Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development

Surveys are common research methods in agricultural research for development. Despite the multitude of well-documented warnings for pitfalls in survey research, it appears challenging to avoid these in practice. We use a case study in agricultural research for development to illustrate what complica...

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Autores principales: Kilwinger, Fleur B. M, Caron, Cynthia M., Rietveld, Anne M., van Dam, Ynte K.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Informa UK Limited 2024
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151900
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author Kilwinger, Fleur B. M
Caron, Cynthia M.
Rietveld, Anne M.
van Dam, Ynte K.
author_browse Caron, Cynthia M.
Kilwinger, Fleur B. M
Rietveld, Anne M.
van Dam, Ynte K.
author_facet Kilwinger, Fleur B. M
Caron, Cynthia M.
Rietveld, Anne M.
van Dam, Ynte K.
author_sort Kilwinger, Fleur B. M
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Surveys are common research methods in agricultural research for development. Despite the multitude of well-documented warnings for pitfalls in survey research, it appears challenging to avoid these in practice. We use a case study in agricultural research for development to illustrate what complicates survey research within an interdisciplinary, multiorganizational and multinational team. The survey research process, rather than the survey outcome, is our object of study. Using the Methodology of Interdisciplinary Research (MIR) framework we identify different steps within survey research. We overlay a technographic lens to understand "the making of a survey". We thereby focus on the transformations made from beginning to end in survey research, the different task-groups involved, and on the norms and rules that guide this process. This illustrates the practice of survey research in diverse and multiform research teams, and shows which vital methodological steps are often ignored, skipped, or overruled. Our findings reveal that the intrinsic complexity of effective survey research is disproportionally exacerbated by the complexity of a diverse and multiform research team. We recommend allocating more resources and attention to capacity strengthening, harmonization, operationalization, capitalizing on different strengths, integration and communication.
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spelling CGSpace1519002025-11-11T18:54:27Z Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development Kilwinger, Fleur B. M Caron, Cynthia M. Rietveld, Anne M. van Dam, Ynte K. methodology agricultural innovation survey design interdisciplinary research Surveys are common research methods in agricultural research for development. Despite the multitude of well-documented warnings for pitfalls in survey research, it appears challenging to avoid these in practice. We use a case study in agricultural research for development to illustrate what complicates survey research within an interdisciplinary, multiorganizational and multinational team. The survey research process, rather than the survey outcome, is our object of study. Using the Methodology of Interdisciplinary Research (MIR) framework we identify different steps within survey research. We overlay a technographic lens to understand "the making of a survey". We thereby focus on the transformations made from beginning to end in survey research, the different task-groups involved, and on the norms and rules that guide this process. This illustrates the practice of survey research in diverse and multiform research teams, and shows which vital methodological steps are often ignored, skipped, or overruled. Our findings reveal that the intrinsic complexity of effective survey research is disproportionally exacerbated by the complexity of a diverse and multiform research team. We recommend allocating more resources and attention to capacity strengthening, harmonization, operationalization, capitalizing on different strengths, integration and communication. 2024-12-31 2024-08-29T13:20:34Z 2024-08-29T13:20:34Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151900 en Open Access application/pdf Informa UK Limited Kilwinger, F.B.M.; Caron, C.M.; Rietveld, A.M.; van Dam, Y.K. (2024) Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development. NJAS Impact in Agricultural and Life Sciences 96(1):2384357. ISSN: 2768-5241
spellingShingle methodology
agricultural innovation
survey design
interdisciplinary research
Kilwinger, Fleur B. M
Caron, Cynthia M.
Rietveld, Anne M.
van Dam, Ynte K.
Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development
title Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development
title_full Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development
title_fullStr Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development
title_full_unstemmed Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development
title_short Not just a simple survey: A case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary, multiorganizational, multinational research for development
title_sort not just a simple survey a case study of pitfalls in interdisciplinary multiorganizational multinational research for development
topic methodology
agricultural innovation
survey design
interdisciplinary research
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151900
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