Christopher Pollitt, Xavier Girre, Jeremy Lonsdale, Robert Mul, Hilkka Summa, and Marit Waerness
- Published in print:
- 1999
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198296003
- eISBN:
- 9780191685170
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198296003.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Public Management
Performance audit is now in fashion, but has in the past been a somewhat closed world, little studied by outsiders. Now an international team of researchers has studied the work of five national ...
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Performance audit is now in fashion, but has in the past been a somewhat closed world, little studied by outsiders. Now an international team of researchers has studied the work of five national audit offices – France, Finland, The Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK. The picture thus revealed contains elements of technical innovation, methodological challenge, and crucial strategic choice.Less
Performance audit is now in fashion, but has in the past been a somewhat closed world, little studied by outsiders. Now an international team of researchers has studied the work of five national audit offices – France, Finland, The Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK. The picture thus revealed contains elements of technical innovation, methodological challenge, and crucial strategic choice.
Benjamin Gidron, Stanley N. Katz, and Yeheskel Hasenfeld
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780195125924
- eISBN:
- 9780199833894
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195125924.003.0010
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
This study of peace and conflict‐resolution organizations (P/CROs) in South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Israel/Palestine faced several methodological challenges: it had to define P/CROs, draw on ...
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This study of peace and conflict‐resolution organizations (P/CROs) in South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Israel/Palestine faced several methodological challenges: it had to define P/CROs, draw on both social movement and third‐sector theory, develop research tools to obtain data about P/CROs valid for regional and international analyses, and simultaneously understand P/CROs as a class with common attributes and appreciate differences amongst them. P/CROs are a new organizational classification, different from “peace movement organizations,” an existing classification. The study analyzed P/CROs from three perspectives: social movement theory, third‐sector theory, and the institutional theory of organizations. Four main findings emerged: (1) foreign funding was central to all P/CROs; (2) charismatic leadership was crucial; (3) almost all P/CROs became more professional and formal over time; and (4) while P/CROs played no direct role in the resolution of their respective conflicts, they made important indirect contributions. In particular, P/CROs helped to “sell” future settlements and agreements to their populations. Issues for further research include the preconditions for the emergence of P/CROs, and the assimilation of social movement and third‐sector research.Less
This study of peace and conflict‐resolution organizations (P/CROs) in South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Israel/Palestine faced several methodological challenges: it had to define P/CROs, draw on both social movement and third‐sector theory, develop research tools to obtain data about P/CROs valid for regional and international analyses, and simultaneously understand P/CROs as a class with common attributes and appreciate differences amongst them. P/CROs are a new organizational classification, different from “peace movement organizations,” an existing classification. The study analyzed P/CROs from three perspectives: social movement theory, third‐sector theory, and the institutional theory of organizations. Four main findings emerged: (1) foreign funding was central to all P/CROs; (2) charismatic leadership was crucial; (3) almost all P/CROs became more professional and formal over time; and (4) while P/CROs played no direct role in the resolution of their respective conflicts, they made important indirect contributions. In particular, P/CROs helped to “sell” future settlements and agreements to their populations. Issues for further research include the preconditions for the emergence of P/CROs, and the assimilation of social movement and third‐sector research.
Michael Saini and Aron Shlonsky
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780195387216
- eISBN:
- 9780199932092
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195387216.003.0004
- Subject:
- Social Work, Research and Evaluation
Although there are a number of qualitative researchers who support the development of methods that integrate knowledge across studies, these same authors also acknowledge that the broad term ...
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Although there are a number of qualitative researchers who support the development of methods that integrate knowledge across studies, these same authors also acknowledge that the broad term qualitative research includes vastly different disciplinary, philosophical, theoretical, social, and political commitments (Sandelowski & Barroso, 2003, p. 785), and that these differences can create epistemological and ontological tensions when attempts are made to build common frameworks for the purpose of integration. Paying heed to these debates, our overall contention is that care must be taken not only when considering the different types of methods used in the studies that are synthesized, but to consider the various controversies framing questions of assessing the quality of studies to be included. In this chapter, we briefly highlight key methodological challenges that are worthy of consideration for any researcher, policy maker and practitioner interested in engaging in this type of research.Less
Although there are a number of qualitative researchers who support the development of methods that integrate knowledge across studies, these same authors also acknowledge that the broad term qualitative research includes vastly different disciplinary, philosophical, theoretical, social, and political commitments (Sandelowski & Barroso, 2003, p. 785), and that these differences can create epistemological and ontological tensions when attempts are made to build common frameworks for the purpose of integration. Paying heed to these debates, our overall contention is that care must be taken not only when considering the different types of methods used in the studies that are synthesized, but to consider the various controversies framing questions of assessing the quality of studies to be included. In this chapter, we briefly highlight key methodological challenges that are worthy of consideration for any researcher, policy maker and practitioner interested in engaging in this type of research.
Diana Kuh and Yoav Ben-Shlomo
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780198578154
- eISBN:
- 9780191724039
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198578154.003.0019
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
This chapter begins with a brief summary of the preceding chapters. It then discusses emerging and common themes in life course research, methodological challenges, and policy implications. It ...
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This chapter begins with a brief summary of the preceding chapters. It then discusses emerging and common themes in life course research, methodological challenges, and policy implications. It concludes with a positive future for a life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology.Less
This chapter begins with a brief summary of the preceding chapters. It then discusses emerging and common themes in life course research, methodological challenges, and policy implications. It concludes with a positive future for a life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology.
Michael Saini and Aron Shlonsky
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780195387216
- eISBN:
- 9780199932092
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195387216.003.0005
- Subject:
- Social Work, Research and Evaluation
The inclusion of qualitative synthesis within the “family of systematic reviews” helps to move qualitative synthesis out of the shadow of quantitative synthesis; provides impetus to the creation of ...
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The inclusion of qualitative synthesis within the “family of systematic reviews” helps to move qualitative synthesis out of the shadow of quantitative synthesis; provides impetus to the creation of methods that are transparent, consistent, and rigorous regardless of the systematic review method; and helps to distinguish qualitative synthesis from other types of narrative reviews. In this chapter, we present an outline of a working approach for conducting a systematic process for collecting, screening, and classifying sources based on whether studies are considered quantitative or qualitative by design. To illustrate the applicability of our approach, we first introduce a systematic review on family group decision making within a child-protection context. The 11-step approach for conducting systematic synthesis of qualitative research is then highlighted in the remainder of this chapter and explored more fully in subsequent chapters. Lessons gleaned from the case study will be referred to throughout to illuminate various steps.Less
The inclusion of qualitative synthesis within the “family of systematic reviews” helps to move qualitative synthesis out of the shadow of quantitative synthesis; provides impetus to the creation of methods that are transparent, consistent, and rigorous regardless of the systematic review method; and helps to distinguish qualitative synthesis from other types of narrative reviews. In this chapter, we present an outline of a working approach for conducting a systematic process for collecting, screening, and classifying sources based on whether studies are considered quantitative or qualitative by design. To illustrate the applicability of our approach, we first introduce a systematic review on family group decision making within a child-protection context. The 11-step approach for conducting systematic synthesis of qualitative research is then highlighted in the remainder of this chapter and explored more fully in subsequent chapters. Lessons gleaned from the case study will be referred to throughout to illuminate various steps.
Brian D. Haig
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- January 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190222055
- eISBN:
- 9780190871734
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190222055.003.0006
- Subject:
- Psychology, Social Psychology
Chapter 6 argues that exploratory factor analysis is an abductive method of theory generation that exploits a principle of scientific inference known as the principle of the common cause. Factor ...
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Chapter 6 argues that exploratory factor analysis is an abductive method of theory generation that exploits a principle of scientific inference known as the principle of the common cause. Factor analysis is an important family of multivariate statistical methods that is widely used in the behavioral and social sciences. The best known model of factor analysis is common factor analysis, which has two types: exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. A number of methodological issues that arise in critical discussions of exploratory factor analysis are considered. It is suggested that exploratory factor analysis can be profitably employed in tandem with confirmatory factor analysis.Less
Chapter 6 argues that exploratory factor analysis is an abductive method of theory generation that exploits a principle of scientific inference known as the principle of the common cause. Factor analysis is an important family of multivariate statistical methods that is widely used in the behavioral and social sciences. The best known model of factor analysis is common factor analysis, which has two types: exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. A number of methodological issues that arise in critical discussions of exploratory factor analysis are considered. It is suggested that exploratory factor analysis can be profitably employed in tandem with confirmatory factor analysis.
James Chalmers and Fiona Leverick
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- January 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780198726357
- eISBN:
- 9780191793677
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198726357.003.0002
- Subject:
- Law, Criminal Law and Criminology, Philosophy of Law
Despite the significant amount of attention devoted to criminalization in recent years, we have little idea of the quantity of criminal law which exists or the characteristics of the criminal law as ...
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Despite the significant amount of attention devoted to criminalization in recent years, we have little idea of the quantity of criminal law which exists or the characteristics of the criminal law as a body of rules. Attempts have occasionally been made to quantify the scale of the criminal law in the United Kingdom, but with incomplete and inconclusive results. This chapter explores what might—and might not—be learned from a quantitative analysis of the criminal law, and presents the results of systematic analysis we have undertaken covering two 12-month time periods (2010–11 and 1997–8). This chapter explains the methodological challenges involved in this exercise and present the results of our research along with an analysis of what conclusions can be drawn from this data and the questions which it raises.Less
Despite the significant amount of attention devoted to criminalization in recent years, we have little idea of the quantity of criminal law which exists or the characteristics of the criminal law as a body of rules. Attempts have occasionally been made to quantify the scale of the criminal law in the United Kingdom, but with incomplete and inconclusive results. This chapter explores what might—and might not—be learned from a quantitative analysis of the criminal law, and presents the results of systematic analysis we have undertaken covering two 12-month time periods (2010–11 and 1997–8). This chapter explains the methodological challenges involved in this exercise and present the results of our research along with an analysis of what conclusions can be drawn from this data and the questions which it raises.
