Research and Evaluation for Busy Students and Practitioners

“This latest edition of Helen Kara’s book will further embed its reputation as a go-to book in the research and evaluation field. In a direct and accessible style, Kara provides guidance for early career and practitioner researchers, and inspiration for the more experienced.” Rosalind Edwards, University of Southampton.

"This fantastic book offers an engaging orientation to the often mysterious world of research and evaluation. This book will continue to be passed from one researcher to the next." James Burford, University of Warwick

"This book is exceptionally clear, accessible and user friendly. It will prove to be an invaluable resource for time-pressured practitioners looking to carry out their own research." Emma Taylor, London School of Economics and Political Science

Reviews for previous editions:

"In addition to providing research and methodology guidance, the book is a great tool for continuous learning and could be recommended to researchers and evaluation practitioners at any stage of their career." LSE Review of Books

“A must have for all who are just getting into research or who do research frequently. The exercises and feedback from those who shared with Kara, help affirm that the process of research and evaluation is worth the effort put into the process and her suggestions for keeping perspective throughout, so we can still have a life are essential for all researchers.” The Qualitative Report

"Helen Kara’s thoughtful book is based on extensive practical experience, in diverse settings. She guides a researcher through all the stages of a project, dispelling fear and confusion." Woody Caan, Editor, Journal of Public Mental Health

"Workplace-based researchers will find this book invaluable. Demystifying the research process, Helen Kara provides a guide for the busy practitioner chock full of wise and pragmatic advice, useful tips and exercises." Kylie Budge, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences

Helen Kara is a leading independent researcher, author, teacher and speaker specialising in research methods, particularly creative methods, and research ethics. With over twenty years’ experience as an independent researcher Helen now teaches doctoral students and staff at higher education institutions worldwide. She is a prolific academic author with over 25 titles and 1000 citations; notably Creative Research Methods: A Practical Guide and Research and Evaluation for Busy Students and Practitioners, both in their second editions. Besides her regular blogs and videos, she also writes comics and fiction. Helen is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. In 2021, at the age of 56, she was diagnosed autistic. Her neurodivergence explains her lifelong fascination with, and ability to focus on, words, language and writing.

1. Introduction

Chapter summary

Introduction

Being a researcher

Why do practitioners do research?

Insider and outsider research

Doing research or evaluation

Managing and commissioning research or evaluation

Terminology

Structure of this book

Case studies

Exercise

Discussion questions

Debate topic

2. Overview of research

Chapter summary

Introduction

Quantitative or qualitative?

Solo or collaborative?

Highly time-consuming methods

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

3. Research and evaluation ethics

Chapter summary

Introduction

Research ethics management

Ethics through the research process

Researcher wellbeing

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

4. Methodologies, approaches and theories

Chapter summary

Introduction

Methodologies, methods and approaches

Positivist methodology

Realist methodologies

Constructionist methodologies

Interpretivist methodologies

Transformative methodologies

Ontology and epistemology

Action research

Evaluation research

Mixed methods research

Arts-based research

Digitally mediated research

The role of theory in research and evaluation

Theory, research, practice

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

5. Topics and proposals

Chapter summary

Introduction

Choosing a research or evaluation topic

Refining your topic

From question to data

How much data?

Qualitative or quantitative methods?

Sampling techniques

Probability samples

Non-probability sampling

What is evidence?

Writing a proposal

Research funders

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

6. Managing your research or evaluation project

Chapter summary

Introduction

Planning

Organisation

Time management

Support from employers

Creative time management

Reward yourself

Look after yourself

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

7. Background research

Chapter summary

Introduction

Document review or literature review?

Record-keeping

Critical and strategic reading

Finding academic journal articles

How to conduct a document review

How to conduct a literature review

Using libraries

Making notes

Knowing when to stop

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

8. Secondary data

Chapter summary

Introduction

Online secondary data sources

Open data

Application programming interfaces

Large-scale surveys

Working with secondary data

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

9. Primary data collection: conventional methods

Chapter summary

Introduction

Collecting quantitative data

Collecting qualitative data

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

10. Primary data collection: creative methods

Chapter summary

Introduction

Collecting data online

Smartphones

Enhanced interviews and focus groups

Diaries, field notes, journals and logs

Visual data

Mapping

Mobile methods

Case studies

Collaborative methods

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

11. Quantitative data analysis

Chapter summary

Introduction

Preparing quantitative data

Coding quantitative data

Quantitative data analysis

Descriptive statistics

Inferential statistics

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

12. Qualitative data analysis

Chapter summary

Introduction

Preparing qualitative data

Coding qualitative data

Qualitative data analysis

A real-life example of qualitative data analysis

Data synthesis

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

13. Writing for research and evaluation

Chapter summary

Introduction

Myths about writing

The writing process

Structure

Plagiarism

Citation

Findings versus recommendations

Editing

Polishing your writing

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

14. Disseminating research and evaluation

Chapter summary

Introduction

Summarising research or evaluation

Barriers to disseminating research and evaluation

Presenting findings in person

Sharing findings online

Data visualisation

Dissemination methods

Disseminating workplace research

Disseminating academic research

Dissemination ethics

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

15. How can research create positive change?

Chapter summary

Introduction

Research impact

Research into policy

Implementation

Knowledge exchange

A holistic approach

Conclusion

Case studies

Exercises

Discussion questions

Debate topic

16. Conclusion