Research for Development

Research for Development

Author: Sophie Laws

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2003-06-25

Total Pages: 500

ISBN-13: 9780761973270

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`[Research for Development] is well-written and, at every stage, is well-documented with practical examples. The simplicity with which it is written adds to its value in that non-professional persons get well-aquainted with the research process. Every chapter in the book ends with highlighting of the main points made in that chapter... A further strength of the book is the inclusion of an appendix with a list of websites that deal with issues in the area of development research... the simplicity of its organization and message should appeal to people/researchers across disciplines' - Pakistan Development Review `Research for Development achieves the near impossible: it provides vast quantities of useful guidance for almost anyone involved in research for development regardless of the size of your research project or your role within that project' - Arvac Bulletin `Written by professional researchers, this immensely practical book provides development workers with a more research-oriented point of view, so that they can avoid mistakes in the design of programmes. It will also help them to understand people's needs and respond accordingly' - The Asian Age `It is a beautiful and comprehensive compilation giving scores of instances that prove the essentiality if carrying out a survey of a particular locality for bringing about a change there' - Rafique Jalal, DAWN This book provides a comprehensive introduction and handbook for undertaking and managing research in development. It is designed to provide both a quick reference manual and an indispensable learning tool for all students, researchers and practitioners engaged in development work. The text is divided into two parts: Managing research for development, and Doing research for development. Together the two parts review the complete research process from outlining the essential role and purpose of research, highlighting specific issues to development research, to demonstrating how to evaluate and secure the best results from subsequent research projects. The book includes: an overview of different types of research in development work; practical steps to writing a brief and managing research; practical steps to evaluating and promoting research findings; step by step guides to getting started and choosing a research method; detailed guidelines to seven key research techniques; examples, exercises, summaries and checklists; and glossary and guides to additional resources and packages Drawing on considerable hands-on experience, Research for Development will be an essential companion and invaluable tool for anyone engaged in contemporary development research, development work and development studies.


Doing Development Research

Doing Development Research

Author: Vandana Desai

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2006-03-15

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 1847877826

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Doing Development Research is a comprehensive introduction to research in development studies, that provides thorough training for anyone carrying out research in developing countries. It brings together experts with extensive experience of overseas research, presenting an interdisciplinary guide to the core methodologies. Informed by years of research experience, Doing Development Research draws together many strands of action research and participatory methods, demonstrating their diverse applications and showing how they interrelate. The text provides: · an account of the theoretical approaches that underlie development work · an explanation of the practical issues involved in planning development research · a systematic overview of information and data collecting methods in three sub-sections: · methods of social research and associated forms of analysis · using existing knowledge and records · disseminating findings/research Using clear and uncomplicated language – illustrated with appropriate learning features throughout - the text guides the researcher through the choice of appropriate methods, the implementation of the research, and the communication of the findings to a range of audiences. This is the essential A-Z of development research.


International Development Studies

International Development Studies

Author: Andrew Sumner

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2008-04-11

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 1849206392

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′A sure-footed and self-confident book, ambitious in scope, authoritative in execution and practical in its implications′ - Simon Maxwell, Director, Overseas Development Institute, London ′At last, a development studies text that encourages self-reflection from within the discipline. Highly recommended′ - Professor Ray Kiely, Chair in International Politics, Queen Mary University of London ′This is the book that academics, development researchers and practitioners have been seeking for a long time. [It] addresses the most important issues which development researchers and practitioners cope with each and every day′ - Dr Tran Tuan, Director, Research and Training Centre for Community Development, Hanoi, Vietnam. ′An insightful book for both development practitioners and researchers alike′ - Professor K.N. Nair, Director Centre for Development Studies, Kerala, India This book is about working professionally in Development Studies as a student, researcher or practitioner. It introduces and addresses the fundamental questions that everyone engaged with development must ask: " What is ′development′ and why do we wish to study it? " How do the many theoretical, methodological and espistemological approaches relate to research and practical studies in development? " How are development research and practice linked? Accessibly written, with extensive use of case study material, this book is an essential primer for students of development studies who require a concise, penetrating overview of its foundations. It is also core reading for students and practitioners concerned with the design of studies in the course of policy analysis, sector reviews, or project formulation, management and evaluation.


Qualitative Methods for Family Studies and Human Development

Qualitative Methods for Family Studies and Human Development

Author: Kerry J. Daly

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2007-02-15

Total Pages: 313

ISBN-13: 1452278989

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"Daly has crafted one of the most accessible, comprehensive, and functional texts in research methods that students, scholars, and practitioners concerned with understanding family and development will immensely appreciate." —Carla L. Fisher, The Pennsylvania State University "I love this book! It is thoroughly excellent—accessible and clear. ... What an accomplishment: an inviting research methods book written with intelligence and humility—makes you want to dive right into your next research project." —Katherine R. Allen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University This book is a masterpiece. Kerry Daly has written the finest and most profound volume on qualitative research available in print. From the opening chapter to the last, it is clear that we are in the hands of a master scholar who brings great depth and wisdom to his work. . . . A tour de force by any standard. —David Dollahite, Brigham Young University Qualitative Methods for Family Studies and Human Development serves as a step-by-step, interdisciplinary, qualitative methods text for those working in the areas of family studies, human development, family therapy, and family social work. Providing a systematic outline for carrying out qualitative projects from start to finish, author Kerry J. Daly uniquely combines epistemology, theory, and methodology into a comprehensive package illustrated with specific examples from family relations and human development research. Key Features: Outlines different analytic procedures: The most commonly used methodological traditions are covered, including ethnography, interpretive phenomenology, grounded theory methodology, narrative analysis, discourse analysis, and participatory action research. Offers examples from both hypothetical and actual research studies: Attention is given to the unique challenges associated with qualitative research on couples and families, ethics procedures, and credibility issues. Allows readers to make informed choices within clear guidelines: Balances breadth of topic coverage with sufficient detail to equip students to make informed decisions about methodologies and to be able to design and implement a qualitative research project. Cultivates good perceptual skills: Several pedagogical text boxes, tips and guidelines for data collection, examples, and illustrations encourage students to reflect on their own preferences, values, and experiences.


Development Fieldwork

Development Fieldwork

Author: Regina Scheyvens

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2003-08-06

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 1412933382

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`Every now and then one stumbles across a breath of fresh air and this practical research guide is certainly one of them!.. It will be no doubt refreshing for those of us who keep going to the field and who perhaps have forgotten the human dimension of research. For those who supervise students the book will be a useful source of inspiration.... I shall certainly recommend the book to any of my students' - Development and Change `Development Fieldwork is an excellent examination of and preparation for development research and will be an invaluable guide to all those entering or considering fieldwork, wherever that may be' - Progress in Development Studies `I would strongly recommend it as a field textbook across a range of disciplines and topics. The tone is thoughtful, engaging and pragmatic, with all of the chapters contributing equally to a very high quality publication. It is the best book I have read on fieldwork for a while. It is essential for anyone contemplating 'development' based study, but it also contains a great deal of value and interest to geographers, sociologists and other students working in and on the West' - Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 'This is an outstanding book, and one that all of us engaged in fieldwork in "developing countries" will want to read and doubtless re-read. Thoughtful, relevant and consistently well-written' - Professor Stuart Corbridge, London School of Economics and University of Miami 'An excellent overview of the pitfalls and problems of fieldwork in remote places... elegant and enjoyable, incisive and elegant... good humoured and eminently practical - the "Lonely Planet" guide to the field' - Professor John Connell, Sydney University 'A very welcome and richly inviting review of the politics, ethics and practicalities of fieldwork, Development Fieldwork deserves reading in many 'fields'. This will surely travel far' - James D Sidaway, National University of Singapore 'I warmly commend this guide to anyone planning or even thinking about fieldwork in the Third World. Postgraduates and academics will find it particularly good, as it not only raises an abundance of practical and logistical points but explores fundamental ethical and epistemological concerns to an unusual degree, including issues not addressed elsewhere. The clarity and attention to detail are also very welcome, as is the ease with which the book can be navigated' - Janet Townsend, University of Durham `Developmental Fieldwork provides a useful guide packed with information on practical and personal (and sometimes political) matters. As with all good `rough' guides, rather than fixing options and closing issues, the authors make it a point to suggest flexible itineraries across the terrain of the `field'. The book should in time become a well-thumbed, dog-eared volume, thrown into the haversack along with the notebook (both sorts), tape recorder, mosquito repellent, sunglasses and sturdy shoes' - Brenda S A Yeoh, National University of Singapore 'A good introductory text that will assist the novice development researcher to prepare for a new experience and will also provide a timely reminder for more experienced researchers' - Evaluation Journal of Australasia Development Fieldwork provides an indispensable new resource and guide for all students undertaking development fieldwork in the Third World. Accessible and lively, the text: - introduces the basics of research design and methodology together with guidance on choosing the best research methods; - provides `hands on' advice (practical, personal and ethical) to those preparing to enter `the field'; - covers the initial planning and preparation stages to end writing up and tips for the successful resumption of life back home. The authors draw upon a rich and diverse set of fieldwork experiences across the developing world (rural and urban) and utilize case studies to illustrate the many common issues and challenges that will face both new and experienced fieldwork researchers. It will be an essential text and companion to all postgraduate and research students across the social sciences.


Methods for Development Work

Methods for Development Work

Author: Teemu Moilanen

Publisher: BoD - Books on Demand

Published: 2022-06-21

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 9528092470

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The purpose of this book is to give students and those already in working life new impetus to carry out various practical development projects. The extensive methodological package compiled in the book helps the reader to understand the entity of development work and the many possibilities associated with it. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the approaches, processes, and methods that can be used in development work. In addition to traditional research and development methods, the book introduces design thinking, the production of innovations and the prediction of the future, and the numerous methods associated with them. The book offers concrete tools for agile organizational renewal and perspectives on the use of virtual environments in development work. The purpose is to encourage all developers to make their own reasonable solutions. The book is suitable for all courses in which project or development work is done, and especially for courses in research and development methods and to support the completion of a thesis. It is a textbook that lasts from the beginning of studies to working life. The work is intended mainly for universities, universities of applied sciences, polytechnics and other colleges, but it is also well suited for use by companies and other organizations.


Design and Development Research

Design and Development Research

Author: Rita C. Richey

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-07-16

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 1136791280

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AECT Design & Development Outstanding Book Award for 2008! Design and Development Research thoroughly discusses methods and strategies appropriate for conducting design and development research. Rich with examples and explanations, the book describes actual strategies that researchers have used to conduct two major types of design and development research: 1) product and tool research and 2) model research. Common challenges confronted by researchers in the field when planning and conducting a study are explored and procedural explanations are supported by a wide variety of examples taken from current literature. Samples of actual research tools are also presented. Important features in this volume include: concise checklists at the end of each chapter to give a clear summary of the steps involved in the various phases of a project; an examination of the critical types of information and data often gathered in studies, and unique procedures for collecting these data; examples of data collection instruments, as well as the use of technology in data collection; and a discussion of the process of extracting meaning from data and interpreting product and tool and model research findings. Design and Development Research is appropriate for both experienced researchers and those preparing to become researchers. It is intended for scholars interested in planning and conducting design and development research, and is intended to stimulate future thinking about methods, strategies, and issues related to the field.


Painful Choices

Painful Choices

Author: David A. Welch

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2005-09-04

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 9780691123400

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Japan's endless patience with diplomacy in its conflict with Russia over the Northern Territories; America's decision to commit large-scale military force to Vietnam vs. its ultimate decision to withdraw; and Canada's two abortive flirtations with free trade with the United States in 1911 and 1948 vs. its embrace of free trade in the late 1980s."--Jacket.


Methods for Development Work and Research

Methods for Development Work and Research

Author: Britha Mikkelsen

Publisher: SAGE Publications Pvt. Limited

Published: 1995-09-13

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 9780803992306

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"A detailed handbook of field work method aimed at development researchers and NGO workers. Macro-level development issues as they relate to micro-level projects are discussed as a context before an examination is made of participation and the use of indicators and semi-structured interviews. Four illustrative chapters then examine current participatory rural appraisal methods before an assessment is made in the final chapters of the limitations, integration in development studies, and ethical implications of such methods." --Oxfam's Review of Journals "Development researchers will be grateful to Mikkelsen for her laudable job in competently addressing their needs.... She provides an overview of the traditional and the new techniques and tools for field study.... The illustrations she cites contain instructive practical suggestions." --Deccan Herald "A compendium of practical analytical tools for both the participatory approach and rapid assessment methods. It is clearly presented and well illustrated. The basic emphasis is to reverse the top-down approach of traditional methodologies, in favour of greater dialogue, flexibility and participation." --Social Action For anyone conducting research in a development setting, this book is a must. Providing practical examples, techniques, and tools for different types of studies, this landmark study examines in detail both the concept of participation and the ethical considerations of fieldwork, stressing methodological pluralism and dialogue in development planning. The major focus of this book is devoted to new rapid and participatory methods, viewing them as an important adjustment of--or complement to--other long-established qualitative and quantitative field study methods. The selection of methods is a reflection of changed perceptions of North-South and insider-outsider relations, and highlights different techniques for studying selected development issues. The author shows how to employ techniques such as ranking and scoring; mapping and diagrams; and the use of indicators, focus groups, and semistructured interviews when working on a development research project. Replete with richly illustrated case studies, quotations, and graphics, this book is the essential resource for development planners and researchers. It will also be of great interest to students and scholars in development studies, research methods, sociology, and anthropology.


Impact Evaluation in Practice, Second Edition

Impact Evaluation in Practice, Second Edition

Author: Paul J. Gertler

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2016-09-12

Total Pages: 444

ISBN-13: 1464807809

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The second edition of the Impact Evaluation in Practice handbook is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to impact evaluation for policy makers and development practitioners. First published in 2011, it has been used widely across the development and academic communities. The book incorporates real-world examples to present practical guidelines for designing and implementing impact evaluations. Readers will gain an understanding of impact evaluations and the best ways to use them to design evidence-based policies and programs. The updated version covers the newest techniques for evaluating programs and includes state-of-the-art implementation advice, as well as an expanded set of examples and case studies that draw on recent development challenges. It also includes new material on research ethics and partnerships to conduct impact evaluation. The handbook is divided into four sections: Part One discusses what to evaluate and why; Part Two presents the main impact evaluation methods; Part Three addresses how to manage impact evaluations; Part Four reviews impact evaluation sampling and data collection. Case studies illustrate different applications of impact evaluations. The book links to complementary instructional material available online, including an applied case as well as questions and answers. The updated second edition will be a valuable resource for the international development community, universities, and policy makers looking to build better evidence around what works in development.