Research MethodologyDaniela Lloyd-Williams 15th June 2011

Phase II: Research Questions

1.Where does CA occur in each SS & what form does it take?

2.What benefits do women gain from engaging in CA?

3.How do these benefits vary with type of CA & why?

4.How does CA, & the benefits that women derive from it, vary between SS

5.Why do the characteristics of CA vary between SS?

Phase II: Methodology

Main steps: • Literature Review including grey & informal literature • Key Informant Interviews• Qualitative field research using PRA techniques• Review and validation of findings through Stakeholder

Dialogues • Triangulation of results & analysis of findings within & across SS

Focus Group discussion in Shinyanga, Tanzania:

Phase II Methodology: Process

•Advisers produce initial guidance and share with country research teams•Advisers + country teams pilot field research element in Ethiopia & Tanzania•Advisers revise field research methodology on basis of pilots (discussions with country teams)•Researchers roll out field research•2/3 through field research hold ProjectTeam Meeting – adjustments

Benefit ranking Jimma, Ethiopia

Linking Research Questions, methods and results

Why do the characteristics of CA vary between

SS?

1. Review Literature

2. Analysis of secondary results

Comparative Gender Analysis of CA across SS and

Regions

How do CA,& benefits, vary between

SS?

1. Focus Groups

2. KI Interviews

1. Analysis of benefits and constraints

2. Gender Analysis

How do these benefits vary with the type of CA &

why?

1. Focus Groups

2. KI Interviews

1. Constraints

2. Analysis of benefits of CA

groups

What benefits do women gain from

CA?

1. Focus Groups 2. KI Interviews

3. SDs

1. Benefit ranking 2. Constraints

3. Gender analysis

Where Does CA occur in each SS, and

what form does it take?

1. SD; 2. Review Literature

3. KI Interviews

1.Gendered SS maps; 2. CA Typlogy;

3. Gender analysis

RQ Methods Key Results Area

Field Research

Focus Group Discussions in 4 communities per SS

• Set up with assistance from local resource person

• 2 FGD per community – these followed on from each other

• Participants for FGD2 were drawn from FGD1

PRA tools

• Matrix covering main CA groups in community

• Chapatti diagram – exploring linkages

• Constraints brainstorming

• Benefits brainstorming and ranking

Chapatti diagram, Jimma, Ethiopia

Applying the RM: Challenges

4 main types of challenges:

1. Literature Review

2. Selection of communities

3. Focus Group Discussions

4. Use of PRA tools in cross-

country research

Example of sub-sector map for sesame in Mali:

Literature Review

•Existing literature on CA limited, especially informal CA•Difficult to obtain ‘grey’ literature•Review of literature not prioritised by researchers

Focus group discussion, Shinyanga ,Tanzania

Selection of communities

Definition of community•Tanzania & Ethiopia similar size, Mali much larger

Selection•Difficult to obtain info on WCA•Key Informants not aware of informal CA•High reliance on a few key informants

Focus Group Discussions

Participants Facilitators

Representative of community? Communicate concepts effectively

Control Group? Probe

Dominance of 1-2 women Manage discussions

Inhibited by presence of resource person

Manage time

Illiteracy

PRA tools

Difficult to design tools to enable cross-country comparison: •Benefit ranking: SS scores influenced by number of CA groups covered

Inconsistent application of PRA tools across countries•Researchers understand & apply tools differently•Manage discussions & probe to different extents

Best Practice

Implications

Cross-country & cross-sector comparisons difficult: identify trends identify most common constraints indicate most significant benefits

X identify most critical constraints

X compare ranks of benefits

Thank you