Ethnographic and participatory

methods in periurban researchmethods in periurban research

Vishal Narain

Kathmandu, August 2010

Qualitative research vs

quantitative research• Difference in assumptions about social science

– Positivism vs interpretivism

• Nature of research questions– How and why questions, process-based rather than

how much questionshow much questions

• Nature of data analysed– Events, anecdotes, relationships, processes, and

evidence as against numbers

• Approach to data collection– More open-ended, unstructured

Characteristics of qualitative

research/ reports• Rich contextual detail

• Data in the form of words, sentences, expressions, photos, videotapes

• Researcher’s personality plays a role • Researcher’s personality plays a role

• Require improvisation

• Need good writing skills

The qualitative research

orientation• A non-positivist perspective

– Interpretive and critical approaches to social

science

• Circular path • Circular path

– Not necessarily linear, or one step after the

other

Qualitative Research: some

basic principles and concepts • Ethnography

– Description of people

• Grounded theory– Immerse in data to theorize; say something about the phenomena that

we see

– Data and theory interact

– Inductive vs deductive method– Inductive vs deductive method

• Case study research – Look for patterns

– Develop and refine concepts

– Immersion in the data

– Domain of generalization• Analytic generalization as against statistical generalization in quantitative

research

• E.g, each of our villages can be a case study that we use to illustrate or generalize on certain relationships

Qualitative Techniques.. Ctd.

• Focus Groups

• PRAs, RRAs

• Semi-structured interviews

• Action Research• Action Research

• Process Documentation Research

Doing qualitative research

• Studying process, sequence and time

• Levels of interpretation – Different levels of coding

• Quotations• Quotations

• Thick descriptions– Detailed account of a specific activity

• Photographs

• Build on anecdotes and experiences: they are part of evidence

Ethnographic methods

• What is ethnography ?

• When do researchers do it ?

• Why is it carried out ?

• What does it entail ?• What does it entail ?

What is ethnography ?

• Ethnos + Graphein

• Anthropology (anthropos + logos)

• Entails fieldwork – Long period of observation– Long period of observation

– Direct interaction

– An iterative, semi-structured approach

– “Playing by the ear”

– Keeping eyes and ears open

When is it suited ?

• Answer “how” questions ?

• Study of

– Social movements

– Occupations– Occupations

– Social interactions and processes

– Deviant behavior

Principles of field work

• Methodological pragmatism

• Naturalism

• Socialization

• Researcher’s personality plays a role • Researcher’s personality plays a role

Steps in field work

• Start with a research question

• Defocus

• Select a site

• Dealing with gate-keepers• Dealing with gate-keepers

• The access ladder

• Disclosure

• Listen, see and observe

• Regular field notes – Building blocks of field work

– Analysis starts while in the field

Dealing with key informants

• Who is an informant ?

• The informant interview

– Context is important

– Semi-structured – Semi-structured

• What makes a good informant ?

– Familiarity with the site

– Currently engaged

– Some one who can give time

Sampling in field work

• Theoretical sampling

– Sample on the basis of theoretical relevance, or the

ability of the specific case to say something about the

issue being researched

• Snowball sampling• Snowball sampling

– Follow leads from one to another

• Sample

– People

– Locations

– Timing

Intricacies of field work

• Dealing with freeze-outs

• Ethical issues– Extent of disclosure

– Intrusion

– Confidentiality – Confidentiality

– Dealing with deviants

• Managing stress– Physical

– Mental

• When does field work end? When can you exit ?– When theory building ceases

– Just call it a day ?

Participatory Rural Appraisal

• A method of enabling communities to share

information about themselves using visual

techniques and discussions

• Evolved from• Evolved from

– Disenchantment with questionnaire surveys

• High costs

• Errors

• Delays

• Manipulation

Principles of PRA

• A paradigm shift in the social sciences

• Question of attitude

• Direct learning from the local people

• ‘Handing over the stick’• ‘Handing over the stick’

• Plurality of methods

• Optimal ignorance

• Information shared and owned by local people, as against being extracted by outsiders

Some PRA tools

• Village transects

• Village maps

• Venn Diagrams

• Seasonality Calendar• Seasonality Calendar

• Wealth-ranking

• Time line

• Trend analysis

• Focus groups

• Semi-structured interviews

• Do-it-yourself exercises

Modes of analysis

• Done by local people, in groups

• Visual

• Comparisons

• Interactive• Interactive

• Iterative

Applications of PRAs

• Natural Resource Management

• Village Development Plans

• Programmes for women and the poor

• Agriculture and food security• Agriculture and food security

• Used by NGOs, students and universities– MYRADA, Action Aid, AKRSP in India

promoted it extensively

Some benefits of PRAs

• Rapport building

• Create an atmosphere of shared learning

• Often more cost-effective and quicker than questionnaires questionnaires

• Present “aggregate picture”

• Fun, interest

Some practical points about

PRAs • How long ?

– Depends on time and resources

– Not done hurriedly

– Ten days- four weeks– Ten days- four weeks

• Who does it ?– Inter-disciplinary teams

– Groups of people

• Consistency checks– Triangulation

Practical points

• Sequencing

– No rigid sequence

– Start with maps, graphs and move to

sensitive subjectssensitive subjects

Dangers of PRA: how not to do

a PRA • Who participates in these exercises ?

• ‘Instant fashion’

• Often Hurriedly done to impress donors and get funding and get funding

• Pitfalls of ‘rural tourism’

• Formalism: emphasis on manuals and procedures

• Routinisation: loss of spontaneity