Research Methods
Reid Howie Associates Ltd undertakes the design, fieldwork and analysis of all types of research, using some or all of the following research methods.
Many of RHA’s projects involve the examination and summary of existing documentary evidence. For example, evaluation work generally involves working with material such as minutes of meetings, annual reports, funding applications etc. Additionally, valuable contextual information to establish the background for a research project is often provided through local material. This can involve, for example, the examination of local economic data to identify the likely demand for service provision; and the examination of service-specific data.
Where documentary evidence is used, this is generally in conjunction with other evidence (such as data from interviews etc).
Literature reviews
RHA undertakes literature reviews both as part of larger projects and as stand-alone research. For example, a literature review was completed as part of the evaluation of the pilot domestic abuse court. Similarly, literature reviews have formed part of a study of transport and disability issues; a review of good practice in community engagement; a review of initiatives to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder; and a study of women and transport.
A free standing literature review was carried out of provision to address the needs of vulnerable witnesses in the criminal justice process. A review of the literature relating to issues in civil and criminal law for women experiencing domestic abuse in Scotland was also carried out.
Face to face interviews
RHA designs and undertakes detailed face to face interviews with a range of individuals to examine their views on particular issues. Face to face interviews with service providers and service users generally form part of evaluation work, and we have carried these out with individuals across a wide spectrum of services. We have carried them out in a range of settings, including health settings, prisons, service bases and service users’ homes and offices. These interviews generally gather a large amount of qualitative information which can be invaluable to a project.
Telephone interviews
We also recognise that there are some circumstances in which face to face interviews are not possible (e.g. due to the commitments or preferences of the interviewees). RHA also designs and undertakes telephone interviewing and has, for example, carried out telephone surveys of childcare providers; organisations providing support to lone parents; service users of a range of types of services; organisations involved in race equality work; funding organisations and local stakeholder organisations in specific projects.
Large scale interviews
Large and smaller scale street surveys are also designed and undertaken, where these are appropriate for particular projects. For example, we conducted a large street survey of local views of a crime prevention initiative and initiatives to address anti-social behaviour, and have also carried out survey work to identify views of policy issues such as Stop and Search and the potential for the development of a women’s centre in a local area.
Postal surveys
RHA also frequently designs and undertakes large and small scale postal survey work. Large scale postal surveys have been undertaken in work to identify women’s transport issues; transport and disability issues; the use of IT by older people; a study of the views of homecare service users and a study of the views of Occupational Therapy service users in a local area. Smaller scale postal surveys have been undertaken as part of many of our studies, often to supplement data gathered using other methods.
Observation
Observation also sometimes forms part of the work which we undertake, generally as one of a number of methods. For example, the evaluation of the pilot domestic abuse court involved monthly observation of the court in operation. A study of Stop and Search in Scotland also involved observation with police officers.
Consultations
RHA has frequently been involved in the analysis of responses to government consultation exercises. This generally includes the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. We undertook the analysis of responses to proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill. We also undertook analyses of responses to: two strands of the Review of Race Equality work in Scotland; the Reducing Reoffending consultation; the consultation on the Health for All Children; the Walking Strategy; the Physical Activity Strategy; and the Alcohol Misuse Strategy.
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Focus groups and group discussions
Focus groups and group discussions are also regularly facilitated, as a further valuable source of qualitative information. We have facilitated focus groups to evaluate training and awareness campaigns. We have also facilitated group discussions of, for example: a community budgeting initiative; transport and disability issues; women’s transport issues; the development of equalities work in a local authority; service development by a voluntary organisation and many other issues. We facilitated over 30 focus groups of stakeholders (e.g. prisoners, social work staff and prison staff) as part of the Reducing Reoffending consultation.
Analysis of information
RHA undertakes analysis of quantitative and qualitative materials.
Projects often involve the analysis of existing data sources (e.g. Census data, local economic data and other information) as well as the analysis of a large amount of quantitative material which has been gathered as part of a particular project. For example, the Stop and Search study involved the analysis of more than 8000 forms completed by police officers following searches carried out on members of the public. The women and transport study also a generated a response of around 1500 completed questionnaires.
We are also frequently involved in the analysis of large and smaller amounts of qualitative materials and the most obvious example of this is the analysis of consultation responses, which are often very detailed. Additionally, the face to face interviews often generate a large amount of qualitative material, and we conduct thorough analyses of the material in order to ensure that we reflect the range and depth of views which have been expressed.
Report writing
As will be clear from the range of projects we have carried out, we have written a large number of reports. These are usually the end point of a piece of work and are generally publicly available.
We are conscious of the need to write reports in plain English, and to make sure that these are of an appropriate length and depth for the requirements of our clients. We also ensure that these are a fair and appropriate presentation of the data gathered and that they are delivered to time.
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