Practical Research and Evaluation: A Start-to-Finish Guide for Practitioners

This book is a starter 'DIY' text for practitioners who are looking to conduct evaluation studies and research as part of their own professional practice. The growing emphasis on evidence-based practice means that there is an increasing need for practitioners to have at least a basic understanding of research, be aware of methodological pitfalls and to be updated on new methods. This book provides a practical, user-friendly guide to social science research methods for professionals who have benefited from little, if any, formal research methods training but find themselves in a role that requires them to read and understand complex research findings and carry out their own research as part of their professional practice. Practical Research and Evaluation is aimed at practitioners working in education, health, social care and community work. Many in this market are non-graduates or are those whose study did not contain a research element, but are required to know how research works. This book has three main aims which will benefit this audience - to enable readers to carry out small-scale research projects of their own, provide them with the basic understanding necessary to commission research, and enable them to better understand and evaluate critically research reports. This book is designed specifically for 'Do-it-Yourself' researchers working in the public or voluntary sectors. It is accessible and relevant to practitioners, uses non-technical language wherever possible and employs grounded examples, practical tips, checklists and readings lists throughout.

Table of Contents:
Practitioner Research and the Research Process - Lena Dahlberg and Colin McCaig Introduction to Research and Evaluation Basics - Lena Dahlberg and Colin McCaig Research and Evaluation Design - Colin McCaig Ethics and Research Governance - Maria Smith Writing a Research Proposal or Brief - Colin McCaig and Lena Dahlberg Literature Reviews - Tamsin Bowers-Brown and Anna Stevens Action Research - Scott Fernie and Karen Smith Different Kinds of Qualitative Data Collection Methods - Maria Smith and Tamsin Bowers-Brown Preparation and Process of Qualitative Interviews and Focus Groups - Joanne Davies Qualitative Data Analysis - Karen Smith and Joanne Davies Different Kinds of Quantitative Data Collection Methods - Jason Leman Quantitative Data Collection - Jason Leman Quantitative Data Processing and Analysis - Guillaumette Haughton and Anna Stevens Dissemination - Colin McCaig and Lena Dahlberg