Research for Development 2/e

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.

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

In the decade since it was first published, Research for Development has become the 'go to' text for development practitioners, students and researchers alike. This substantially revised second edition is even better: brought fully up to date with many new topics and chapters, this book is comprehensive, authoritative and highly informative. Whether one is seeking a quick definition or brief explanation of a subject, or needing a more detailed guide to how to go about doing research for development, this book is quite simply indispensible. David Lewis Professor of Social Policy and Development, London School of Economics & Political Science Research for Development is undoubtedly the best guide to its subject that we have. The first edition has become an indispensable work of reference for development researchers and practitioners engaged in commissioning and managing research. Oxfam staff around the world have benefitted from its use, and all of us are looking forward to the publication of the new edition. Sophie Laws, Caroline Harper, Nicola Jones and Rachel Marcus are to be congratulated for the work they have put into updating the text and keeping it relevant to the ever-changing demands of development research, and for their contribution to our common goal of making the world a better place.. Duncan Green Senior Strategic Adviser, Oxfam Drawing from their wide experience, the authors showcase examples from various fields including poverty studies, child trafficking, environmental issues, health and sanitation, and gender studies. This ensures that the book appeals to a wide range of development researchers and practitioners.[...] The clear, engaging written style is suited both to readers looking for an overview of certain research approaches, as well as those with more time who can engage with the exercises in each chapter. The chapters are punctuated with real-life examples and case studies that will help a novice development researcher envision what their own research may look like in the field. -- Chandni Singh