Research for Development

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.

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 LewisProfessor 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 GreenSenior Strategic Adviser, Oxfam

• How to use this bookPART ONE: INTRODUCTION AND PLANNING YOUR RESEARCH Introduction: Why Research for Development MattersSo What Is Research?′But I′m not a Researcher′: The Contribution of the Development WorkerWho Should Do Research for Development Work? The Broader IssuesResearch and Social ChangeHow to Tell When Research is the Best Approach to a ProblemUsing Research in Development WorkSo What is the Right Approach to Research for Development Work?Two Major Research Approaches Types of Research in Development WorkProgramme-Focused and Issue-Focused ResearchUsing Research for Programme DevelopmentUsing Research to Influence PolicyPlanning for Effective ResearchQuality in ResearchChoosing a Research FocusDefining the Research QuestionsWriting a Research BriefManaging ResearchAttracting and Engaging with FundersDeciding Who Should Do The ResearchSelecting and Appointing External ResearchersManaging Costs and TimeSupervising ResearchersReviewing Existing EvidenceHow to LookWhere to LookHow to Use the Internet for ResearchLearning Development Research SkillsWhere to Start?Some Ways of Learning Research SkillsSupporting Southern ResearchersPART TWO: COLLECTING DATAChoosing MethodsChoosing a Research ApproachChoosing Research TechniquesTriangulation: Using More Than One TechniqueCollecting and Managing Quality DataIntroductionThree Characterisics of Good-quality DataWays to Improve Quality in Data Collection Improving Communication with RespondentsCollecting, Recording and Managing DataEnsuring ′Trustworthiness′Thinking about Ethics in ResearchCodes of EthicsResponsibilities Towards Respondents: Some Ethical Issues to ConsiderWider AccountabilityResponsibilities to ColleaguesChoosing a Sample What Does Sampling Mean?Quantitative or Qualitative Sampling?Probability or Random SamplingPurposive or Non-Random SamplingHow to Sample For Cases, Location, Time and EventsIncluding ′Hard-To-Reach′ PeopleIncentives: What Are The Issues?Collecting DataHow to Ask QuestionsInterviewsFocus GroupsQuestionnairesUse of Documentary Sources and Secondary Data AnalysisObservationParticipatory ResearchParticipation for...?Participation by...?Participation in...?Some Participatory Research MethodsPractical Challenges in Participatory Research Critical Perspectives on Participatory ResearchPART THREE: ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONUndertaking Research AnalysisGetting Organized What is Analysis?InterpretationThe Process of Data AnalysisParticipation in the Analysis ProcessMethods of AnalysisQualitative AnalysisQuantitative AnalysisSo What Does It All Mean? Writing EffectivelyWhat to WriteWhat Not to WriteWhat Must Be IncludedHow to Write: The ProcessWriting Press Releases, Policy Briefs or Journal ArticlesPromoting Research UptakeBuilding a Successful Communications StrategyPromotion for Implementation: Influencing ProgrammesPromotion for Policy InfluenceSome Tools for CommunicationDealing with the MediaCapacity BuildingAssessing Research for Development WorkWhat, Who and When?Assessing Research OutputAssessing Research UptakeAssessing Research ImpactAppendix 1: On Monitoring and EvaluationAppendix 2: Useful WebsitesGlossaryReferences