AR ESA phase2 participatory-research-design-training Oct2016

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Africa RISING ESA Phase 2
Participatory Research Design Approaches Training
3 - 4 October, 2016
Lilongwe, Malawi
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Agenda[edit | edit source]

Day 1 (3 October, 2016)

Day 2 (4 October, 2016)

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  • Brainstorming in 3 groups on research design issues that are challenging/problematic/confusing

Feedback from group B:



Discussion focus:
Assessing farmer preferences concerning new practices (how are preferences connected to decisions)

  • . What level of experience (length and scale/intensity) is needed for farmers to evaluate a practice?
- From observing a demo to practicing it over many years or
- Working on a 10x10 m plot over 1 ha?


  • . When should we aim for overall assessments and when for specific characteristics (affordable, social acceptable, accessible)
- When to elicit from farmers and when to predefine


  • . Who is doing the assessing, how are they chosen?
- Random selection?
- What do the choices represent?


  • . What is the connection between an expressed preferences and decision making – Irmgard’s FIAT vs Mercedes example


  • . When should assessment be relative and when absolute


  • . Where do you assess preferences from?
- Under a tree?
- At the site?



  • How do we avoid biasness in the assessment of preferences?
- Farmers may tell what you want to hear.


  • . Who is asking questions on preferences…the donor/scientists vs local farmers
  • . How are the preferences expressed?
- Ratings and rankings on scale/ advantages and disadvantages?
- Both options may still be bad!
  • When should you assess preferences with groups and individuals ?
- Who decides on this?
- What are the groups?



Tools
1. Farmers’ participatory research

  • Group level
  • Individual level

2. Surveys
3. Ranking and ratings
4. Observations


Feedback from group C
Discussion focus: Baselines, controls and farmer practice

Baseline

  • Questionnaire- to get overall picture of circumstances
  • Pretest with rigor and consistency and (thoroughness) and refine quest
  • Build trust with interviewees
  • Integrate bio and social/ quantitative and qualitative
  • Use baseline info from previous when avail (How can we promote this?)
  • Consider sensitive questions


Control

  • Well-tied to objectives
  • Depending on objective will impact control used e.g. Microfauna – treatment + status quo. Look at existing level in natural setting- control; Nutrition – village no inputs Vs village with inputs. After time- make observations



Farmer Practice

  • Normal/ average way of doing something.
  • Equilibrium (after others have had their impact e.g. NGOs) state without our intervention