Handbook for Family Planning Operations Research Design

This handbook is designed as an aid in developing and writing a detailed family planning operations research proposal; it can also be used for preparing proposals in other health and social welfare areas.

Abstract

The Handbook for Family Planning Operations Research Design, first published in English by the Population Council in 1983, was based on field research studies in Asia. This second edition contains revised and expanded sections. Where appropriate, examples from Latin America and Africa have been added. The introductory section contains a current statement on the process of health and family planning operations research (OR). New chapters have been included on selecting an appropriate intervention to test in an OR study, and on describing the main elements of the study intervention. The chapter on information dissemination has been expanded and a new chapter on the utilization of research findings has been added. The book is designed to help health and family planning researchers develop and write a detailed OR proposal. It also aims to help program administrators and managers understand the process of OR and the uses of research findings for service-delivery improvement. Although the book is not a text on research methods, it does provide key concepts and important methods essential to conducting field research studies.