Kar ke dikhayenge, haan bhai haan

Outline India conducted a study aimed at assessing the foundational literacy (Reading, Writing) & numeracy skills (Arithmetic Operations, Addition, Subtraction) of children in primary school across a couple of states = The researchers assumed that owing to complex mathematical calculations, the assessment on one child might take longer.

Expecting to see children hesitating and taking time if not struggling with calculations, the researchers were pleasantly surprised when they witnessed that without a moment's hesitation, the young students answered the questions rather quickly, and some even without needing a sheet of paper,

While this assumption in no way hindered the study, it made us realize the bias of setting the bar so low for the students of rural areas than that of urban communities. It served as a reminder that every child, regardless of their background, has the ability to excel when provided with the right educational resources and opportunities. This heartwarming encounter with these eager young minds left the researchers with a renewed sense of purpose, committed to empowering these children.

Fear and Foe

Fearing strangers is a simple emotion to understand and sympathize with, but considering the same strangers as foe requires thinking deeply and assessing one’s actions.

There can be hostility on certain occasions and it can make one curious and uncomfortable at the same time. Our field team has experienced discomfort and unwelcoming stares from villages on many occasions but once the team explains their agenda and reasoning, their reservations are put to ease this was one such experience where we were practically rushed out of the village, almost on our hands and knees.

The village was, as is often the case, remote – 3 to 5 kilometers drive from the nearest road. Coming in we were met with stares, our guide, a local ASHA, told us that outsiders were rare. 

We did consider this odd and had our guards up. The villagers followed us around, tense, listening carefully to what we were saying in our unfamiliar accents.

Our study - based on sexual and reproductive health - was very sensitive and required us to talk to young adolescents in groups by themselves. This did not sit well with the villagers who made it very clear, despite prior permissions, support from ASHA workers, and the Mukhiya (the decision-maker, elected by the gram sabha or village government in India).

Our field teams have extensive experience in handling such situations and explaining the studies’ importance to parents while also being well-trained to talk about such sensitive issues with kids and adults alike. 

But no amount of persuasion helped our case. Our team eventually conducted a quick group discussion with a couple of adolescents of willing parents. As we saw a crowd, not out of inquisitiveness but rather some rage, gathered around us, we left the village with some people behind us to make sure we didn’t come back. 

“Why were we met with so much hostility?” We asked the ASHA, the Mukhiya, and a few friendly respondents. 

Turns out, there were cases of child kidnapping and rumors of outsiders luring children away from a neighboring village, and harvesting their organs. 

We as strangers and ‘outsiders’ wanting to speak with a group of young children, were walking red flags who had unknowingly triggered the villagers. 

For institutional review boards, the ethics are clear – you go to a village, you get informed consent, tell the respondent the risks and benefits, talk to the respondent privately so that they are not ostracized for their views and then you leave. We followed these best practices and more, going ahead and talking to the ASHA and Mukhiya, explaining our study, and gaining their support. But the backlash still happened. 

Lesson: It is important to build faith and take the localities in confidence to collect data from a place that is skeptical about strangers based on their experience. 

Clear visuals are the key to successful surveys

We were conducting a field study with children wherein we had to show them a few placards and collect the necessary information. 

On the first day, we had the placards in our respective devices. As a result of limitations of size, the images were too small which led to utter confusion among children and unclear responses. 

From the following day onwards, we kept the placards in the form of flip charts in spiral-bound sheets for the children to be able to easily recognize the image and give prompt and clear responses. This technique also helped us in getting children to participate more enthusiastically in the survey since they found the pictures very attractive and thoroughly enjoyed looking at them. 

Lesson learned: Ensure that the means used for data collection are in a proper and understandable manner before starting any survey. 

Work over play any day

“Which of these do you usually play with?” asked our researcher, inviting the kid to come closer to have a look at the toys on display.

The kid, in the blink of an eye, picked one of the toys and fled the place. 

Were we able to get hold of him thereafter? There was no chance we could!

This is often the case when we are interviewing kids for a study. They are so enchanted by just anything lying around like stones, sticks, tyres, ropes, etc. that their focus most of the time is to only run away with such things and play.

Lesson learned: We should take toys with us for kids and tell them that they will be allowed to take one home if they participate in the survey sincerely.