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About this book
The primary concern of this book is how the art of collecting data necessary to inform rural development practice in poor countries can be improved, taking into account existing organisational and resource constraints.
Contents
Part 1 Introduction: outline; definition of qualitative enquiry. Part 2 The need for qualitative enquiry: institutional context; spheres of activity; key tasks, planning, implementation, evaluation; some neglected variables - at the agency level, at the community level; criteria for effective information supply. Part 3 The nature of qualitative enquiry: a rapid literature review, social science research, rapid rural appraisal (RRA), evaluation of social development projects, policy analysis, parallel developments in quantitative enquiry; some unifying principles - methodological pluralism, triangulation, professionalism; sources of information - documents, field visits, key informants, group meetings, participant observation, team studies, action research; conclusions: some key concepts - intelligence rather than applied research, indicators rather than co-efficients, key informants rather than respondents. Part 4 The application of qualitative enquiry: agricultural research and technology development, the transfer of technology model, farming systems research, farmer participatory research; other spheres of activity - the project cycle, planning investments in infrastructure, public sector services, rural marketing, savings and credit programme, disaster responses, sensitive topics, turbulent conditions; opportunities and constraints - methodological and weaknesses and research, ignorance and training, bureaucracy and institutional reform. Part 5 The future of qualitative enquiry: contemporary trends; future directions - real-time surveys, specialised PRA/RRA, disaster response, bureaucratisation of PVO-NGO activities; conclusion.
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