Participatory Tools and Methods for Data Collection

1. Participatory Tools and Methods for Data Collection Dr. Rose Oluoch Rose_oluoch2002@yahoo.com

2. Selecting Tools and Methods for Data Collection • Usually a combination of tools and methods are needed. • The tools should not be used/ copied per se, but one has to think on how to adapt them to fit particular situations • Involve the people on how to improve and localize the tools to suit their local needs

3. Historical Transect/Diagram What is it? • The use of a matrix or table to see what changes (and how) that have occurred over time. • One can use drawings (preferably), symbols or words to show the changes.

4. How Transect/Diagrams are done • First identify the particular things or indicators you wish to see the changes in (e.g. economic conditions, technology, diseases, etc). • Establish a timetable (e.g. every year, every three years, every five years, etc) which goes back as far as the people can remember. Another option is to find out significant dates or years. • Discuss the topics at hand for every time period. Make sure that the reasons for the changes are documented.

5. How to use Transect/Diagram for PPM&E • It can be applied to a specific project-from before the start of the project, project implementation up to post project. • It can be used to stimulate discussions on problems that arise and how best to tackle them.

6. Seasonality Diagram What is it? • Use of visual representation to identify events that occur seasonally. • One can present seasonal variations in price fluctuations, credit facility changes, market changes etc

7. How to do Seasonality Diagram • First agree on what aspects or topics you want to see (fluctuation of income and expenses throughout the year, market accessibility etc). • The months of a year are written down on the upper portion of the paper. • The particular activities for each topic are then written down under the months they occur. • It is easier to ask which months they are at their highest (peaks) and months where they are at their lowest or are completely absent. Complete the rest of the months by comparison.

8. How to use seasonal diagrams for PPM&E • We can use seasonal diagrams to monitor the seasonal occurrence of disease, food availability, period of good income and low income and/or period of high loans, period for which we can launch specific interventions (such as training, etc). • Can identify times of abundance and times of shortage.

9. Venn Diagram What is it? • The use of circle cut-outs to look at relationships between groups, organisations and people in a given community.

10. How to do venn diagrams • On a piece of paper, draw a large circle with a marker to represent the community • Circles of varying sizes are cut out from paper and are given to the participants. • They are asked to identify all the groups and organizations which are present or are working in the community.

11. How to do venn diagrams cont. • They are asked to identify, for each organization, the size of circle which would best represent them. The size of a circle can mean resources-the bigger the circle, the more resources that organization or community has. • The participants are then asked to place them in the circle (which represents the community). The closer the cut-outs are placed in the middle means that they are more important (closer to the heart of the community) or easier to access services. • The circle cut-outs could be overlapping, which shows degree of collaboration.

12. How to use venn diagram for PPM&E • It can be used to illustrate different groups' perceptions of access to resources or social restrictions. • It helps users reflect on the nature of coordination between the local community and other organizations (potential partners or organizations which can help). How do we bring in other groups?

13. Wealth Ranking/Well-Being Ranking What is it? • Uses the perception or criteria of villagers to rank their households according to relative wealth or well-being. • The results can, and oftentimes are, at odds with conventional methods of classifying?" people solely according to income.

14. How to do wealth Ranking • Let the villagers come up with criteria to identify the poor and those who are better-off. Generally, there will be 3-4 categories. • The name of household heads are placed in individual cards. One by one, these cards are assessed in which category or classification they belong. In case of disagreements, always refer back to the criteria. • Along the way, additional criteria are identified, added, moved or modified.

15. How to use wealth ranking for PPM&E • If baseline data is available, it can be used to monitor changes in households which fall under each category (e.g. if the number of category 4 is less today than before the project started, etc). • You can also monitor the benefits of the project -which category has the most benefits? Are you getting your target groups right?

16. Impact Flow / Flow Diagram. What is it? • A flow diagram shows the causes, effects and relationship between key variables or components. • Impact flow also shows the impact caused by our interventions.

17. How to do impact flow diagrams • Identify the key components. In an agricultural situation or project, it could include: crop fields, livestock, houses, river, etc. • Identify which components have relationships and draw arrows, denoting the relationship (e.g. river •field, •house •livestock, etc) • Identify the impact each component makes on the others (e.g. adding irrigation facilities will increase crop yields-leading to more savings, etc).

18. How to use impact flow diagrams for PPM&E • It can be used to show the effects of major changes or innovations introduced. Has the interrelationship between components increased or become more efficient?

19. Ranking What is it? • Ranking and sorting means putting things in order according to set criteria. It reveals differences, similarities and preferences.

20. How to use Ranking for PPM&E • It can be used to identify needs and priorities, monitor changes in preference, compare priorities and preferences between different groups. • It's a flexible tool which can be used in a variety of situations. It provides information about preferences, as well as the reasons for the choice.

21. Semi-Structured Interview (SSI) • It is an interview-though less formal than a structured interview. Instead of a set questionnaire, the interviewer uses a list of questions related to the topic. • It allows for focused conversation and encourages two-way conversation. It also allows for more in-depth discussion of topics or certain aspects of the topic.

22. How SSIs are done • SSls can be done on an individual (one-on-one) basis, with a group (group interview), key informants, or focused group discussion. • Establish the broad areas of inquiry /interview framework. Specific questions can be formulated/reformulated during the actual interviews. • The questions should be sequenced with the easier and more general questions at the beginning of the interview and the more difficult, more sensitive or more personal questions reserved for later.

23. How to use SSI for PPM&E • Relevant topics (such as a project) are discussed alongside issues such as food availability, household expenses, project effectiveness. • It allows for more freedom and flexibility to explore deeper details or probe issues. It is generally less intrusive since it encourages 2-way communication. The interviewee can also ask questions. • An important consideration here is the interviewer should have good interview and listening skills. They should not be giving yes-or-no type of questions or leading questions and know how to tackle sensitive issues. • It is, however, also more time-consuming, prone to the interviewers' biases and results are more difficult to analyse.

24. Focused Group Discussion (FGD) • A group of 10-15 people come together to discuss the issues at hand. It is also very much like a brainstorming session.

25. How to do FGDs • An FGD brings together a representative group of 10-15 people who are asked a series of questions related to the topic, issues or tasks at hand. A facilitator guides the discussions.

26. How to use FGD for PPM &E • FGDs can be used to validate the project design. • It can be used to assess the impact of a project on a given set of stakeholders (assess project performance) • It draws from local experience and traditions and provides local perspective/insights.

27. OTHER USEFUL TOOLS • Videos, photos and recordings • Theatre • Testimonies / life histories

28. Videos, Photos and Recordings • Videos, photos and tape recordings are used to monitor changes.

29. How to do photos, videos and recordings • For videos and photos, these should always be taken from the same spot and compared with more recent video shots or photos to see if there are changes going on (e.g. forest cover is increasing, etc). • Baseline photos or videos must first be taken.

30. How to use photos, recordings and videos for PPM&E • It can be used to stimulate discussions and analysis. • It can record changes before, during and after a project but it needs foresight and planning. • During discussions, it can be that different groups of people may see different things in the same picture.

31. Testimonies/Life Histories • A testimonial is like a case study. It presents a person's thoughts, feelings or experiences. • It is a way of learning about the impact of a project through the voice of stakeholders.

32. How testimonies/Life histories are done • Testimonials are usually tape recorded and played back to a number of other people from the same stakeholders group and discussed. Insights of the group are garnered.

33. How to do testimonies • Testimonials are usually tape recorded and played back to a number of other people from the same stakeholders group and discussed. Insights of the group are garnered.

34. How to use testimonies for PPME • It can help reveal the degree of empowerment, the way in which income is used, a project's achievements, etc. • It can be used to complement and enrich quantified data obtained through interviews and case studies.

35. Exercise

36. Which 3 of the above methods would be appropriate for your project and how would you go about it?