Discovering Ground Truths
Field Work Methodologies

Rural development, with its components of planning, decision-making and implementation, is heavily dependent of information. Frequently, development planning is based on projections from baseline information. But often the projected information has very little in common in with the reality on the ground. Nor does it take into account social and other critical parameters which may influence the development process.

The lacunae in the development process have been pointed out many times by detailed ground truth verification through field work. It is obvious that even the remedial measures would come through provided sufficiently accurate information is collected from villages to verify secondary information.

Thus field work emerges as an appropriate tool for development workers at all levels. Till now, field work has been assumed to be the domain of anthropologists and other social scientists. However, the art of talking to people for information gathering and the techniques of filed observations are not such difficult tasks. They can be handled by anybody, provided they have an understanding of the information needs, empathy for the people for whom plans are made, sufficient patience to wait for the right information, and the flexibility to adapt to field conditions. In addition, knowledge about some simple field techniques is essential.

Prior to embarking on a field trip, it is imperative that the filed work exercise is properly planned. As a first step, the objectives of an information gathering exercise have to be clearly defined. This would help identify the magnitude of primary information required and the scale at which information has to be gathered. The scale varies from the household level through hamlet, village, block, district or state levels. Once these are determined, there are specific statistical sampling techniques to help choose the number of units from which information can be collected and the area to be covered.

No field worker should ever go to the field without a clearly prepared set of questions through which primary information can be collected. Questions should be usually simple and direct. But indirect questions may also be framed if some sensitive information has to be collected. Questions may even be designed for cross-checking the responses to earlier questions.

However, a questionnaire has some limitations. It is not flexible enough to accommodate information not covered by the questionnaire itself. Unless a proper analysis plan is prepared beforehand, most of the information laboriously collected from the field tends to go waste. Detailed questionnaires can put off respondents as they feel they cannot spare the required time due to their busy schedules. Hence, if a questionnaire has to be designed, it should be short and to the point.

A checklist is an open-ended tool, flexible enough to suit location-specific needs. In reality, it is a list of issues prepared by the interviewer as a reminder of the various items to be discussed. It is quite common for an interviewer to get lost in an interview and end up collecting only partial information. A checklist has its own limitations too. Its success is closely related to the skill of the interviewer, who should be a participant/observer in the discussion. Also, when using a checklist, the interviewer should not be biased to his or her own views but give due importance to the respondent’s views. The interviewer should only guide and moderate the discussion. Some experience of administering questionnaires can definitely be helpful in using a checklist, the interviewer should not be biased to his or her own views but give due importance to the respondents views. The interviewer should only guide and moderate the discussion. Some experience of administering questionnaires can definitely be helpful in using a checklist.

The choice of interview method to be utilised depends on the objectives of the field exercise. If detailed quantitative and qualitative information is required, the questionnaire is definitely the best method. But if the emphasis is on the qualitative responses, new techniques like the Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) or the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) may with the help of checklists.

The RRA technique is especially useful for covering a wide geographical area and a large number of people in a short time. Parameters like attitudes and practices specific to a subject area are best covered by this method. The PRA technique has special applications where small areas have to be covered in great detail, as in the case of micro-level or grassroot level planning exercises. The RRA and the PRA techniques have their own limitations in a way because they yield best results only when an experienced field worker has the capacity to absorb the rapid information inflow, to quickly analyse it and to react during the discussion.

Selection of subjects for interviews depends on the objectives of the whole field exercise. The type of people to be interviewed varies with references to their social status, land ownership, occupation, family size, etc. In addition, specific people like a village school teacher, village headman, a progressive farmer or any person knowledgeable regarding the concerned subject may also be interviewed to provide special insights. A separate questionnaire/checklist needs to be prepared before conducting such interviews.

Additional tools like village maps and miniature working models are usually helpful during the RRA/PRA method of field work. Village maps, showing different resource areas and other information, have been found very effective for micro-level planning exercises. Miniature models can be used effectively to test people’s reactions and to measure their interest.

No approach is considered complete until it is tested on a pilot basis in the field on a small scale. During the pilot survey, questionnaire and checklist can be tested for their appropriateness and the required modifications can be made.

Special tools like field notebooks, cameras and tape recorders are known for their vast utility. But their real usefulness emerges only if they are used suitably. Field notebooks should be filled in meticulously with all information compiled in a chronological order. Addresses of all contact persons in the field should be recorded in these books for any follow-up required. Cameras are a useful tool for documenting interesting field observations. A good set of photographs or slides can help one to visualise the field experiences in a much clearer way. Tape recorders are useful to record the interviews and group discussions. But they have a drawback because they make people self conscious and thus hamper the flow of discussions.

Planning of field logistics is an important step in field work planning. This includes developing field contacts, manpower planning, equipment choice, time planning, transport arrangements, board and lodge facilities and the required finances. One or two good field contacts can be the entry point for the field worker to establish his or her credentials in the field area during the initial stages of work. Through these contacts one can plan field itineraries and establish a network.

Manpower planning decides the number of field workers required for the information gathering exercise. A team of three or four people maximum has been found to be an excellent combination, though one or two member teams are also effective. The equipment should be selected carefully and sufficient stock of photographic films etc. has to be kept.

Enough time should be allowed to cover the entire target area and the time schedule has to be adhered to strictly. Advance notices given to field contacts regarding the field tour programme must be given prior attention, to avoid confusion about meetings and timings. Even the selection of the season for field work is important if one wants to avoid bad weather, important festivals or political happenings like elections.

by Vijay Kumar

Back to Contents