Desai V., Potter R.B. (Eds.) Doing Development Research

London: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2006. — 325 p.The book is a comprehensive introduction to research in development studies that provides thorough training for anyone carrying out research in developing countries. It brings together experts with extensive experience of overseas research, presenting an interdisciplinary guide to the core methodologies. Informed by years of research experience, this book draws together many strands of action research and participatory methods, demonstrating their diverse applications and showing how they interrelate. The book is the essential A-Z of development research.List of contributors
PrefaceThe Raison d’etre of Doing Development Research
Strategic issues in planning sound research
Doing Fieldwork in Developing Countries: Planning and Logistics
Ethical Practices in Doing Development Research
Working in Different Cultures: Issues of Race,
Ethnicity and Identity
Women, Men and Fieldwork: Gender Relations and Power Structures
Working with Children in Development
Collecting Sensitive and Contentious Information
Dealing with Conflicts and Emergency Situations
Working with Partners: Educational Institutions
Working with Partners: Government Ministries
Working with Partners: NGOs and CBOs
Doing Development Research ‘at Home’
Methods of social research and associated forms of analysis
Information and data collection methods
Quantitative, Qualitative or Participatory? Which Method, for What and When?
Field Surveys and Inventories Interviewing
Focus Groups
Your Questions Answered? Conducting Questionnaire Surveys
Lost in Translation? The Use of Interpreters in Fieldwork
Ethnography and Participant Observation
Participatory Methods and Approaches: Tackling the Two Tyrannies
Diaries and Case Studies
Using existing knowledge and records
Literature Reviews and Bibliographic Searches
Using Indigenous Local Knowledge and Literature
Using Images, Films and Photography
Using Archives
Remote Sensing, GIS and Ground Truthing
The Importance of Census and Other Secondary
Data in Development Studies
Using the World Wide Web for Development Research
Data from International Agencies
Disseminating findings/research
Writing an Effective Research Report or Dissertation
How is Research Communicated Professionally?