Recommended Tools

Skills Recommended

Background Research

Any experience in conducting library and/or internet research, and interpreting secondary data are helpful in effectively completing background research about a particular community.

Census Data Research

Any experience in accessing and interpreting census data (quantitative/statistical) is useful in conducting census data research.

Focus Groups

Good facilitation and organization skills are required to organize and conduct an effective focus group event. The use of a skilled, moderator is sometimes recommended and can help to reduce biases that might arise as a result of a researcher’s often unintended “alliance” with a particular faction of the community of interest.

Informal Interviews with Key-Informants

Good listening and note-taking skills are helpful in conducting informal interviews with key-informants.

Observations

Minimal expertise is required to conduct basic observation-oriented research. More systematic observations-oriented research, however, may require a researcher with heightened observational skills as well as good descriptive writing (note taking) abilities.

Public meeting

Participatory Action Research

Rapid Appraisal

Conducting a rapid appraisal may require expert assistance for design, data collection, and analysis depending on the complexity and level of analysis desired. When available, however, rapid appraisals can be conducted entirely with the help and active participation of outside experts and members from the community of interest.

Surveys

The greatest challenges in conducting surveys involve 1) asking the right questions and 2) getting community members to invest their time and energy into thoughtfully completing and returning the survey(s). One effective way of generating useful and relevant questions, as well as building community buy-in entails sharing the results of an initial survey with members of the community through 1) pre-existing local communication networks, 2) the staging of public meetings, and/or 3) holding more specific focus group(s). Feedback gained in the contexts of a public meeting or focus group can be used in turn to develop more appropriate and relevant questions in additional surveys as required. Last, technical assistance from an individual skilled in designing, conducting, and analyzing surveys is often recommended.