Making Research Work demonstrates how research can be fostered and applied more effectively to child care policy and practice. Drawing on a wealth of experience, current literature and government documents, the contributors present a comprehensive discussion of key contemporary issues relating to child care research. Recommendations are given for recognising and responding to both the fundamental and the specialist issues that challenge the various stages of the research process. Practical guidelines are given for aeo undertaking single--case design research aeo appraising current child care literature and official statistics aeo accessing hidden or hard--to--reach populations aeo dissemination aeo establishing a research centre aeo preparing a research proposal to submit to a funding body aeo commissioning and funding research This book s practical approach and unique focus will appeal to practitioners, researchers, policy makers and students seeking to understand and enhance the relationship of research to policy and practice in the child care context.