TIDI Research Methodologies

Module

Rural Research
Exploring whose reality?

Dr Fiona Meehan, 11 Nov 2009

Drawing on research conducted in

Tigray, northern Ethiopia

Focus this session..

Brief introduction to research conducted,

incl. purpose, approach and methodology

Lessons learnt/issues arising from the

research process

Participatory identification/discussion of
challenges in planning and conducting
field research

Research origins and

purpose
Research
issue
Gaps in information and understanding
about

Impact of development interventions,

whats changing at household level

In aiming to reduce poverty, what

works, what doesnt work and why

Dual purpose research:

To assess the existing level of food

security in REST operational areas
(baseline study)

To develop a greater understanding of

what was happening at household level
by exploring inter households
differentials, with a particular focus on
female headed households. (PhD)

Thesis objectives

Develop representative profiles of rural household livelihoods in

Tigray, differentiating female headed from other households
and identifying locality related differentials.
Identify and analyse significant factors in household livelihood
outcomes and outcome differentials.
Assess livelihood outcomes in relation to household poverty
levels and livelihood vulnerability.
Examine the local level institutional arrangements that
influence rural livelihoods in the study area.
Develop a set of proposals for promoting sustainable growth in
smallholder livelihoods, which can reach and include the
poorest rural households.

Research
methodology

Household survey, questionnaire survey 90 hhs x 20 administrative districts,

1,800 hhs in total - analysed using SPSS
Focus group discussions, male and
female farmers
Interviews - local administration,
womens associations, bureaus
Case study one administrative district

Issues arising from the

research process

How genuinely objective can any

socio-economic research be? Every
researcher has conscious and
unconscious world views, values and
assumptions which shape their
study and influence the data
collection and analysis process

Particular challenges in exploring

other peoples realities might incl.

Our own conscious and unconscious

assumptions
Assumptions, skills and interests of
others involved in the research process,
including field research assistants,
interviewers
Lack of a common language, including
differences in understanding of concepts
and terminology as well as dependence
on language interpretation
Diversity within as well as between
cultures in the research area

Whose is the real reality?

Whose answer counts?

Different and even conflicting

perceptions of what appear to be
the same situation or issue reflect
equally valid realities, some of the
most interesting insights and
realisations emerge from
recognising and exploring these
differences

Issues around methodology

Which comes first, the research

question/s or the methodology?
Should the research issues and
questions determine the
methodology or does the
methodology shape the study?

Either/or? Continuum?

Quantitative Qualitative

Top down
Participatory

Blueprint
Process

Rationale for mixed method..

Range and depth of information

Quantitative without qualitative can tell
you what people do, what they think,
but rarely will it tell you why
Triangulation of results qualitative
exploration can be crucial in minimising
mistakes in interpretation of results
Qualitative can be informed and
complemented by quantitative