Methods generate knowledge, they are part of the process of achieving understanding. The focus in this Toolkit is on qualitative methods, which have been shown in multiple studies to be effective in assessing plural and dynamic social values.
Determining which methods to use is not a purely technical decision and one-size does not fit all. Methods will need to be selected, adapted and applied according to the context.
Key questions when deciding on methods include:
- What new or additional knowledge do you need?
- Which methods are likely to be effective in the given context?
- What ‘work’ do those methods do, i.e. what types of knowledge are likely to be revealed?
- Are the proposed methods feasible in the time and with the resources available? If not, what is the potential impact on the assessment of modifying the approach?
It is recommended that a multi-methods approach is used.
- Using multiple methods in combination helps reveal complexity.
- Multiple methods provide a range of alternative avenues for engagement that can help in overcoming barriers to participation.
- Combinations of methods help shape the emergent research design and practice. This might be in terms of revealing communities associated with a site or potential participants, identifying the most appropriate or effective modes of engagement, or linking outputs and participants from one activity with a subsequent method.
Implementing a method is not the same each time, even within individual cases, as relational aspects and the evolving context influence the process.
In an exploratory assessment of this sort, not everything can be known in advance. You may need to experiment, be creative, and incorporate unplanned opportunities or unexpected leads into the process.