Post 2015 Development Agenda: Guidelines for Country ... - nrg4SD

ANNEX 2.2: MATRIX OF CONSULTATION METHODSThe list of methods/formats of consultations is not meant to be exhaustive, but merelyindicative to facilitate the choices of UNCT leading the post-2015 consultations.DESCRIPTION STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS SUGGESTED USESURVEYSGathering ofinformation (usuallyquantitative) usingsamples to makeassumptions aboutthe greaterpopulation or togarner informationrelevant to thosebeing surveyed 32Usually, the selection process is objective;good for measurable indicators likeincome, demographics, gender,socioeconomic status etc.Relatively easy for surveyors to understandrespondents in relation to one another 33WeaknessesPoor for opinion polling. Risk of overrepresentationof the vocal minority who maynot adequately represent the majority 34Opinion poll questions must be objectiveso as not to direct a response 35Directly prior to and after consultation. Delivered andtaken onset.Surveyors must ensure polls can be taken by individuals ofvarious literacy levels, disabilities and culturesMay need to offer surveys in the form of a personal interview,which may influence the person’s ability to answer honestlyand directly. Local sensitivities must be consideredAssure those surveyed that responses are anonymousONE -ON-ONE INTERVIEWSTrained researcher,interviewer, orfacilitator conductsindividual surveys inthe form of aninterviewMore thorough at the individual levelParticipants more comfortable, candidTime consuming and potentially morecostlyWomen and youth groups highly vulnerable populations whomay otherwise not express opinions in the presence of othersLikely only feasible for small group samplesFOCUS GROUPSA small group ledthrough an opendiscussion by a skilledmoderator. The groupneeds to be largeenough to generaterich discussion butnot so large thatsome participants areleft out 36Not good for gathering quantitative dataGenerates qualitative data which may bedifficult to quantifyWithout a skilled facilitator, may detractinto debate or cyclical discussionKeep the group homogenous to encourage openness andunderstanding; this includes the moderator or facilitatorParticipants should have little to no pre-establishedrelationships which may influence their answersKeep questions limited (around 10) and encourage discussionto generate consensusSee below for furtherdetails on the role ofthe facilitator32West Berkshire Council. “How to Choose Consultation Methods”. Consultation Toolkit: Resource 10. www.westberks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=492&p=0[PDF].33Ibid.34Eni Mustafaraj, Samantha Finn, Carolyn Whitlock and Panagiotis T. Metaxas. “Vocal Minority versus SilentMajority: Discovering the Opinions of the Long Tail”. Wellesley College Department of Computer Science. Seealso: Andrew Kohut and Carol Bowman. “The Vocal Minority in US Politics”. Chapter 5 of Radio: The ForgettenMedium. Edited by Edward C. Pease and Everette E. Dennis. (Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick; 1993).35“Public Opinion: Voice of the People”. Topic Overview Unit 11 from Democracy in America, Online Course fromLearner.org. http://www.learner.org/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_11/dia_11_topic.html. Accessed 3 February 2012.36Eliot & Associates. “Guidelines for Conducting a Focus Group”.www.dsamh.utah.gov/spf/pdf/how_to_conduct_a_focus_group.pdf. 2005.Post-2015 Development Agenda Process: Guideline for Consultations53