ABSTRACT

This chapter considers open-ended approaches from the perspectives of both rapid and prolonged information accumulation. It discusses the use of secondary data and literature reviews to improve problem identification and enhance the analytical phase of research. The term “open-ended approach” refers to information gathering techniques that allow for refinements in the methodological specifications of a proposal, the information gathering techniques and the understanding of research results. Open-ended approaches to information gathering capture qualitative responses through participation and dialogue with informants in case studies, focus groups, multidisciplinary teams and cooperative inquiry teams. Focus groups provide qualitative information through focused discussion often by a relatively homogeneous group of people relative to social interaction about a given topic or condition. The primary principle behind multidisciplinary team information collection is to deal with the holistic nature of the informant’s operational environment. The process of cooperative inquiry is one of cycling and iterating to ever more informative results.