MEAL training

Date 11th Jan 2022

Name of trainer: Firass Alhenesh/ CARE MEAL
Officer
 Objectives of the training
Acquire the knowledge to make informed decisions when having
the opportunity to collect information on the field ensuring high
levels of confidence, reliability, and representativeness
Ethical Principles
• Do no harm
• Honesty
• Competence
 Introduction to Qualitative and
Quantitative Research Techniques

Are you familiar with these concepts?

 Both are needed to develop a shared understanding of how people are
affected by crisis

QUANTITATIVE DATA
• magnitude and scale of a
crisis
• numeric picture of its impact
upon affected communities
• addresses the questions: how
many and how much
QUALITATIVE DATA
• determine the nature of the impact
of a crisis upon affected
populations
• Answers questions of how and why
coping strategies have adapted, or
failed to adapt, to the changed
circumstance

 When undertaking a needs assessment, a combination of different types

and sources of data is required to build a holistic picture of the affected
population
Zoom in… QUANTITATIVE data
STRENGHS
 Advantage of legitimate quantitative data: data
which is collected accurately, using the
appropriate methods, and analyzed critically =
reliability
 Numeric estimates
 opportunity for relatively uncomplicated
data analysis
 data which are verifiable
 data which are comparable between
different communities within different
locations
 data that do not require analytical judgment
beyond consideration of how the
information will be presented in the
dissemination process.
WEAKNESSES
 Gaps in information: issues which
are not included in the
questionnaire, or secondary data
checklist, will not be included in
the analysis
 Labor intensive data collection
process
 Limited participation by affected
persons in the content of the
questions or direction of the
information collection process.
Zoom in… qualitative data
STRENGHS WEAKNESSES

 Allow greater spontaneity + open-ended questions  Results in data which is not

have the ability to evoke responses that are: objectively verifiable : conclusions
 unanticipated by the researcher take the form of informed
In qualitative research, assertions about the meaning and
 rich and explanatory in nature
the data collection experience of certain (sub) groups
 In-depth analysis of the impact ofinstrument
a crisis is the of affected populations
researcher. Thus, the
 Perspectives of specific social and culturalteam is the Requires a labour intensive analysis
assessment
contexts core element in both the process (categorization, recoding,
observation of the etc.)
 Inclusion of a diverse and representative cross-
section of affected persons problem and in the
analysis  Needs skilled interviewers to
successfully carry out the primary
 A data collection process which requires limited
data collection activities.
numbers of respondents and can be carried out
with limited resources
Assessment accountability
With all data collection methods, be they quantitative or qualitative, there is a
responsibility by the assessment teams to be accountable to the information.
Awareness of, and adherence to, key humanitarian principles should be the first step
of all needs assessment teams when carrying out field research.

o Affected persons should be invited to participate in the data collection

process rather than feel cajoled or pressured.
o Information on how, when, where, and with whom the data will be used must
also be shared with community research participants.
o Expectations regarding potential advantages, or disadvantages, of
participating in the research process must be managed carefully to ensure
that community members do not develop false expectations about
humanitarian support or intervention.
o Failure to communicate clearly with affected populations participating in
research cannot only compromise research results but, in some cases, can
compromise the safety and security of the affected populations themselves
sons from whom they solicit
DATA COLLECTION METHODS

Interviews Document
Surveys
Review

Community
Workshop
or Meeting

Laboratory
Focus Group Observation Measuremen
ts
 Description Advantages Disadvantages

• Requires a moderate
amount of expertise
to design, use and
A list of questions given analyze
to a part of the • Can collect both • Questions may be
population. Surveys qualitative and misinterpreted

Surveys may be sent to

participants to be
• Can collect data from
completed in person,
over the telephone or
digitally.
quantitative data
• Can be expensive,
depending on how
a large number of many people you are
people surveying
• Can be expensive,
depending on how
many people you are
surveying
 Description Advantages Disadvantages

• Requires a skilled
Focused discussion
moderator
with a small group
• Creates limited
(usually 8 to 12
quantitative data
people) of • Collects detailed
• Since this is a
participants to record qualitative data
Focus feelings, opinions • Low cost
group exercise, it
may be difficult to
Groups and beliefs. A trained • Quick: one focus
moderator group can be done
collect personal
data
introduces the topic in an afternoon
• Collects data from
and uses an
a small number of
interview guide to
people
lead the discussion..
 Description Advantages Disadvantages

• Requires a skilled
One-on-one
interviewer
conversations with
• Creates limited
people who have
• Collects detailed quantitative data
special information
Interviews about a particular
qualitative data • Collects data from
• Low cost a small number of
topic. Interviews
people
usually have a set of
• Moderately time-
prepared questions.
consuming
 Description Advantages Disadvantages

A record of what
observers see and
hear at a specified
• Low cost
site, using a detailed • Requires a skilled,
Observatio observation form.
• Can provide many
types of data, both
objective observer
n Observation may be
of physical
qualitative and
• Difficult to do for
large groups
quantitative
surroundings,
activities or
processes
 Description Advantages Disadvantages

A review of
• Low cost
documents such as • Moderately time-
• Provides a view of
project records and consuming
Document reports, databases,
how data change
over time
• Information may
Review training materials,
communications,
• Provides both
be incomplete,
biased or
qualitative and
laws and policy inaccurate
quantitative data
documents
 Description Advantages Disadvantages

Careful • Requires a high

Laboratory measurement of
• Very accurate,
level of expertise
specific objective • Very expensive
Measureme things, such as infant
reliable
• Time-consuming
quantitative data
nts weight or water
quality.
to design, use and
analyze
 Description Advantages Disadvantages

A form of public •  Organizing the

• Low cost
meeting open to all event takes time
Community community members.
• Can gather a lot of
data at once
and resources.
An interviewer asks Requires a skilled
Workshop participants
• Provides a venue
moderator and
for discussion and
or Meeting questions following a
prepared interview
collaborative
skilled note-takers
to capture
thinking
guide. information.
Sampling