rapid assessment of the social impacts of - Philippines Development ...

Data Collection Activities
Given the need to generate results for inclusion in the PDNA report issued in mid-November
2009, the research team followed a very tight fieldwork schedule based on consultations with
partner-PO leaders and barangay officials (Table 2). Data collection was limited to one week,
with the researchers facilitating two FGD sessions in a day. In each site, four FGD sessions and
at least three key informant interviews were conducted. A community feedback session marked
the end of data collection in each of the areas visited.
Initial site visits
Initial visits to the sites enabled the researchers and their PO partners to orient barangay
officials and PO leaders about the study, finalize the research schedule, conduct informal
interviews with barangay and PO leaders, and gather secondary data (e.g., barangay profile, PO
profile). Community walkthroughs which allowed the researchers to observe everyday life in
the community and to take note of the community’s physical conditions were also conducted
during the initial phase of the study.
Profiling of FGD participants
The selection of FGD participants was aided by the use of a profiling tool which provided the
researcher with basic information on potential participants, including name, age, sex, education,
address, religion, number of children, source of family/household income, membership in any
community or barangay association, position or designation in the community or barangay
association. A primary consideration in making the final selection of participants was
representation from male and female community members across age groups, occupations, and
across all residential clusters (near and far from the community center). Care was also taken to
make sure that persons with disabilities were represented.
Focus group discussions
A total of twenty-eight FGD sessions, or four in each site were held, with four different groups
representing various livelihoods, women, youth, and community leaders. Discussions had an
average of seven participants, with women greatly outnumbering men. Inviting male
participants proved difficult given the timing of the sessions.
Key informant interviews
A total of twenty-five face-to-face interviews were conducted with representatives of the
barangay local government unit (LGU), community associations, and highly vulnerable groups
(as determined by the community) to provide depth to the FGD data. Among those who agreed
to be interviewed were barangay captains and kagawad (council members), and PO leaders.
Feedback sessions with the community and NGO-PO research partners
To validate the initial conclusions, the researchers facilitated on-site feedback sessions before
leaving the communities. Attendance ranged from 34 (Doña Imelda) to 310 (Malaban)
participants. Sessions in non-Metro Manila sites registered a relatively higher attendance
(average of 237) than those Metro Manila sites (average of 49). The IPC also shared the initial
findings with its major research partner, COM, a month after their first meeting and shortly
before the submission of the final report. The meeting was attended by a CO trainer, two
community organizers, and thirteen PO leaders. The group confirmed the communities’
observations and recommendations and provided additional information.
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