′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.
Table of Contents:
What Is ′Development′?
What is the Purpose of Development Studies?
What Can We ′Know′ in Development Studies?
What Is the ′Big Picture′ in Development Studies?
What Is ′Rigour′ in Development Studies?
How Are Research and Practice Linked in Development Studies?
What Is the Future for Development Studies?
Review :
′This is the book that academics, development researchers and practitioners have been seeking for a long time. The book 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.
Good source for international sport development course. The text is student friendly
This book will be useful for a future masters degree in international development as it focuses and discusses research methods in the field. However, it might not be suited for an undergraduate class. I will leave it on the side and will most likely use it when our masters programme will be up and running.
Excellent texbook for a course on development. However, I had a lot to pack into my course and chose this as a recommended (not required) text for the course. Student response to the text has been positive and they found it clearly explained key approaches and concepts in international development. Also good case studies for class discussion and analysis.
I think this is an excellent book and one that still offers a different perspective on methodology books for development studies. The sections on research philosophy and the history of development studies are unrivalled by other texts. The emphasis on methods and practice is not quite so strong however.
Excellent introduction to IDS written in a clear and accessible way.
Excellent I have even suggested this to new supervisors
This book serves as a perfect introductory study book. The structure is consistent, guiding readers step by step through the obstacles when doing development research (in theory or pratice).
Each chapter offers a short summary in the beginning, which will be summed up at the end of the chapter. It′s simply impossible to get lost. Current issues or discourses of DS are as much present as are traditional ones. Bibliographical note are up to date, thus delivering a very good source for further reading. Even when less interested in DS, students are enabled to learn about doing research in general.
I thoroughly liked that book, even though (and maybe, precisely because) its conceptually dense and rich in discussions on the practcies of development research. It′ll become one of the building blocs of my soon-to-start course on ′Development Theory and Policy′. The idea is to start with thinking about what we do & the way we are doing it BEFORE discussing specific approaches, theories, and linking them then to specific policy questions. I ordered a couple of copies for our university′s library and, certainly, I am going to recommend this book as a value-for-money investment to the students.
This book is essential reading for all students in international development research. It provides the theoretical and methodological foundations for development studies, stimulates self-reflection on ethical issues, and gives valuable advice on how to ensure analytical rigour and how to link development research with practice. It is written in a very accessible way without being shallow. It can be recommended to senior researchers, postgraduate students and development practitioners alike.
