Research for Development: A Practical Guide

Research for Development provides a comprehensive introduction and indispensable reference manual for undertaking and managing research in development. Drawing on considerable hands-on experience, the authors offer a comprehensive combination of discussion, explanation, checklists, examples, activities, further resources, and general user guidelines to maximize all round utility. This essential companion and invaluable tool is divided into two parts: Managing research for development, and Doing research for development. Together these 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. Key features include: 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; glossary and guides to additional resources and packages; Research for Development has been written with the support of Save the Children and the Department of International Development. It complements the highly successful Toolkits: A Practical Guide to Assessment, Monitoring, Review and Evaluation (Save the Children, 1995).

Table of Contents:
PART ONE: MANAGING RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT Introduction Why Use Research in Development Work? How Is Research Used in Development Work? Participatory Research Quality in Research Planning for Effective Research Preparing to Write the Brief Planning for Effective Research What Should Go into the Brief? Who Should Do the Research? Managing Research Learning How to Do Research for Development Work Managing for Impact Promoting Research Findings Evaluating Research for Development Work PART TWO: DOING RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT What Is Already Known? Making the Most of Existing Information Research Ethics Communication with Respondents The Key to Good Research How to Ensure Quality in Data-Gathering Choosing Methods Seven Key Research Techniques Some Packages of Methods for Research for Development Work Talking to the Right People Choosing a Sample Analysis How to Write an Effective Research Report

About the Author :
Professor Laws holds B.Litt and MA degrees in Theology from Oxford University. She has been a faculty member of the Theology departments of Leeds University and Kings College, University of London, and has lectured in several colleges in the USA. She has been teaching at British American College London since it opened in 1985, offering a range of courses in Religion, early British History and the Classical World and leading field trips to archaeological sites. Her special field of study is the history of Christianity in the Roman Empire, with a developing interest in women's history and Byzantium. She has published two books in New Testament Studies, and numerous articles in journals and reference works. Professor Laws is active in voluntary work in London, in church, charities and education, and has chaired school and college governing bodies.

Review :
'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