Food and Nutrition Surveillance and Response in Emergencies

Session 10Session 10

Qualitative and Quantitative Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches to Nutrition Situation Approaches to Nutrition Situation

AnalysisAnalysis

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IntroductionIntroduction• Analysis of elements of food chain and their Analysis of elements of food chain and their

interactions needs to be done to understand interactions needs to be done to understand the whole spectrum of food and nutrition the whole spectrum of food and nutrition securitysecurity

• Formulation of strategies and design of Formulation of strategies and design of effective interventions require comprehensive effective interventions require comprehensive assessments and cooperation of a variety of assessments and cooperation of a variety of disciplines disciplines

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IntroductionIntroduction• Challenge is to create methodologies that Challenge is to create methodologies that

are relevant, multi-disciplinary and are relevant, multi-disciplinary and comprehensivecomprehensive

• Rapid Assessments are the new Rapid Assessments are the new methodologies responsive to this challenge.methodologies responsive to this challenge.

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What is a Rapid What is a Rapid Assessment (RA)?Assessment (RA)?

• Has origin and application in rural Has origin and application in rural development research and nutrition researchdevelopment research and nutrition research

• A systematic activity designed to draw A systematic activity designed to draw inferences, conclusions, hypotheses or inferences, conclusions, hypotheses or assessments including the acquisition of new assessments including the acquisition of new information during a limited period of time. information during a limited period of time.

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Characteristics of RA?Characteristics of RA?

• Offers the balance and interaction between Offers the balance and interaction between (emic), local or indigenous perspective and (emic), local or indigenous perspective and the (etic), outside or experts perspectives the (etic), outside or experts perspectives from anthropological point of viewfrom anthropological point of view

• Pays attention to the cultural, traditional Pays attention to the cultural, traditional and social factors the target problems as and social factors the target problems as well as knowledge of the beneficiaries. well as knowledge of the beneficiaries.

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Characteristics of RA?Characteristics of RA?

• Procedures are primarily direct Procedures are primarily direct observations, informal conversations, key observations, informal conversations, key informant interviews concerned with informant interviews concerned with knowledge, attitudes and practiceknowledge, attitudes and practice

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How is RA Used?How is RA Used?• To enhance the understanding of the rural To enhance the understanding of the rural

conditions in their natural context conditions in their natural context

• To tap knowledge of local inhabitants and To tap knowledge of local inhabitants and combining the knowledge with modern combining the knowledge with modern scientific expertise BUT minimizing prior scientific expertise BUT minimizing prior assumptionsassumptions

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Qualitative MethodsQualitative Methods

• Focus Group Discussions Focus Group Discussions

• ObservationsObservations

• Key InformantsKey Informants

• Case Histories/StudiesCase Histories/Studies

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Focus Group DiscussionsFocus Group DiscussionsWhat is FGDWhat is FGD

• A structured group process used to obtain detailed A structured group process used to obtain detailed information about a particular situation information about a particular situation

UsesUses

For exploring attitudes and feelingsFor exploring attitudes and feelings

To draw out precise issues that may be unknown to the To draw out precise issues that may be unknown to the investigatorinvestigator

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Focus Group Discussions (FGD)Focus Group Discussions (FGD)Composition of FGDComposition of FGD

6-9 participants brought together to discuss a clearly 6-9 participants brought together to discuss a clearly defined topicdefined topic

Composed of homogeneous people representing a Composed of homogeneous people representing a particular segment of population (e.g. gender, age social particular segment of population (e.g. gender, age social group-pastoralists, internally displaced persons)group-pastoralists, internally displaced persons)

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Focus Group Discussions (FGD)Focus Group Discussions (FGD)

TimingTiming

A group session should last 1 to 1 and a half A group session should last 1 to 1 and a half hours, maximum 2 hours.hours, maximum 2 hours.

Facilitator keeps discussion n track by asking a Facilitator keeps discussion n track by asking a series of open ended questions to stimulate series of open ended questions to stimulate discussionsdiscussions

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Focus Group Discussions (FGD)Focus Group Discussions (FGD)AdvantagesAdvantages

Easy to undertakeEasy to undertake

Results obtained in a short timeResults obtained in a short time

Social interactions in the group produces freer and Social interactions in the group produces freer and more complex responsesmore complex responses

The investigator can probe for clarification and solicit The investigator can probe for clarification and solicit greater detailsgreater details

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Focus Group Discussions (FGD)Focus Group Discussions (FGD)DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Groups are often difficult to assembleGroups are often difficult to assemble

Individual responses are not independent of each other Individual responses are not independent of each other

Group is hand selected therefore the results may not be Group is hand selected therefore the results may not be representative of the general populationrepresentative of the general population

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ObservationObservation Observations generates questions for further Observations generates questions for further

investigationsinvestigations

AttendanceAttendance at participation in activities, formal and at participation in activities, formal and informalinformal

Structure counting (quantitative)Structure counting (quantitative) observation yields observation yields useful preliminary information on physical features useful preliminary information on physical features

Structures, sampleStructures, sample (quantitative and qualitative) (quantitative and qualitative)

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ObservationObservation Transect.Transect. Offers an overview of the field site Offers an overview of the field site

and structured observation on natural resource and structured observation on natural resource and human activityand human activity

Record who walked the transect and at what Record who walked the transect and at what timetime

Helps build rapport with the localsHelps build rapport with the locals

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Key Informant InterviewsKey Informant Interviews Obtaining information from a community resident Obtaining information from a community resident

who is in a position to know the community as a who is in a position to know the community as a whole, or a particular area of interest.whole, or a particular area of interest.

The person can be a profession person who works with The person can be a profession person who works with the population you want information about, or a the population you want information about, or a member of the target populationmember of the target population

Key informants can be young or old Key informants can be young or old

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Key Informant InterviewsKey Informant InterviewsAdvantagesAdvantages

provides in-depth information about causes of the provides in-depth information about causes of the problemproblem

Allows to clarify ideas and information on continual Allows to clarify ideas and information on continual basisbasis

Can easily combine with quantitative informationCan easily combine with quantitative information

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Key Informant InterviewsKey Informant InterviewsDisadvantagesDisadvantages

Informants may give you their own impression and biasesInformants may give you their own impression and biases

May have to be combined with other methods, because May have to be combined with other methods, because achieving representativeness of the total community is achieving representativeness of the total community is difficultdifficult

May overlook the perspectives of community members who May overlook the perspectives of community members who are less visibleare less visible

The information may be difficult to quantify and organiseThe information may be difficult to quantify and organise

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Qualitative vs. Qualitative Qualitative vs. Qualitative Qualitative Qualitative QuantitativeQuantitative

Lower numbers of respondents Higher numbers of respondents

Open-ended questions and probing yield detailed information that highlights diversity

Specific questions obtain predetermined responses to standardized questions

Data collection techniques vary e.g. FGD, Key informant, observations

Relies on surveys as the main method of data collection

More suitable when resources and time are limited

Relies on more extensive interviewing

Empowering and participatory Not empowering

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Qualitative vs. Qualitative Qualitative vs. Qualitative Qualitative Qualitative QuantitativeQuantitative

Interprets Describes

Sampling depends on what needs to be learned-Purposive sampling

Sampling focuses on probability and representativeness

Explores causality Suggests causality

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Qualitative Methods Qualitative Methods StrengthsStrengths

Provides vital information on attitudes and Provides vital information on attitudes and practice practice

Findings from qualitative research can be used Findings from qualitative research can be used to base qualitative researchto base qualitative research

Can easily combine with quantitative Can easily combine with quantitative informationinformation

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Qualitative Methods Qualitative Methods

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Small samples invalidates generalization Small samples invalidates generalization of resultsof results

Non scientific- Non scientific-

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Quantitative Methods Quantitative Methods StrengthsStrengths

Used to gather large amount of dataUsed to gather large amount of data

Features a high level of reliabilityFeatures a high level of reliability

Findings can be tested using statistical means, Findings can be tested using statistical means, helping one to be sure of its reliabilityhelping one to be sure of its reliability

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Quantitative Methods Quantitative Methods WeaknessesWeaknesses

Rigid approach and attempts to control all the Rigid approach and attempts to control all the variable factors that might influence findingsvariable factors that might influence findings

Inappropriate to measure human knowledge Inappropriate to measure human knowledge attitude and practiceattitude and practice

Insensitive to complexities of human Insensitive to complexities of human interactionsinteractions

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Combining Qualitative and Combining Qualitative and Quantitative MethodsQuantitative Methods

• Blending of methods captures a more Blending of methods captures a more complete, holistic and contextual portrayal of complete, holistic and contextual portrayal of the subject under study.the subject under study.

• Weakness and limitations of each method are Weakness and limitations of each method are counterbalanced therefore neutralizes rather counterbalanced therefore neutralizes rather than compounding the problems than compounding the problems

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Combining Qualitative and Combining Qualitative and Quantitative MethodsQuantitative Methods

• Coding responses to open ended questions Coding responses to open ended questions generated from quantitative enquiries.generated from quantitative enquiries.

• Using statistical methods to analyse ranked Using statistical methods to analyse ranked data sets arising from participatory enquiries data sets arising from participatory enquiries i.e. creating frequency tables from the coded i.e. creating frequency tables from the coded data data

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Combining Qualitative and Combining Qualitative and Quantitative MethodsQuantitative Methods

• Using participatory techniques in exploratory Using participatory techniques in exploratory studies to set up hypotheses which can then be studies to set up hypotheses which can then be tested through questionnaire based sample tested through questionnaire based sample surveys.surveys.

• Choosing a random sample and conducting a Choosing a random sample and conducting a questionnaire survey (quantitative) to gain questionnaire survey (quantitative) to gain information on key variables for in-depth information on key variables for in-depth qualitative surveyqualitative survey