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 an Adjunct Professor at the Joseph R. Biden Jr, School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware as well as 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.

This text provides the students with some excellent examples of how to deal with the exciting and ponderous prospects of research - outside of the classroom. It is a text that should be on every students shelf (even if it isn′t in every students hand) and is without doubt a great addition to any core material.

• PART ONE: ORIENTATION TO RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMSResearching Real-World ProblemsPART TWO: LAYING FOUNDATIONSFrom Real Problems to Researchable QuestionsPreparing to Research Real-World ProblemsStriving for Integrity in the Research ProcessThe Quest for `Respondents′Selecting Appropriate Data Collection MethodsPART THREE: RESEARCHING PROBLEMSUnderstanding ProblemsThe Quest for SolutionsResearch that Moves from Knowledge to ActionEvaluating ChangePART FOUR: MAKING MEANING/MAKING A DIFFERENCEAnalyzing and Interpreting DataProducing Research `Deliverables′