Women's literacy and health: can an ethnographic research find the links?

This chapter, in a book shortlisted for the BAAL book prize in 2001, looks at the implications of conducting ethnographic research in a development policy context. Based on an impact study designed to evaluate the links between a women's literacy programme and family planning take-up in Nepal, the chapter examines the conflicting assumptions of the researchers, research participants and policy makers who sponsored the study. This detailed analysis of the process of introducing ethnographic research into a policy context dominated by quantitative approaches has had an impact on several development programmes adopting qualitative research methods within their evaluation and planning procedures. The chapter has been used as a key text in teaching of research methodology on literacy planning and policy courses, particularly at the Universities of Pennsylvania, Columbia and Lancaster. This chapter was refereed by the book editor (Brian Street), series editor (David Barton) and other contributors to the book.