Research Methods & Challenges in Conflict Assessment

Research Methods & Challenges

Data Collection Methods

Conflict Sensitive Research & Assessment

• Who designs the research process?

• Who conducts the research?

• How transparent is the process?

• Are all research questions trauma-sensitive and pilot tested?

• Who will benefit from research & what follow up to report to local people?

Constructing Conflict Assessment Teams & Processes

• Diverse team of insiders and outsiders that are sensitive to power relations

• Be aware of potential dangers in research process to interviewees and researchers

• Be cautious approach to how people may provide data that serves their own interests

• Identify political interests that might block data collections

• Be aware of different levels of awareness of complex ideas and terms

Chapter 2 in "Conflict Assessment & Peacebuilding Planning"

Identifying Missing Information & Overconfident Assertions

Groupthink

People in groups start to:

• think alike

• reinforce false assumptions

• fail to see alternatives

• permit "mind guards" to censor views

• become overly optimistic about what they know and their own morality

World

Views

Selective Perception

Humans "see" information that fits into their current worldview.

Worldviews "filter" the world to see what we expect to see.

Humans "discard" information that does not fit into their current worldview.

Worldviews create the world they expect to see.

Psychological Processes that Hamper Research

Cognitive consistency

Cognitive dissonance

Data Validity & Distortion Problems

1. The identity of the group collecting the data impacts the quality of the data.

-People may tell you what they think you want to hear

2. Data distortion comes through translation.

3. Researchers assume they are objective and fail to identify strategies for overcoming their own bias.

Data Quality

Valid

Reliable

Accurate

Triangulated

This powerpoint is a resource to be used with the book shown here, published by Lynn Rienner/

Kumarian Press, 2013.

For more teaching/learning tools, please visit the book's website at:

www.conflict_assessment_and_peacebuilding_planning.org

Research Principles

Participation

Empowerment

Accountability

Respect

Confidentiality

Pedagogy