Researching Real-World Problems : A Guide to Methods of Inquiry

by Zina O'Leary

• ISBN13: 9781412901956
• ISBN10: 1412901952
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-11-23
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

Summary

This is the perfect book for any student new to Research Methods. It is brilliantly written, witty, and always easy to understand. Taking as her starting point the need for students to conduct research for themselves in the 'real world', Zina O'Leary guides those new to research through the whys and how-tos of the entire research process. Always student-focused, this book offers a hands on and practical guide to the research process from the initial process of coming up with a good question, via methods of gathering information, through to the writing process itself. Researching Real-World Problems: - Makes the entire research process a meaningful experience - Provides a jargon-busting hands-on guide to the entire research process - Is illustrated throughout with real-life examples - Speaks directly to the needs of the new researcher - Locates the researcher and research process at heart of a complex web of social structures - Provides via the Companion Website link above, PowerPoint slides that cover all 12 chapters of the book. They can be printed out as separate transparencies or used in PowerPoint based lectures. They would also be suitable for applications in e-learning/ web-based teaching. O'Leary draws her examples from the full range of the Social Sciences, and this is the perfect text for any student in Health, Education or Applied Social Science.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xi
PART ONE ORIENTATION TO RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS	1	(20)
Researching Real-World Problems	3	(18)
Grappling with Problems	3	(1)
From problems to problem solving	4	(1)
The Role of Research in Problem Solving	4	(2)
Researching practical problems	5	(1)
The Potential of Researching Real-World Problems	6	(5)
Professional development	7	(1)
Practice	8	(1)
Programmes	9	(1)
Policy	9	(1)
Culture	10	(1)
The Challenge of Researching Real-World Problems	11	(6)
Complexity of real-world problems	11	(1)
Conducting research in the 'field'	12	(1)
Defining a research team	13	(2)
Working on, for and with others	15	(2)
Researching within your own organization	17	(1)
Preparing to Make a Start	17	(4)
Laying foundations	18	(1)
Delving into problems	19	(1)
Making meaning/making a difference	19	(2)
PART TWO LAYING FOUNDATIONS	21	(124)
From Real Problems to Researchable Questions	23	(16)
Problems and Possibilities	23	(1)
Defining problems	23	(1)
Identifying Problems Suitable for Research	24	(4)
Drawing on knowledge and experience	25	(1)
Exploring broader issues	25	(1)
Learning to identify 'needs'	26	(1)
Remembering practicalities	27	(1)
Unpacking Problems	28	(4)
Exploring the dominant worldview	28	(2)
Exploring your own perspective	30	(1)
Exploring the range of perspectives held by various stakeholders	31	(1)
From Problems to Research Questions	32	(7)
The nature and importance of research questions	33	(1)
Developing the question	33	(2)
The real-world research question checklist	35	(1)
Changing focus	36	(1)
A note on hypotheses	36	(3)
Preparing to Research Real-World Problems	39	(22)
Before You Dive In	39	(1)
Reading for Research	40	(7)
The purpose of reading	40	(2)
Sourcing your readings	42	(2)
Managing the literature	44	(1)
Conducting and writing a 'literature review'	45	(2)
Designing Method	47	(7)
Addressing the question	47	(4)
Getting down to details	51	(3)
Developing a Proposal	54	(7)
The role of the proposal	54	(1)
Elements of the proposal	55	(6)
Striving for Integrity in the Research Process	61	(17)
The Need for Integrity	61	(1)
Integrity in the Production of Knowledge	62	(9)
Recognizing and balancing subjectivities	62	(4)
Building trust	66	(2)
Approaching methods with consistency	68	(1)
Making relevant and appropriate arguments	69	(2)
Providing accurate research accounts	71	(1)
Integrity and the 'Researched'	71	(3)
Legal obligations	71	(1)
Moral obligations	72	(1)
Ethical obligations	72	(2)
Criteria for Researching with Integrity	74	(4)
The Quest for 'Respondents'	78	(20)
Who Holds the Answer?	78	(1)
Cases: Delving into Detail	79	(4)
Opportunities in working with cases	80	(1)
Case selection	80	(3)
Key Informants: Working with Experts and Insiders	83	(3)
Opportunities in working with key informants	84	(1)
Informant selection	84	(2)
Samples: Selecting Elements of a Population	86	(12)
Opportunities in working with a 'sample'	87	(1)
Sample selection	87	(11)
Selecting Appropriate Data Collection Methods	98	(47)
Data Collection: Working through the Options	98	(5)
Options and possibilities	99	(1)
The data collection process	100	(3)
Reaching out to the Masses: Surveying	103	(10)
Survey pros and cons	103	(1)
Survey options	104	(1)
Survey construction and administration	104	(9)
The Question and Answer Process: Interviewing	113	(6)
Interview pros and cons	114	(1)
Interview options	114	(1)
Conducting your interview	115	(4)
Taking It All In: Observation	119	(7)
Observation pros and cons	120	(1)
Observation options	120	(2)
The observation process	122	(4)
Collecting Data without Intervention: Unobtrusive Methods	126	(6)
Unobtrusive research pros and cons	126	(1)
Unobtrusive research options	127	(1)
Gathering relevant data by unobtrusive means	128	(4)
Manipulating the Environment: Experimentation	132	(5)
Experiment pros and cons	133	(1)
Experiment options	133	(2)
The search for cause and effect	135	(2)
Comparing Methods of Data Collection	137	(8)
PART THREE RESEARCHING PROBLEMS	145	(82)
Understanding Problems	147	(21)
When the Research Goal is 'To Find Out More'	147	(4)
Acknowledging complexity, searching for clarity	148	(1)
Quick sketch or detailed portrait	149	(2)
Looking out vs. looking in	151	(1)
Looking Outward: Researching Populations	151	(5)
Reviewing existing evidence	152	(2)
Gathering primary data	154	(2)
Looking Inward: Delving into Complexity	156	(12)
The in-depth interview	157	(1)
Exploring cultural realities: using ethnographic techniques	157	(4)
Understanding lived experience: drawing on phenomenology	161	(7)
The Quest for Solutions	168	(21)
When the Research Goal is 'To Search for Solutions'	168	(2)
Possibilities and practicalities	169	(1)
Assessing Needs and Visioning Futures	170	(7)
Conducting a survey	171	(2)
Facilitating focus groups	173	(1)
Holding a public forum	174	(3)
Exploring Potential Programmes, Interventions and Services	177	(4)
Drawing on 'traditional' methods	178	(1)
Utilizing the Internet	179	(2)
Examining the Feasibility of Change Initiatives	181	(8)
Comparing strategies	182	(1)
Drawing on management tools	183	(6)
Research that Moves from Knowledge to Action	189	(18)
When the Research Goal is 'To Combine Research and Action'	189	(4)
Linking change management and research agendas	189	(1)
Exploring action research	190	(1)
Defining action research	190	(3)
The decision to engage in action research	193	(1)
Change-Oriented Goals in Action Research	193	(10)
Improving practice	193	(4)
Shifting systems	197	(3)
Working towards empowerment	200	(3)
Issues in Action Research	203	(4)
Evaluating Change	207	(20)
When the Research Goal is 'To Evaluate Change Initiatives'	207	(5)
Assessing real outcomes	208	(1)
Evaluating the change process	209	(3)
The Methods of Evaluation	212	(6)
Methods appropriate to outcome evaluation	212	(2)
Methods appropriate to process evaluation	214	(4)
Issues in Evaluative Research	218	(9)
Negotiating politics, pressure and vested interests	220	(2)
Negotiating real-world challenges of evaluative research	222	(5)
PART FOUR MAKING MEANING/MAKING A DIFFERENCE	227	(62)
Analysing and Interpreting Data	229	(42)
From Raw Data to Meaningful Understanding	229	(6)
Keeping your eye on the main game	230	(2)
Managing the data	232	(3)
Statistics -- the KISS (keep it simple and sensible) Approach	235	(19)
Variables	236	(2)
Descriptive statistics	238	(5)
Inferential statistics	243	(2)
Presenting quantitative data	245	(9)
Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA)	254	(12)
Logic and methods	255	(6)
Specialist strategies	261	(1)
Presenting qualitative data	261	(5)
Some 'Concluding' Thoughts	266	(5)
Producing Research 'Deliverables'	271	(18)
Research as Communication	271	(5)
Producing 'deliverables'	272	(1)
Knowing and engaging your audience	273	(1)
Finding an appropriate structure and style	274	(2)
The Writing Process	276	(7)
Managing the task	277	(1)
Constructing your 'story'	278	(2)
From first to final draft	280	(3)
Research Dissemination and Utilization	283	(3)
Disseminating outcomes	284	(1)
Facilitating utilization	285	(1)
The Final Word	286	(3)
Bibliography	289	(7)
Index	296