METHODS IN DEMOCRATIC NETWORK GOVERNANCE; ED. BY PETER BOGASON

There are several competing theoretical approaches to studying governance networks. However, methodological questions about how to study democratic network governance have so far received little research attention. "Methods in Democratic Network Governance" aims to remedy this problem by addressing some important methodological questions in relation to a comparative case study of the multilevel network governance of employment policy in Britain, France and Denmark Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 9 List of Tables......Page 10 List of Boxes......Page 11 Foreword......Page 12 Notes on the Contributors......Page 13 List of Abbreviations......Page 14 1.1 Why a book on methodology?......Page 16 1.2 What is network governance?......Page 18 1.3 Empirical research on network governance......Page 21 1.4 Methodology......Page 24 1.5 Structure of the book......Page 31 Notes......Page 35 2 A Comparative and Multi-level Analysis of Governance Networks: a Pilot Study of Employment Policy......Page 36 2.1 Selection of scope, policy area, countries and sites......Page 38 2.2 Research strategy: output-based backward mapping......Page 43 2.3 Multiple methods......Page 47 2.4 Managing collective research processes and data collection......Page 49 2.5 Lessons learned from the pilot study......Page 53 3 Empirical Findings: Seven Network Stories......Page 56 3.1 The transnational governance network......Page 58 3.2 The Danish national governance network......Page 62 3.3 The English national governance network......Page 67 3.4 The French national governance network......Page 70 3.5 The local governance network in Køge......Page 74 3.6 The local governance network in Birmingham......Page 78 3.7 The local governance network in Grenoble......Page 82 3.8 Summing up......Page 86 4.1 Introduction......Page 89 4.2 Comparative studies based on expert reports......Page 91 4.3 A critical assessment of the use of expert reports......Page 94 4.4 How should expert reports be analysed?......Page 99 4.5 Assessing and analysing expert reports......Page 100 4.6 Lessons learned......Page 112 5.1 Introduction......Page 114 5.2 Different ways of reading documents......Page 115 5.3 Documents lost and found......Page 119 5.4 Analysing network topography......Page 122 5.5 Analysing network programmes......Page 131 5.6 Conclusions......Page 137 6.1 Introduction......Page 140 6.2 Qualitative interviews in relation to the study of network governance......Page 142 6.3 Selecting respondents......Page 147 6.4 Conducting interviews......Page 151 6.5 Analysing policy actors' narratives on labour market governance......Page 156 6.6 Conclusion......Page 160 Notes......Page 162 7.1 Introduction......Page 163 7.2 Observation studies and diary writing......Page 165 7.3 Undertaking observation and diary studies in Køge, Birmingham and Grenoble......Page 171 7.4 The data material and how it was analysed......Page 175 7.5 Analysing observations and diaries: some tentative research results......Page 180 7.6 Concluding remarks on the use of observation and diaries in network studies......Page 192 8.1 Introduction......Page 194 8.2 Interactive focus group interviewing and network governance......Page 196 8.3 Practical application......Page 202 8.4 Analysing network governance through focus group interviews......Page 209 8.5 Lessons from interactive focus group interviewing in studies of governance networks......Page 219 9.1 The promises of method-mixing for the analysis of network governance......Page 222 9.2 Experiences from the pilot study: the problems......Page 224 9.3 Experiences from the pilot study: the pay-offs......Page 229 9.4 Potentials: lessons learned and future directions......Page 236 Notes......Page 238 10.1 Questions and answers......Page 239 10.2 Challenges in the research process......Page 242 10.3 Final points......Page 244 References......Page 248 C......Page 254 D......Page 255 E......Page 256 F......Page 257 G......Page 258 L......Page 259 N......Page 260 P......Page 261 R......Page 262 U......Page 263 Z......Page 264 How Do We Study Network Governance? How Should We Conduct Research In Practice? This Book Attempts To Answer These Questions Through The Analysis Of A Comparative Pilot Study Of Multilevel Network Governance Of Employment Policy In Denmark, England And France. It Details The Difficulties And Uncertainties That Arose In The Process Of Conducting A Research Project And Explains Why Certain Approaches And Decisions Were Made In An Attempt To Address Them. There Are Competing Theoretical Approaches To Studying Governance Networks And There Are Also Attempts To Broaden The Agenda To Include Questions About The Democratic Performance Of Governance Networks. But, So Far, Methodological Questions About How To Conduct Research Into Democratic Network Governance Have Received Little Attention Among Researchers. Methods For Network Governance Research : An Introduction / P. Bogason & M. Zolner -- A Comparative And Multi-level Analysis Of Governance Networks : A Pilot Study Of Employment Policy / J. Torfing -- Empirical Findings : Seven Network Stories / J. Torfing -- Comparative Analysis Based On Expert Reports / J. Torfing -- Document Analysis Of Network Topography And Network Programmes / A. Esmark & P. Triantafillou -- Qualitative Interviews : Studying Network Narratives / M. Zolner, A.d. Hansen & I.o. Rasmussen -- Studying Local Network Exclusion Through Observation And Diaries / E. Sorensen & J. Torfing -- Interactive Focus Group Interviewing In Studies Of Network Governance / B. Damgaard & E. Sorensen -- Combining Qualitative And Quantitative Methods For The Analysis Of Network Governance : Promises, Problems, Pay-offs And Potentials / S. Borras & H-p. Olsen -- Conclusion / P. Bogason & M. Zolner. Edited By Peter Bogason And Mette Zølner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 233-238) And Index. Methodological questions about how to study democratic network governance have so far received little research attention. This book aims to remedy this by addressing some important methodological questions in relation to case studies of the multilevel network governance of employment policy in Britain, France and Denmark. How do we study network governance? How should we conduct research in practice? This book attempts to answer these questions through the analysis of a comparative pilot study of multilevel network governance of employment policy in Denmark, England and France. It details the difficulties and uncertainties that arose in the process of conducting a research project and explains why certain approaches and decisions were made in an attempt to address them. There are competing theoretical approaches to studying governance networks and there are also attempts to broaden the agenda to include questions about the democratic performance of governance networks. But, so far, methodological questions about how to conduct research into democratic network governance have received little attention among researchers