Publication: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Development Projects
Date
2000-06
ISSN
Published
2000-06
Author(s)
Bamberger, Michael
Abstract
"Much of the early work on poverty
was highly quantitative:... It became increasingly clear,
however, that while numbers are essential for policy and
monitoring purposes, it is also important to understand
people's perception of poverty and their mechanisms for
coping with poverty and other situations of extreme economic
and social stress." Researchers have recognized over
the past few years that quantitative analysis of the
incidence and trends in poverty, while essential for
national economic development planning, must be complemented
by qualitative methods that help planners and managers
understand the cultural, social, political, and
institutional context within which projects are designed and
implemented. This report is based on a two-day workshop held
in June 1998, where outside research specialists and World
Bank staff discussed the importance of integrating these
research methods. The participants reviewed experiences in
the use of mixed-method approaches in Bank research and
project design. This report is a result of those
discussions. The report examines the need for integrated
research approaches in social and economic development,
presents case studies of integrated approaches in practice,
and talks about lessons learned. Part I describes the
evolution of interest in, and the potential benefits of
integrated research, and, Part II presents case studies on
how integrated approaches have been used in poverty
analysis, education, health, and water supply and
sanitation, while Part III discusses lessons learned with
respect to the use of integrated approaches, and assesses
the benefits that can be achieved.
Citation
“Bamberger, Michael. 2000. Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Development Projects. Directions in Development;. © Washington, DC: World Bank. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/15253?show=full License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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