Research for Development: A Practical Guide

Abstract

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