Rapid Assessment Rapid Assessment ProcessProcess RAPRAP

James BeebeJames Beebe

Gonzaga UniversityGonzaga University

20022002

RAPRAP

RAP is intensive, team-based RAP is intensive, team-based ethnographic inquiry using ethnographic inquiry using triangulationtriangulation and and iterativeiterative data data analysis and additional data collection analysis and additional data collection to quickly develop a preliminary to quickly develop a preliminary understanding of a situation from the understanding of a situation from the insider’s perspective.insider’s perspective.

TriangulationTriangulation

http://www.okstate.edu/ag/agedcm4h/academic/aged5980a/5980/newpage21.htm

Denzin (1978) has identified several types of Denzin (1978) has identified several types of triangulation. One type involves the convergence of triangulation. One type involves the convergence of multiple data sources. Another type is methodological multiple data sources. Another type is methodological triangulation, which involves the convergence of data triangulation, which involves the convergence of data from multiple data collection sources. A third from multiple data collection sources. A third triangulation procedure is investigator triangulation, in triangulation procedure is investigator triangulation, in which multiple researchers are involvedwhich multiple researchers are involved in an in an investigation. Related to investigator triangulation is investigation. Related to investigator triangulation is researcher-participant corroboration, which has also researcher-participant corroboration, which has also been referred to as cross-examination.been referred to as cross-examination.

RAP cannot be done by RAP cannot be done by one personone person. .

RAP can be used toRAP can be used to

• make preliminary decisions about make preliminary decisions about interventions or changes interventions or changes

• make decisions about additional make decisions about additional research.research.

• RAP can also be used for RAP can also be used for monitoring and evaluation.monitoring and evaluation.

Usually RAP should NOT be usedUsually RAP should NOT be used

for estimating numbers or percents.for estimating numbers or percents.

Results can be produced inResults can be produced in

• as few as as few as fourfour day, day, • but usually requires but usually requires several several

weeksweeks..

The RAP team should seek outThe RAP team should seek out

• the poorer, the poorer, • less articulate, less articulate, • more upset, and more upset, and • those least like the members those least like the members

of the RAP team.of the RAP team.

Stories NOT AnswersStories NOT Answers

The goal is to get the The goal is to get the insiders to tell insiders to tell their storiestheir stories and and NOTNOT answer the answer the questions of the outsidersquestions of the outsiders..

TeamworkTeamwork

The success of RAP The success of RAP depends upon the quality of depends upon the quality of the teamwork.the teamwork.

Intensive teamworkIntensive teamwork

Intensive teamwork for both Intensive teamwork for both the data collection and the data collection and analysis is an alternative to analysis is an alternative to prolonged fieldworkprolonged fieldwork..

Intensive teamworkIntensive teamwork

Intensive teamwork helps Intensive teamwork helps produce a preliminary produce a preliminary understanding of a situation understanding of a situation from the from the insider’s perspectiveinsider’s perspective..

Team interactionTeam interaction

• Team interaction is necessary Team interaction is necessary for rapid triangulation in data for rapid triangulation in data collection. collection.

• Team interaction is necessary Team interaction is necessary for understanding the insiders’ for understanding the insiders’ categories and definitions. categories and definitions.

Team interactionTeam interaction

• The RAP team should be The RAP team should be together most of the time. together most of the time.

• All team members should be All team members should be involved in data collection and involved in data collection and data analysis, including the data analysis, including the preparation of the report.preparation of the report.

Team interviewingTeam interviewing

RAP uses group discussion RAP uses group discussion involving the entire team and involving the entire team and the local participants (team the local participants (team interviewing), interviewing),

NOTNOT sequential interviewing sequential interviewing by individual members of the by individual members of the team.team.

InsidersInsiders

Teams should be composed of a mix of Teams should be composed of a mix of insidersinsiders and and outsidersoutsiders..

• At least one team member of the RAP At least one team member of the RAP team should be an insider.team should be an insider.

• After the rest of the RAP team leaves, the After the rest of the RAP team leaves, the insider continues to be called upon to insider continues to be called upon to clarify results, resolve pending issues, and clarify results, resolve pending issues, and help organize local responses.help organize local responses.

Cultural differences and Cultural differences and diversitydiversity

• Sensitivity to cultural Sensitivity to cultural differences is essential.differences is essential.

• Team diversity improves Team diversity improves cultural sensitivity and helps cultural sensitivity and helps establish credibility with local establish credibility with local communities.communities.

FlexibilityFlexibility

• Flexibility is critical for using RAP in a wide Flexibility is critical for using RAP in a wide variety of situations. variety of situations.

• Some specific techniques have proven to Some specific techniques have proven to be especially effective, but they are not the be especially effective, but they are not the only techniques that can be used. only techniques that can be used.

• Relaxed, semi-structured interviewingRelaxed, semi-structured interviewing that that provides respondents with time to think is provides respondents with time to think is often effective in eliciting stories.often effective in eliciting stories.

Audio recording of interviewsAudio recording of interviews

• Usually interviews should be Usually interviews should be tape-recorded. tape-recorded.

• Tape recorders should be Tape recorders should be expected to fail.expected to fail.

RAP SheetRAP Sheet

• A “RAP Sheet” should be used A “RAP Sheet” should be used to document what was done. to document what was done.

• A RAP Sheet allows the A RAP Sheet allows the reader of a RAP report to reader of a RAP report to judge the quality of the work.judge the quality of the work.

Successful RAPSuccessful RAP

Members of the RAP team need to Members of the RAP team need to recognize:recognize:

• They don’t know enough to ask questions,They don’t know enough to ask questions,• They don’t know enough to provide the They don’t know enough to provide the

answers, butanswers, but• They do know enough to want to empower They do know enough to want to empower

others to solve their own problems.others to solve their own problems.

Iterative Analysis and Iterative Analysis and Additional Data CollectionAdditional Data Collection

Time is divided betweenTime is divided between • blocks used for collecting information blocks used for collecting information

and and • blocks when the team does data blocks when the team does data

analysis and considers changes in analysis and considers changes in the next round of data collection. the next round of data collection.

Iterative Analysis and Iterative Analysis and Additional Data CollectionAdditional Data Collection

Team interaction before each Team interaction before each new cycle of data collection is new cycle of data collection is very important.very important.

AnalysisAnalysis

Analysis begins with the first round of Analysis begins with the first round of data collection.data collection.

Analysis involves:Analysis involves:• Coding the data,Coding the data,• Displaying relationships in the data, Displaying relationships in the data,

andand• Drawing conclusions. Drawing conclusions.

CodingCoding

Coding involves dividing what Coding involves dividing what participants have said into participants have said into thought units and applying a thought units and applying a few labels to selected units.few labels to selected units.

Some techniques for Some techniques for understanding dataunderstanding data

• Identifying patterns and themesIdentifying patterns and themes• Seeking plausibilitySeeking plausibility• ClusteringClustering• Metaphor making, andMetaphor making, and• CountingCounting

Member checkingMember checking

Sharing conclusions before Sharing conclusions before they are final with the people they are final with the people who have provided the who have provided the information is a critical part of information is a critical part of the iterative analysis process.the iterative analysis process.

RAP is an idea whose time RAP is an idea whose time has come.has come.

??Only if it not oversold and only if it Only if it not oversold and only if it

is implemented rigorously.is implemented rigorously.