Training

Part A Activity Prompt #3

305 September 15, 2020

SUMMARY

In this activity, we look at different gender and cultural considerations to prompt your data collectors to think about when planning for and beginning data collection. This activity covers generally why it is important to consider how to approach different cultural situations and why to include women as not just data collectors but also as respondents.

There are not necessarily right or wrong answers to this activity, it is only to prompt trainees to consider more inclusive, efficient, and effective data collection efforts, leading to better quality data.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. First, have the page with the sections “Why Gender is Important in Data Collection” & “Why Culture is Important in Data Collection” printed out for all participants. To begin this session, popcorn read the sections “Why Gender is Important in Data Collection” & “Why Culture is Important in Data Collection.”

2. Next, have each prompt sheet printed out (PDFs of Prompt #1 and Prompt #2). Split the trainees into two groups. Give each group a prompt with the questions to discuss. After about 20 mins of discussion (allow more or less time depending on the discussion), each group will pick a spokesperson to present their thoughts and answers to the questions in front of the larger group. As one group gives their answers to their prompt, encourage the other group to respond and say if they would have given the same answer or different and why. Use the answers from the groups to encourage larger discussions and provoke conversation between the groups.

WHY GENDER IS IMPORTANT IN DATA COLLECTION

Here are a few items to consider about gender and household data collection:

  • Women will understand the local context for themselves better than men which is why it is important to include women as not just respondents but also as data collectors.
    • Working with mixed gender teams helps the whole team to understand the survey context better
    • Female respondents might be more willing, due to personal or cultural reasons, to respond to survey questions from female data collectors due to a shared understanding of the context that the women are living in
  • Studies that fail to include both men and women as respondents will be subject to bias, that is why it is important to collect data from both male and female respondents.
    • In surveys that only include the head of household, there is often a male bias and thus it would be beneficial to have others living in the household present during the survey.
  • Methods should be easy for men and and women to understand:
    • Using a questionnaire in an area where the majority of women are illiterate might result in a lack of quality responses. Consider adding visuals or using a translator.
    • Women may not have as much time to answer surveys so consider the length of the survey.
  • Timing and location should be taken into account due to the fact that men and women often have different daytime availability:
    • It could skew responses to collect data when women are out collecting firewood or getting water. It helps to determine a time when both parties will be home beforehand.

WHY CULTURE IS IMPORTANT IN DATA COLLECTION

Here are a few items to consider about culture and household data collection:

  • Where and when is it appropriate to send female data collectors by themselves
    • While we want to encourage female data collectors be involved in the collection process, we must consider their safety and security and cultural appropriateness of sending women to households by themselves
  • When is it an appropriate time to collect data?
    • Consider local context in terms of national and local holidays, time when men or women will be out working, religious holidays and prayer times, etc.
  • Consider context when approaching members of the household
    • What is the appropriate greeting, dress, and know what to expect from the respondents (in some places it might not be appropriate for the women to be giving responses without a man of the house being present)

PROMPT #1

Ten data collectors (5 male, 5 female) go to the survey area approximately 100km away from the office. Collecting data of small scale farmers in rural Bangladesh to support titling and issuance of certificate of title. The customs of the area do not allow women to talk to men in the absence of male family members. Most of the respondents are usually working in their farms during the most of the morning.

What are the things that you will put into consideration?

  • What mode of transportation will be used and will data collectors travel together? Why?
  • What time should data collectors leave the office to arrive at the survey area to begin data collection? Why?
  • How will the data collectors approach the households? Will data collectors be going individually to collect the data or in teams?
  • How do the data collectors ensure that women are involved in data collection, even if it is not appropriate to discuss with them directly?
  • Do you foresee any other challenges that the data collectors must consider and prepare for?

PROMPT #2

Seventeen data collectors (11 female, 6 male) from a Cameroonian national organization headquartered in the Yaounde city, go to the survey area in the northern regions. The data collectors are from the capital city, where it is more acceptable for women to wear short skirts and shorts with tank tops. Some of the male data collectors have tattoos, dreadlocks and stud earrings. They are heading to the survey sight, which is a more conservative, Muslim rural area, where they will survey approxiamtely 1,000 households. This community is known for being wary of outsiders and most people in the community speak a local language.

What are the things that you will put into consideration?

  • How will the data collectors travel to the survey site?
  • What should the data collectors wear while surveying the households?
  • How should the data collectors approach the households? Individually or in teams? How will they greet the members of the household?
  • At what time of day will the collectors go to the households?
  • How will the collectors try to include women in the collection of data from the households?
  • How will the data collectors overcome the language barrier?
  • Do you foresee any other challenges that the data collectors must consider and prepare for?