Research and Evaluation for Busy Students and Practitioners: A Survival Guide

Research doesn’t exist in a bubble but co-exists with a multitude of other tasks and commitments, yet there is more need for people to save time than ever before. Brilliantly attuned to the demands placed on researchers, this book considers how students, academics and professionals alike can save time and stress without compromising the quality of their research or its outcomes. This third edition: - is fully revised with new chapters on research and evaluation ethics, creative methods of collecting data and how research can make a positive difference; - includes illustrative case studies throughout the book, and each chapter concludes with exercises, discussion questions and a debate topic; - is accompanied by a fully updated companion website. This supportive book is designed for any student or practitioner who wants to know how to do research on top of their main job, and still have a life.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction Chapter summary Introduction Being a researcher Why do practitioners do research? Insider and outsider research Doing research or evaluation Managing and commissioning research or evaluation Terminology Structure of this book Case studies Exercise Discussion questions Debate topic 2. Overview of research Chapter summary Introduction Quantitative or qualitative? Solo or collaborative? Highly time-consuming methods Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 3. Research and evaluation ethics Chapter summary Introduction Research ethics management Ethics through the research process Researcher wellbeing Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 4. Methodologies, approaches and theories Chapter summary Introduction Methodologies, methods and approaches Positivist methodology Realist methodologies Constructionist methodologies Interpretivist methodologies Transformative methodologies Ontology and epistemology Action research Evaluation research Mixed methods research Arts-based research Digitally mediated research The role of theory in research and evaluation Theory, research, practice Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 5. Topics and proposals Chapter summary Introduction Choosing a research or evaluation topic Refining your topic From question to data How much data? Qualitative or quantitative methods? Sampling techniques Probability samples Non-probability sampling What is evidence? Writing a proposal Research funders Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 6. Managing your research or evaluation project Chapter summary Introduction Planning Organisation Time management Support from employers Creative time management Reward yourself Look after yourself Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 7. Background research Chapter summary Introduction Document review or literature review? Record-keeping Critical and strategic reading Finding academic journal articles How to conduct a document review How to conduct a literature review Using libraries Making notes Knowing when to stop Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 8. Secondary data Chapter summary Introduction Online secondary data sources Open data Application programming interfaces Large-scale surveys Working with secondary data Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 9. Primary data collection: conventional methods Chapter summary Introduction Collecting quantitative data Collecting qualitative data Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 10. Primary data collection: creative methods Chapter summary Introduction Collecting data online Smartphones Enhanced interviews and focus groups Diaries, field notes, journals and logs Visual data Mapping Mobile methods Case studies Collaborative methods Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 11. Quantitative data analysis Chapter summary Introduction Preparing quantitative data Coding quantitative data Quantitative data analysis Descriptive statistics Inferential statistics Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 12. Qualitative data analysis Chapter summary Introduction Preparing qualitative data Coding qualitative data Qualitative data analysis A real-life example of qualitative data analysis Data synthesis Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 13. Writing for research and evaluation Chapter summary Introduction Myths about writing The writing process Structure Plagiarism Citation Findings versus recommendations Editing Polishing your writing Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 14. Disseminating research and evaluation Chapter summary Introduction Summarising research or evaluation Barriers to disseminating research and evaluation Presenting findings in person Sharing findings online Data visualisation Dissemination methods Disseminating workplace research Disseminating academic research Dissemination ethics Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 15. How can research create positive change? Chapter summary Introduction Research impact Research into policy Implementation Knowledge exchange A holistic approach Conclusion Case studies Exercises Discussion questions Debate topic 16. Conclusion

About the Author :
Helen Kara is a leading independent researcher, author, teacher and speaker specialising in research methods, particularly creative methods, and research ethics. With over twenty years’ experience as an independent researcher Helen now teaches doctoral students and staff at higher education institutions worldwide. She is a prolific academic author with over 25 titles and 1000 citations; notably Creative Research Methods: A Practical Guide and Research and Evaluation for Busy Students and Practitioners, both in their second editions. Besides her regular blogs and videos, she also writes comics and fiction. Helen is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. In 2021, at the age of 56, she was diagnosed autistic. Her neurodivergence explains her lifelong fascination with, and ability to focus on, words, language and writing.