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Book ReviewOriginally published in The British Journal of Healthcare Computing & Information Management. |
Keith F Punch (2000). Developing Effective Research Proposals. Sage: London.
In academia, research is ostensibly the glamorous part of the job...until aspirants realise that, firstly, it is a perspiration-laden, lonely occupation and, secondly, one has to write a proposal before the job-proper can begin. Many fail to get past the proposal stage, which may be to obtain funding or for progression to the research part of a higher degree. Keith Punch's book is mainly targeted on the latter objective but it has much to offer people writing proposals for any purpose. Its great asset is an open mind on many of the hobby horses ridden so vehemently by unidimensional researchers. Rather than becoming embroiled in, for example, the quantitative versus qualitative debate, it sensibly argues for research questions themselves to govern choice of method. A proposal may, perfectly legitimately, mix methods from both paradigms.The book identifies all important issues underlying proposal writing, whilst leaving technical details to a frequently-referenced companion book, also by Punch. To use "Developing Effective Research Proposals" independently, one needs to have some familiarity with research methods, but its goal is to show how one should organise and structure different elements of the research process. It is strong on how research questions are hierarchically derived, how they dictate the methods, how the methods govern what should go into the proposal, and the rationale underpinning the final, written document. Plenty of apposite pointers to further guidance are given, along with two example proposals, and a particularly helpful chapter on tips for avoiding common pitfalls. It is an invaluable companion manual for supervisors, research students, and even professionals who write proposals for money. A small amount spent on it will enhance the chance of greater returns in the future.