Understanding Problems Chapter 7

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.2 ‘The better off you become at analyzing complex problems, the better off you are for solving them.” -Tom Morris

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.3 Finding Out More When researching real-world problems, a clear, consistent, and worthwhile goal is ‘to find out more’ Data derived through problem analysis can be central to evidence-based decision making

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.4 From Quick Sketch to Detailed Portrait Because problems tend to be so complex, it can be a challenge to narrow down methodological options Consider whether your research question is suited to a ‘quick sketch’ as offered by rural appraisal strategies, or a more ‘detailed portrait’ as offered by a case study

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.5 Looking Outward and Inward Research question can also lead you to  look outward towards broad societal trends, attitudes, and opinions  look inward where you will need to delve into the intricacies of your problem situation

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.6 Using Existing Data A question that has you looking outwards may see you turning your attention to the exploration of existing data and archival records The challenge here is getting the data into a shape and form that will allow it to address your research questions

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.7 Primary Data Collection Outward exploration might also see you generating primary data This is often done through a survey process that involves sampling a population and distributing, colleting, and analysing questionnaires

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.8 The In-depth Interviews Inwards exploration is often reliant on the use of in-depth interviews Such interviews may be the heart of the research design - or they may sit under ethnographic, phenomenological, or case study approaches

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.9 Ethnography Building rich, empathetic, problem understandings from the perspective of those facing problems, should be a central goal in real-world research Ethnographic research techniques can help you in this endeavor

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.10 Ethnographic Goals The goal of ethnographic research is a thick description reliant on multiple methods such as  participant observation  in-depth unstructured interviews  unobtrusive methods such as document analysis

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.11 Exploring Phenomena An important goal in finding out more is attempting to understand how individuals experience phenomena Rather than ask what causes X, or what is X, the goal of phenomenology is to explore the lived experience of X

O'Leary, Z. (2005) RESEARCHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Chapter 7.12 Phenomenological Goals The key outcome of phenomenological studies is rich phenomenological descriptions that allow others to share in how a particular phenomenon is experienced