Methods for Development Work and Research: A New Guide for Practitioners - Softcover

Mikkelsen, Britha Helene

Softcover

ISBN 10: 076193328X ISBN 13: 9780761933281

Publisher: SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd, 2005

Synopsis

Praise for the First Edition

 

 

"It is a guide of vital importance to researchers, trainers and extension workers, especially those collaborating with communities in developing countries."
- European Journal of Development Research

 

"There is much of value here that even experienced development workers might learn from.... Mikkelsen offers many insights that would be valuable to any economist undertaking field work in development."
- The Australian Journal of Agricultural Economics

 

"An enthusiastic, vibrant supplement to methodology texts.... The formulation is concise, comprehensive, yet substantial."
- Business Line

 

"Development researchers will be grateful to Mikkelsen for her laudable job in competently assessing their needs.... She provides an overview of the traditional and the new techniques and tools for field study."
- Deccan Herald

This completely revised version of the successful 1995 text covers a wide range of issues relating to research concepts and methods. It incorporates new lessons that have been learned regarding the merits and pitfalls of development work.

Reflecting on how and why research in international development work has become a special case within the social sciences, this book provides innovative examples of participatory methods in action; methodological guidance on linking research purpose, questions and methods in qualitative and quantitative research; highlights new methods for development work and research like the Rights-based Approach, Appreciative Inquiry, the Social Capital Analysis Tool and Geomatics; emphasizes the gender perspective in development work; and discusses ethics, regulations and codes of conduct, as well as the question of encounters with `other` cultures.

 

About this title

Review

Praise for the First Edition:

 

`There is much of value here that even experienced development workers might learn from.... Mikkelsen offers many insights that would be valuable to any economist undertaking field work in development'
The Australian Journal of Agricultural Economics

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

`An enthusiastic, vibrant supplement to methodology texts.... The formulation is concise, comprehensive, yet substantial' -

(Business Line)

An enthusiastic, vibrant supplement to methodology texts and help in;. The formulation is concise, comprehensive, yet substantial.

(Business Line)

`Development researchers will be grateful to Mikkelsen for her laudable job in competently assessing their needs.... She provides an overview of the traditional and the new techniques and tools for field study'

(Deccan Herald)

Synopsis

This is the completely revised version of the highly successful textbook first published in 1995. This edition incorporates new lessons learned regarding the merits and pitfalls of development work, including particpatory methods and participatory development in practice. Methods for Development Work and Research: outlines significant trends in international development co-operation with reference to change and continuity; incorporates critical perspectives on participation to allow practitioners to reflect on the theoretical as well as the practical and ethical implications of their work; provides examples of participatory methods in use particularly in macro-policy, budgeting and poverty reduction strategies; provides guidance on how to analyze qualitative data using indicators and IT tools; highlights the gender perspective in development work; elaborates on a rights-based approach to development which is currently replacing the conventional needs-based approach; focuses in greater detail on monitoring and evaluation; elaborates on ethics, methods and development interventions; and addresses the important question of the problems of encountering 'other' cultures.

Based on feedback received in response to the first edition and also the author's hands-on experience, this revised version continues to offer valuable and practical guidance combined with critical reflection on methods for development work and research.

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 076193328X
• ISBN 13: 9780761933281
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 384