Forget focus group discussions: Alternative methods to understand

community realties

Some useful tips, resources, and hands-on practiceLenette Golding, PhD, MPH

Senior Technical Advisor

CARE

lgolding@care.org

CORE Group Spring Meeting

April 24, 2013

1. People often do not understand why they are doing the things they are doing, and therefore can’t tell you.

2. Sometimes people are in touch with their reasons and their feelings, but they can’t express them.

3. Even when they do understand why they are doing things, they often don’t want to tell you.

4. When they do tell you, they often don’t tell you the truth, or the whole truth.

5. It is more important for most people to preserve their view of themselves than tell you why they are doing what they are doing.

6. Often people don’t care to examine their motivations.

7. There is rarely a single reason why a given person does something.

Why the truth is so elusive

A few things to try

• Mini-groups• Have groups react to what was said in other groups• Screen participants• Give participants the opportunity to express afterthoughts,

or things they did not want to bring up in the group • Use informality• Make it fun• Make it a group from the beginning• Eyes closed exercise• Eliminate unnatural physical surroundings

Participation

• Activist participatory research

• Agroecosystem analysis

• Applied anthropology• Field research on farming systems• Rapid rural appraisal

Participatory approaches: Some origins

Paulo Freire

Gordon Conway

Beneficiary Assessment Community Action Planning Participatory Action and LearningParticipatory Impact Pathways Analysis Participatory Monitoring and EvaluationParticipatory Operational ResearchParticipatory Poverty Assessment Participatory Poverty Monitoring Participatory Policy Research Participatory Research Methodology Participatory Rural Appraisal and Planning Participatory Social Assessment Participatory Technology DevelopmentParticipatory Urban Appraisal Rapid Appraisal

Rapid Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge Systems Rapid Assessment Procedures Rapid Assessment Techniques Rapid Catchment Analysis Rapid Ethnographic Assessment Rapid Food Security Analysis Rapid Multi-perspective Appraisal Rapid Organizational Assessment Rapid Rural Appraisal Self-esteem, Associative Strength, Resourcefulness, Action Planning, and Responsibility Theatre for Development Training for Transformation Village Appraisal

Participatory Research

Types of participatory activities

Mapping

Experiential activities

Time Analysis

Linkages and relationships

Prioritization / Quantification

+ = Action Planning

Tools Together Now! 100 Participatory Tools to Mobilize Communities for HIV/AIDS. (2006). International HIV/AIDS Alliance. This document can be downloaded for free at: http://www.aidsalliance.org/includes/Publication/Tools_Together_Now_2009.pdf

Ideas and Action: Addressing the Social Factors that Influence Sexual and Reproductive Health. (2007). Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE). This document can be downloaded free at: http://www.care.org/careswork/whatwedo/health/downloads/social_analysis_manual.pdf

Participatory Analysis for Community Action (PACA) Training Manual. (2007). Peace Corps. This document can be downloaded for free at: http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/library/PACA-2007.pdf

A Guide to Participatory Monitoring of Behavior Change Communication for HIV/AIDS. (2005). PATH, FHI, USAID. This document can be downloaded free of charge at: http://www.stoptb.org/assets/documents/countries/acsm/HIV-AIDS_BCC_partic%20monit_guide%20(PATH).pdf

Participatory learning and action: with 100 field methods. (2002) by Neela Mukherjee. This book can be viewed but not downloaded at: http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=CPDylQ5_RKAC&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=particpatory+learning+and+action&ots=r4ASYuhlYi&sig=PjWOSjWdshD8qMkPxwRawjBe6NE#v=onepage&q&f=false

Empowering Communities: Participatory Techniques For Community-Based Program Development . Volume 1: Trainer's Manual and Volume II: Participant's Handbook. FHI 360.This document can be downloaded free of charge at: http://www.globalhealthcommunication.org/tools/36

A Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Workshops with NGOs/CBOs Responding to HIV/AIDS. (2001). International HIV/AIDS Alliance. http://www.impactalliance.org/ev_en.php?ID=3773_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC

Embracing Participation in Development: Wisdom from the Field. (1999). CARE. http://www.care.org/careswork/whatwedo/health/downloads/embracing_participitation/embracing_participitation_en.pdf

Designing and Facilitating Creative Learning Activities: A companion Booklet to the Barefoot Guide to Learning Practices in Organisations and Social Change. (2011). Second Barefoot Collective. http://www.barefootguide.org/index.php/component/content/article/39-download/255-the-bfg2-companion-booklet-designing-and-facilitating-creative-learning-activities

Formative Research: A Guide to Support in the Collection and Analysis of Qualitative Research for Integrated Maternal and Child Nutrition and Food Security Program Planning. (2013). CARE. http://thewindowofopportunity.info/resources/

Source: Tools Together Now! 100 Participatory Tools to Mobilize Communities for HIV/AIDS. (2006). International HIV/AIDS Alliance. p. 28

Scenario planning with Boran and Somali Herders (Kenya)

http://www.iied.org/search/site/scenario%20planning%20with%20Boran%20and%20Somali

Problem Tree (20 minutes)Now we’re going to talk about the specific causes and effects of stress in our lives.1. Using the paper and markers

provided, draw a large tree including the roots, trunk and branches. Write “Stress” on the trunk of the tree.

2. Identify all the main causes of the problem. Draw these along large roots of the tree, indicating that they are ‘root’ problems.

3. What are the main effects of all of this stress? Write these main effects on the main branches of your tree.

Following up on a problem tree

• Holistic World View Analysis• Force Field Analysis • Output/outcome matrix

These activities get participants thinking about how they can turn the problem into a solution, the steps to take to achieve that solution, and monitor and evaluate the progress of activities.

So, why use activities?

How do they generate data?

How do they help with facilitation?