Chapter essay questions
Here is a list of discussion topics related to each chapter of the book. These are designed to be useful for both group seminars and one-to-one tutorials. This section also includes some suggested essay questions.
CHAPTER 1 - Introduction
Essay questions
1. What are the pros and cons of ‘insider’ versus ‘outsider’ research?
2. What is the role of identity in research?
3. Who should benefit most from social research or evaluation?
4. What constitutes ‘good research’?
5. How can bias be avoided when planning and executing research?
CHAPTER 2 – Overview of research
Essay questions
1. Can the gap between qualitative and quantitative research be bridged?
2. How can financial restraints affect research, and how can this be mitigated?
3. What are the pros and cons of solo versus collaborative research?
4. What is the role of participants in research?
5. What ethical dilemmas can arise from research? How, and by whom, can these be managed?
CHAPTER 3 – Research and evaluation ethics
Essay questions
1. Can research ever be truly ethical?
2. Discuss the extent to which research can be value-free.
3. How can ethical dilemmas in research be resolved?
4. Why is ethics important throughout the research process?
5. Should ‘unethical’ research and researchers be ignored?
CHAPTER 4 – Methodologies, approaches and theories
Essay questions
1. What helps, and what hinders, the process of linking theory and practice through research?
2. What is the role of methodology in research or evaluation?
3. In what ways is academic theory relevant to practical research or evaluation?
4. Should theory guide the choice of research question or vice versa?
5. Should objectivity be valued over subjectivity in social research?
CHAPTER 5 – Topics and proposals
Essay questions
1. What is good practice in designing a piece of research or evaluation?
2. How do decisions about sampling affect the results of research or evaluation?
3. Why is the design of research or evaluation rarely if ever perfect?
4. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using anecdotal evidence in research.
5. What are the key questions when deciding between collecting quantitative or qualitative data?
CHAPTER 6 – Managing your research or evaluation project
Essay questions
1. Should research aim to be socially responsible, and why?
2. How can research and evaluation support practice? Give examples from at least two public services.
3. What are the key elements to consider when planning research?
4. Discuss the role of funders or employers (pick one) in research.
5. How can a researcher plan for the unplanned?
CHAPTER 7 – Background research
Essay questions
1. Compare and contrast any two of the following: document review, literature review, systematic analysis, meta-analysis.
2. Why is context important for research?
3. Discuss the assertion that only formally published work should be included in a document or literature review (choose one).
4. How can you judge whether a document or publication is reliable?
5. What are the key skills and attributes needed to read critically and strategically?
CHAPTER 8 – Secondary data
Essay questions
1. Discuss the assertion that secondary data is second-hand data, while primary data is the real thing.
2. Should all data be openly accessible, and why?
3. What are the ethical issues to consider when using secondary data?
4. How can secondary and primary data be integrated?
5. What are the pros and cons of using secondary data?
CHAPTER 9 – Primary data collection – conventional methods
Essay questions
1. Discuss the assertion that the only role for research participants is to provide data for researchers.
2. Discuss the relative merits of text-based and visual methods of data collection.
3. To what extent can you measure people’s attitudes using survey methodology?
4. Discuss the assertion that more data leads to better research.
5. What are the relative merits of questionnaires, interviews and focus groups?
CHAPTER 10 – Primary data collection – creative methods
Essay questions
1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using creative methods.
2. To what extent does a researcher need to be ‘creative’ to use creative methods?
3. How can participants be involved in developing novel research methods?
4. What is the role of technology in creating new methods?
5. Should non-indigenous researchers use indigenous methods?
CHAPTER 11 – Quantitative data analysis
Essay questions
1. Are numbers neutral?
2. What steps can researchers take to ensure they are acting ethically when analysing data?
3. What are the potential pitfalls when coding quantitative data?
4. Should participants be involved in data analysis, and why?
5. What are the pros and cons of using inferential statistics and descriptive statistics?
CHAPTER 12 – Qualitative data analysis
Essay questions
1. Compare the strengths and weaknesses of any two methods of analysing qualitative data.
2. Discuss the assertion that qualitative data is less reliable than quantitative data.
3. Is a mixed methods approach better or worse than a purely quantitative or qualitative approach, and why?
4. What are the pros and cons of using coding frames and emergent coding?
5. What are the main pitfalls associated with data analysis and how can they be avoided?
CHAPTER 13 – Writing for research and evaluation
Essay questions
1. Discuss the importance of accessibility in writing up research.
2. Discuss the assertion that writing is a research method.
3. Is there a role for creative writing in research?
4. What ethical issues can arise when writing up research?
5. How can plagiarism affect research and how can it be avoided?
CHAPTER 14 – Disseminating research and evaluation
Essay questions
1. Paying particular attention to research ethics, discuss the political implications of disseminating research or evaluation.
2. Should research participants be involved in presentation and dissemination? Give reasons for your answer.
3. How might you draw on the performing arts and visual arts in disseminating research or evaluation?
4. Compare and contrast two dissemination methods.
5. What are the main barriers to disseminating research and how can these be overcome?
CHAPTER 15 – How can research create positive change?
Essay questions
1. What is the purpose of research in the world?
2. What are the main methods of implementing research recommendations?
3. Should all research aim to create change, and why?
4. How can policy makers make the best use of research?
5. Should knowledge exchange be encouraged in all spheres of research, and why?