Statement of purpose

Background

Overview

Context

Launch of Good Practice guidelines quality research workshop

Acknowledgements

These Guidelines have been developed over several years and have involved some 200+ people.  There have been two major consultative workshops (2004, 2005), presentations and discussions at many conference sessions, workshops, hui and fono, and contracted particular interest working group sessions (2006, 2007) as well as individual feedback throughout. Some 3-4,000 people have had some involvement.   It is simply not possible to list all the names.

The consultations have involved people with a range of expertise and experience: government agency researchers, evaluators and policy advisors, academic researchers, private sector researchers, non-government social service agency workers, professional association representatives, specialists in particular areas such as ethics, law, contracting, particular population group perspectives, etc.  Both researchers and the regularly researched have had input, as have those who commission and utilise research.  People have shared examples of what has worked well and what has worked less well - in a way which respects individual and agency identity.

The guideline material was developed by the SPEaR Working Party (David Archer, then Denise Brown (SNZ), Raewyn Good (SPEaR Secretariat), Louise Hoather, then Patricia Laing (HNZC), Paul Honeybone (SPEaR Secretariat), Juan Tauri (MSD now TPK), and Sue Walker (Convenor) (DIA, now HSC).  Dr Martin Tolich, Dr Carl Davidson, Esther Tumama Cowley-Malcolm and Rahera Ohia convened particular interest focus workshops as the draft material evolved. This led to a contracted fono in 2006 and a contracted hui in 2007.   Dr Samson Tse ensured migrant voices were included throughout.   Background papers for the 2004 and 2005 consultations are available.  This helped generate interest, encouraged trial usage and aided further input.   SPEaR staff presented at a number of other workshops, fono, hui, conferences and seminars to stimulate interest and generate feedback.

During 2006 and 2007, in addition to continued presentation and feedback, specific development work occurred involving a range of specialists.  SPEaR contracted a fono involving Pasifika Researchers in New Zealand, Dr Martin Tolich undertook a review of the Ethics section in particular and the Guidelines in general and SPEaR contracted with ANZEA for a specific hui to undertake development of illustrative vignettes around Maori research aspects.    A revised draft (21/11/ 2007) was widely distributed for comment. Tafaoimalo Loudeen Parsons reviewed the Pacific Peoples section.   Feedback was incorporated and the revised document sent to Crown Law for review.   A penultimate draft was submitted to the SPEaR Working Party in mid February 2008.  Crown Law cleared the draft in early March 2008.  The formal SPEaR approval process was undertaken in March/April followed by publication preparation and release June 2008

The guidelines involve a weaving of much experience and many viewpoints - with each 'guidance point' grounded in shared learning and distilled upwards into principles.

The principles approach and the flexibility of web software enables a 'living document' approach.  This means that further applied examples and illustration material will be able to be added at periodic intervals.