Methodological Challenges and New Approaches to Research in International Development

An expansion in funding for 'basic' research has provided space for development researchers to reflect on their practice and on their ethical responsibility to do research that is 'accountable and of the highest quality' (ESRC Framework 2006). The growth in qualitative as well as quantitative data archiving, which is now a requirement of many funders, brings these issues to the fore. For secondary data to be usable there needs to be a robust methodological account reflecting on the challenges of data production and the implications of these for potential conclusions. The recent emphasis on evidence-based policy making by DFID means it is doubly important to ensure that quantitative and qualitative studies make full disclosure of their methods of data production and analysis, although there is little guidance provided in relation to this. This volume responds to these challenges, drawing on best practice from other fields, and provides a fresh perspective on perennial debates such as how to integrate qualitative and quantitative approaches and the relationship between data and theory.

Table of Contents:
List Of Tables And Figures Acknowledgements Notes On Contributors 1. Introduction Laura Camfield 1.1. Background 1.2. Quality Of Research In International Development 1.3. Chapter Outlines 1.4. References PART I: RELATIONSHIPS 2. Ethics, Intimacy And Distance In Longitudinal, Qualitative Research: Experiences From Reality Check Bangladesh; Malin Arvidson 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Reality Check Bangladesh 2.3. The RCA Principles 2.4. Intimacy In Qualitative Research And In RCA 2.4. Intimacy And Competing Realms Of Ethics 2.5. Intimacy, Distance And Voice 2.6. Concluding Remarks 2.7. References 3. What's In It For Us? Consent, Access And The Meaning Of Research In A Qualitative Longitudinal Study; Rebecca Taylor, Malin Arvidson, Rob Macmillan, Andri Soteri-Proctor and Simon Teasdale 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Real Times: Project Methodology And Ethical Practice 3.2. The Literature: Access, Consent, Gatekeepers And Politics 3.3. Recruiting The Cases 3.4. Reflecting On Recruitment And Building Relationships 3.5. Discussion And Conclusions 3.6. References 4. Going Back To Re-Study Communities: Challenges And Opportunities; Graham Crow 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Problems In The Field 4.3. Conclusion 4.4. References 5. Taking A Wellbeing Approach To Fisheries Research: Insights From A Sri Lankan Fishing Village And Relevance For Sustainable Fisheries; Coulthard, S., Sandaruwan.K.L., Paranamana, N., And D. Koralgama 5.1. Introduction - Taking A Wellbeing Approach To Fisheries Research 5.2. A 3D Framework For Researching Wellbeing 5.3. Assessment Of Basic Human Needs 5.4. Exploring Needs And Establishing Thresholds 5.5. Governance Relationship Assessment (GRA) 5.6. Measuring Subjective Wellbeing - The 'Global Person Generated Index' 5.7. Linking Wellbeing To Fisheries Policy 5.8. References PART II: TIME AND CHANGES OVER TIME 6. Researching Social Change And Continuity: A Complexity-Informed Study Of Twenty Rural Community-Cases In Ethiopia 1994 - 2015; Philippa Bevan 6.1. Introduction 6.2. The Foundations Of Knowledge Framework 6.3. The WIDE3 Research Domain And Research Questions 6.4. Theory 6.5. Two Diachronic Frameworks 6.6. Research Strategy 6.7. Research Answers 6.8. Some Empirical Conclusions 6.9. The Stage 1 And Stage 2 Communities: Looking To The Future 6.10. References 7. Patterns Of Socio-Economic Mobility In Rural Bangladesh: Lessons From Life-History Interviews; Peter Davis 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Methods 7.3. Conceptualising Socio-Economic Mobility 7.4. Patterns Of Coping In Crises 7.6. Concluding Remarks: Learning About Poverty Dynamics From Life Histories 7.7. References 8. Household Surveys - Using Qualitative Data To Enhance Our Understanding Of Household Dynamics Over Time; Pamela Nasirumbi, Janet Seeley, And Sian Floyd 8.1. Introduction 240 8.2. Background To The General Population Cohort 8.3. Definitions Of Household And Family 8.4. 'The Household' In The GPC 8.5. Household Creation In The Ganda Society 8.6. Tracing Households 8.7. Tracing GPC Households 8.8. Comparison Of Our Findings With Those Of Other Studies 8.9. References 9. Using Qualitative And Panel Data To Create Durable Measures Of Child Poverty And Wellbeing Across Childhood; Keetie Roelen 9.1. Introduction 9.2. Mixed Method Approaches In Longitudinal And Child Poverty Research 9.3. Monetary And Multidimensional Child Poverty In Vietnam 9.4. Chronic Child Poverty In Rural Ethiopia 9.5. Discussion And Conclusion 9.6. References PART III: ANALYSIS AND REPRESENTATION 10. Epistemology And Ethics In Data Sharing And Analysis: A Critical Overview; Joanna Bornat 10.1. Introduction 10.2. What Do We Mean By Secondary Analysis, Re-Use Or Sharing? 10.3. Debates In Re-Use 10.4. Ethical Issues 10.5. Conclusions 10.6. References 11. Replication Of Quantitative Work In Development Studies: Experiences And Suggestions; Maren Duvendack And Richard Palmer-Jones 11.1. Introduction 11.2. Experiences With Replication In Social Sciences 11.3. Motivation For Replication 11.4. Prominent Examples In Replication In Economics 11.5. Modelling Incentives For Replication 11.6. Argument And Persuasion 11.7. Conclusions 11.8. References 12. Replicating 'Sources Of Slow Growth In African Economies'; Graham A. Davis 12.1. Introduction 12.2. Data Used To Explain Growth 12.3. Theoretical Background 12.3. The Problem Of Missing Countries 12.4. Policy Implications 12.5. Concluding Remarks 12.6. References 13. Reflexive Relations And The Contested Creation Of Epistemic Diversity In The Safe Motherhood Initiative; Dominique Behague And Katerini Storeng 13.1. Introduction. Denouncing 'Evidence-Base Advocacy' 13.2. Roots Of Exceptionality 13.3. Theorizing The Boarders Of Normative Epistemologies 13.4. Early Historical Insight: The Comprehensive Agenda 13.5. The Public Health Lens: Identifying 'Modifiability' 13.6. Cost-Effectiveness And The Search For Political Clout 13.7. Defending Epistemic Flexibility 13.8. Interest In 'Context' 13.9. The Ethics Of Epistemological Power 13.10. References 14. Conclusion Laura Camfield 14.1. Defining And Measuring Poverty 14.2. Studying Poverty Over Time 14.3. Generating Evidence 14.4. Cross-Cutting Issues 14.5. Conclusion 14.6. References

About the Author :
Laura Camfield is a Senior Lecturer in International Development at the University of East Anglia, UK. Initially trained as an anthropologist, she now works collaboratively using qualitative and quantitative methods and training others in their use. She currently directs Postgraduate Research within DEV, reflecting her commitment to improving the quality of research and analysis in international development.