Research Skills for Policy and Development
How to Find Out Fast

Edited by:

Series:
Published in association with The Open University

Courses:
Evaluation & Policy | Research Methods in Political Science

June 2007 | 376 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

This book is a critical guide to conducting investigations under time- and resource-pressured conditions, equipping readers with the key skills and approaches for research designed to influence or inform development policies. Unlike a simple 'how to' guide, Research Skills for Policy and Development also provides a critique of various methods and situates these approaches within 'real life' organisational settings, enabling those working in or studying development to locate, evaluate and use relevant information quickly but rigorously.

The successor to Finding Out Fast (SAGE, 1998) it reflects the changes in development management theories and practice over the last seven years, and includes new material and advice on critical use of the web as a resource and research tool. It is essential reading for development managers in NGOs and public sector agencies as well as students of development management and development studies more generally.

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ISBN: 9781412945639	Hardcover	Suggested Retail Price: $177.00	Bookstore Price: $141.60
ISBN: 9781412945646	Paperback	Suggested Retail Price: $75.00	Bookstore Price: $60.00

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PART ONE: CONCEPTUALIZING POLICY-RELATED INVESTIGATION

Stephen Potter and Ramaya Subrahmanian

Information Needs and Policy Change

Chris Blackmore and Ray Ison

Boundaries for Thinking in Action

Joseph Hanlon

Grabbing Attention

Joanna Chataway, Avril Joffe and Jill Mordaunt

Communicating Results

PART TWO: THINKING WITH DOCUMENTS

Stephanie Barrientos

Interrogating Information Through a Literature Study

Bridget O'Laughlin

Interpreting Institutional Discourses

PART THREE: THINKING WITH PEOPLE

Philip Woodhouse

People as Informants

Hazel Johnson and Linda Mayoux

Investigation as Empowerment

Using Participatory Methods

Dina Abbott

Doing Incorrect Research

The Importance of the Subjective and the Personal in Researching Poverty

PART FOUR: BRINGING IN DATA

Chandan Mukherjee and Marc Wuyts

Thinking with Quantitative Data

Sue Mayer

Using Evidence in Advocacy

Alan Thomas

Organizational Assessments and Institutional Footprints

Alan Thomas

Challenging cases

Alan Thomas and Joanna Chataway

Conclusion

As a guide, Research Skills for Policy Development offers a breadth of knowledge and depth which is essential for students to develop a greater understanding of the key themes and issues associated with research outside of academia for practitioners and students of management and the public sector.

Mrs Lynne Bedson

Institure of Health and Wellbeing, Coleg Llandrillo Cymru

August 27, 2013

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An interesting and engaging book that I think will help students undertaking development research in short timescales

Dr Tomas Frederiksen

Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester

June 27, 2013

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Not used on program evaluation may use in applied research course in fall

Professor Bruce Perlman

Sch Of Public Administration, University of New Mexico