Methods in Development Research : Combining qualitative approaches and quantitative approaches

Over the past decade there has been an increasingly receptive audience for participatory and qualitative research methods by policy makers, development practitioners and academics working in applied research. At the same time there is an increasing awareness that the value of research can be enhanced through a more systematic combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. While this recent interest has begun to provide useful pointers as to how development research might be improved, it has also given rise to certain problems. This book will draw together lessons about emerging best practice with regard to combining qualitative and quantitative methods and approaches to generate 'numbers' from qualitative/participatory methods and to monitor and evaluate development processes.