Using Research in Development Work

So What is the Right Approach to Research for Development Work?

Two Major Research Approaches

Types of Research in Development Work

Programme-Focused and Issue-Focused Research

Using Research for Programme Development

Using Research to Influence Policy

Planning for Effective Research

Quality in Research

Choosing a Research Focus

Defining the Research Questions

Writing a Research Brief

Managing Research

Attracting and Engaging with Funders

Deciding Who Should Do The Research

Selecting and Appointing External Researchers

Managing Costs and Time

Supervising Researchers

Reviewing Existing Evidence

How to Look

Where to Look

How to Use the Internet for Research

Learning Development Research Skills

Where to Start?

Some Ways of Learning Research Skills

Supporting Southern Researchers

PART TWO: COLLECTING DATA

Choosing Methods

Choosing a Research Approach

Choosing Research Techniques

Triangulation: Using More Than One Technique

Collecting and Managing Quality Data

Introduction

Three Characterisics of Good-quality Data

Ways to Improve Quality in Data Collection

Improving Communication with Respondents

Collecting, Recording and Managing Data

Ensuring ′Trustworthiness′

Thinking about Ethics in Research

Codes of Ethics

Responsibilities Towards Respondents: Some Ethical Issues to Consider

Wider Accountability

Responsibilities to Colleagues

Choosing a Sample

What Does Sampling Mean?

Quantitative or Qualitative Sampling?

Probability or Random Sampling

Purposive or Non-Random Sampling

How to Sample For Cases, Location, Time and Events

Including ′Hard-To-Reach′ People

Incentives: What Are The Issues?

Collecting Data

How to Ask Questions

Interviews

Focus Groups

Questionnaires

Use of Documentary Sources and Secondary Data Analysis

Observation

Participatory Research

Participation for…?

Participation by…?

Participation in…?

Some Participatory Research Methods

Practical Challenges in Participatory Research

Critical Perspectives on Participatory Research

PART THREE: ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH COMMUNICATION

Undertaking Research Analysis

Getting Organized

What is Analysis?

Interpretation

The Process of Data Analysis

Participation in the Analysis Process

Methods of Analysis

Qualitative Analysis

Quantitative Analysis

So What Does It All Mean?

Writing Effectively

What to Write

What Not to Write

What Must Be Included

How to Write: The Process

Writing Press Releases, Policy Briefs or Journal Articles

Promoting Research Uptake

Building a Successful Communications Strategy

Promotion for Implementation: Influencing Programmes

Promotion for Policy Influence

Some Tools for Communication

Dealing with the Media

Capacity Building

Assessing Research for Development Work

What, Who and When?

Assessing Research Output

Assessing Research Uptake

Assessing Research Impact

Appendix 1: On Monitoring and Evaluation

Appendix 2: Useful Websites

Glossary

References

Despre autor

Sophie Laws is Head of Policy and Research at Coram, the UK’s first-ever children’s charity.

Caroline Harper is Head of the Social Development Programme at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

Nicola Jones is a Research Fellow in the Social Development Programme at the ODI.

Rachel Marcus is an Independent Researcher.