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What Is a Contribution in Planning Research?

Defining Research First, however, what is meant by research? There are many forms of planning research (Forsyth, 2012). However, within this variety are some common features. Research answers questions of interest to other researchers, builds on prior work, and fills a gap in knowledge or perhaps looks at an issue in a new way. Research uses methods that are clearly described, systematic, and capable of answering the question. Findings are well documented. Reporting on the research engages different ways of looking at the phenomena and acknowledges alternative interpretations. Research is made public after peer review, a process with dual functions of assessing quality and coaching authors to do their best (Forsyth, 2016; Forsyth & Crewe, 2006). Many practitioners wonder how this is different from the various investigations they do in undertaking their work, for example compiling site histories, doing market analyses, developing precedent studies, and evaluating projects and programs. However, as I note in a blog, such “knowledge is new to them but not necessarily new to others, and the contribution is to solving a particular problem rather than adding to knowledge in general” (Forsyth, 2019, para. 5; see also Forsyth, 2016).