Rapid appraisal Methods

= Rapid Appraisal Methods =

What are they? Rapid appraisal methods are quick, low-cost ways to gather the views and feedback of beneficiaries and other stakeholders, in order to respond to decision-makers’ needs for information. What can we use them for?


 * Providing rapid information for management decision-making, especially at the

project or program level.


 * Providing qualitative understanding of complex socioeconomic changes, highly

interactive social situations, or people’s values, motivations, and reactions.


 * Providing context and interpretation for quantitative data collected by more formal

methods. ADVANTAGES:


 * Low cost.
 * Can be conducted quickly.
 * Provides flexibility to explore new ideas.

DISADVANTAGES:


 * Findings usually relate to specific communities or localities—thus difficult to

generalize from findings.


 * Less valid, reliable, and credible than formal surveys.

COST: Low to medium, depending on the scale of methods adopted. SKILLS REQUIRED: Non-directive interviewing, group facilitation, field observation, note-taking, and basic statistical skills. TIME REQUIRED: Four to six weeks, depending on the size and location of the population interviewed and the number of sites observed. THE METHODS a series of open-ended questions posed to individuals selected for their knowledge and experience in a topic of interest. Interviews are qualitative, in-depth, and semi-structured. They rely on interview guides that list topics or questions. a facilitated discussion among 8–12 carefully selected participants with similar backgrounds. Participants might be beneficiaries or program staff, for example. The facilitator uses a discussion guide. Note-takers record comments and observations. a series of questions and facilitated discussion in a meeting open to all community members. The interviewer follows a carefully prepared questionnaire. use of a detailed observation form to record what is seen and heard at a program site. The information may be about ongoing activities, processes, discussions, social interactions, and observable results. a structured questionnaire with a limited number of closeended questions that is administered to 50–75 people. Selection of respondents may be random or ‘purposive’ (interviewing stakeholders at locations such as a clinic for a health care survey).
 * Key informant interview
 * Focus group discussion
 * Community group interview
 * Direct observation
 * Mini-survey