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Originally published in 1987, it seemed likely that by the end of that decade, if current trends continued, the majority of social researchers would be working under contract to government and other agencies which commissioned policy-relevant investigations. This shift towards contracted and commissioned research threw into heightened relief the importance of greater understanding of the often problematic relationship between researchers on the one hand, and funding agencies and policy-making bodies on the other.
This book was directed at both social scientists who were or would in the future be involved in social policy research, and at administrators, planners and policy makers who often had responsibility for funding such research and who were also its potential users. The authors provide accounts of research in a wide variety of settings, conducted on behalf of a diverse range of sponsors, in order to confront, describe and try to understand the tensions which develop between the two sides of the policy research relationship. While there is, of course, no suggestion here that there are tailor-made solutions that can eradicate difficulties, the feeling is expressed that improvements in the research relationship are possible and highly desirable. The primary objective of the book was to provide an impetus for greater understanding and collaboration that could lead to such improvements.
List of contents
Acknowledgements. Notes on Contributors. 1. Introduction: The Problematic Relationship G. Clare Wenger Part 1: Studying the Research Context 2. A Plea for Praxeology P. J. M. Nas, W. J. M. Prins and W. A. Shadid 3. Research and Policy Interactions: A Case Study G. Clare Wenger Part 2: Taking Sides: The Advocacy Role 4. The Anthropologist as Legitimator: Participatory Development in Egypt Diana de Treville 5. Taking Sides in Conflict: Applied Social Research in the South African Gold-Mining Industry J. K. McNamara Part 3: Getting the Message Across 6. Publish and Be Ignored; Proselytize and Be Damned Roger Hadley 7. Why Poor People Don't Co-operate: Learning from Traditional Systems Anil K. Gupta Part 4: Identifying Hidden Agendas 8. In and Out of the Game: A Case Study of Contract Research Kathleen McDermott 9. Doing Research into Discrimination: Problems of Method, Interpretation and Ethics Richard Jenkins Part 5: Unexpected Results and Outcomes 10. The Politics of Population Research with a UN Sponsor Donald P. Warwick 11. If It's Bad News, Shoot the Messenger Josephine Jaeger and G. Clare Wenger 12. Conclusions: Establishing a Dialogue G. Clare Wenger. Index.
About the author
G. Clare Wenger
Summary
Originally published in 1987, this book was directed at both social scientists who were or would in the future be involved in social policy research, and at administrators, planners and policy makers who often had responsibility for funding such research and who were also its potential users.
