Researching Real-World Problems

Zina O'Leary is an internationally recognized leader in research methodologies and has a keen interest in the application of research to evidence-based decision-making. Zina is a Senior -Fellow at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government where she coordinates research and project units for their Executive Masters and Executive Education Programmes. Zina also has an extensive history as a consultant to both government and the private sector and was the research coordinator for the Centre for Environmental Health Development at the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. She is the author of Researching Real World Problems, The Social Science Jargon Buster, Workplace Research and three books in Sage's Little Quick Fix Series: Research Questions; Research Proposals; and Presenting Your Research.

PART ONE: ORIENTATION TO RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS Researching Real-World Problems PART TWO: LAYING FOUNDATIONS From Real Problems to Researchable Questions Preparing to Research Real-World Problems Striving for Integrity in the Research Process The Quest for `Respondents' Selecting Appropriate Data Collection Methods PART THREE: RESEARCHING PROBLEMS Understanding Problems The Quest for Solutions Research that Moves from Knowledge to Action Evaluating Change PART FOUR: MAKING MEANING/MAKING A DIFFERENCE Analyzing and Interpreting Data Producing Research `Deliverables'