Cautionary Tales

Being on field is an adventure in itself. All field missions are unique, bringing strange, funny, and on occasions disturbing anecdotes to help us learn and grow as researchers.

Navigating Cultural Sensitivities

Gathering data in rural areas can be delicate, especially with sensitive subjects like Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), often considered taboo in many Indian villages. Researchers, often seen as outsiders with different accents and advanced equipment, face significant challenges when discussing such personal topics.

In one instance, our researchers arrived in a village where early marriages and teen pregnancies seemed prevalent. Understanding the underlying factors was crucial, but the idea of outsiders asking about sexual practices, particularly involving women and children, caused outrage. The villagers found discussing these hushed topics with strangers to be an invasion of privacy.

Recognizing the cultural barriers, the researchers remained persistent, with the help of local health workers and community leaders. They respectfully explained that SRH education was not a judgment but a tool to empower the community. They highlighted how SRH literacy could lead to healthier pregnancies, improved family planning, and a better understanding of their bodies for both men and women. Eventually, they gained permission to conduct anonymous surveys focusing on general health and well-being, subtly incorporating SRH-related questions.

Over time, as trust grew, the researchers yielded valuable data while respecting the villagers' sensitivities. This approach not only gathered the necessary information but also fostered a sense of collaboration and understanding, showing that patience and cultural sensitivity are vital in such delicate tasks.

The Tech Trouble

Equipped with state-of-the-art tablets, our team arrived at a village in Uttar Pradesh, ready for efficient digital data collection. However, they soon discovered a critical problem: there was no electricity to charge the devices in the village houses. The tablets became practically useless after the batteries were running out.

Realizing the severity of the situation, the researchers had to find a nearby shop, which was around 5 kilometers away, to get five devices charged. This process took an hour. Despite the initial setback, the team was impressed by the villagers' understanding and welcoming nature, which made the situation more manageable.

Armed with charged tablets, the team resumed their data collection. This experience highlighted the importance of flexibility and having backup plans. The team returned with valuable data and a renewed appreciation for the resilience and hospitality of the villagers, realizing that sometimes, community support is as crucial as technology.

Data Privacy pe sabka hai adhikar

As a data collection organization working in the development space for over a decade, there are “trends” we come across over the years.

From women remaining inside the house during surveys, to them sitting beside the male members in the courtyard as equal participants, good changes are hard to come by but they are surely on their way.

What (pleasantly) surprised our field team was the sense of awareness the respondents had during our field work in 2023

As a policy, our teams carry ID cards, and approval letters from the authorities and are trained to make appropriate introductions, but these have seldom come in use since the assumption that rural communities are less apprehensive in taking surveys is not far from the truth. However, this time around our teams were privy to questions about our backgrounds, where we come from, what is the purpose of the tool, what change can this potentially bring to their lives, and do we have “proper permission” to ask certain questions.

The communities were not just aware about their sense of privacy, the photos we were taking etc, but the young children of the household also made sure to see our website and Facebook page.

“As changemakers in the public policy space, we always wish to see impactful change at the ground level. With govt schemes and CSRs working across knowledge building and awareness initiatives for rural communities, it is wonderful to witness this cycle of positive change. “

Pucho, magar dhyan se...!

Field work from a research perspective is often more complicated than one thinks.

Appointment seeking, permission slips, mountains of paperwork, repeated enumerator training, coordination and so much more is also a major part of field work. However, it can all go to waste after one interaction.

Outline India, while conducting a rather sensitive survey on information dissemination and its impact, conducted a data collection in a remote town in Bihar. For the relevance of the study, the survey required information regarding the kind of content they consume in addition to knowledge of the local political parties, leaders, and coalitions in that area.

After finishing a majority of the surveys, the team reached the last location. Upon looking at the questions, the individual became rather upset as to why the party they support had not been included in the study. They also accused us of trying to ‘change’ political ideologies of people to support another party’s agenda.