ABSTRACT
This chapter sets out a range of key issues in planning research, including:
It also provides an extended worked example of plan ning a piece of research.
7.1 Introduction There is no single blueprint for planning research. Research design is governed by the notion of ‘fitness for purpose’. The purposes of the research determine the methodology and design of the research. For example, if the purpose of the research is to map the field, or to make generalizable comments then a survey approach might be desirable, using some form of strati fied sample; if the effects of a specific intervention are to be evaluated then an experimental or action research model may be appropriate; if an in-depth study of a particular situation or group is important then an ethno graphic model might be suitable. That said, it is possible, nevertheless, to identify a set of issues that researchers need to address, regardless of the specifics of their research. This chapter addresses this set of issues, to indicate those matters that need to be addressed in practice so that an area of research interest can become practicable and feasible. This chapter indicates how research might be operational ized, i.e. how a general set of research aims and pur poses can be translated into a practical, researchable topic.
