Qualitative methods
Focus group discussions:
Focus group discussions use group interactions to produce qualitative data. The topics are chosen by the researcher who usually moderates the discussion. The key to this method is the use of interactions, that is sharing and comparing, that goes in group discussions, providing insights into what participants think and why they think the way they do. The strengths of focus groups is the variety of different perspectives and experiences that participants reveal during their interactive discussion.
Settlement profiling and GIS mapping:
Settlement profiling is a community-led research approach where residents collect detailed information about their settlements, especially focusing on social inequalities and gaps in urban planning.
The areas explored include access to land; risks of eviction; availability of basic services like water, sanitation, electricity, education and transportation; livelihood opportunities, economic conditions among others. The outcome is a settlement profile – a document combining spatial (maps) and socio- economic data.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping can complement this process by producing digital, georeferenced maps that visualize the data collected. The settlement profile provides evidence on the state of the settlement and helps in advocacy for improved services, and raising community voices.
In depth interviews
We will conduct in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and vulnerable persons in each settlement.
These include detailed interviews of health providers, community leaders, members of civil society organisations, and non profits in each site to assess health and social vulnerabilities and health service impacts of recent extreme weather events on urban marginalised populations during and after such events. The vulnerable groups include elderly, disabled, single parents, oppressed caste groups, among others.
Photovoice: Photovoice combines photography and narrative story telling to capture lived experiences of marginalised or underserved communities. It involves participants taking photos of their environment and experiences and then discussing what these photos represent. These reflections capture critical insights about the reality they face, their challenges and aspirations. It is a relatively inclusive method letting people from different social, cultural, linguistic backgrounds to participate. This method was used in the Arise consortium as well.
Participatory Social Network Analysis (PSNA):
PSNA maps relationships, partnerships, and information flows among individuals, groups, and institutions. It includes identifying stakeholders involved in areas such as extreme weather response, health service delivery etc and mapping both formal and informal connections to these areas, and understanding how the information and resources circulate.
In this project, we used Venn diagramming in this project where participants draw circles of different sizes to represent different actors and organisations, and the influence they wield. The distance between circles reflects the strength or weakness of relationships, helping visualise power dynamics and influence in the community. It also helps identify gaps or barriers in communication and collaboration
Social Mapping
Through social mapping we try to understand social vulnerabilities within a community, especially how different groups access services and experience risks during extreme weather events.
Maps are drawn collectively by groups with shared identities (eg. young women, young men). This exercise aims to help participants reflect on their specific experiences and perspectives. With conversations guided by facilitators, participants mark key features such as healthcare facilities, social spaces, roads, government buildings, shops, and areas of social vulnerability, especially during extreme weather events. Social maps are valuable for planning interventions that address the specific needs of diverse community groups.
In depth interviews
Participants draw a map of their settlement on a chart, marking important features such as health care facilities, government structures, social spaces, roads, shops, etc. Facilitators will ask questions about access to and use of health services, how this differs during extreme weather events, geographic locations of risk and socially vulnerable groups, and governance systems relevant to emergency response.
Timelines:
Participants are asked to construct a chronological sequence of significant extreme weather events such as floods, landslides, mudslides, and share narratives about these events and their impacts. This activity helps communities document and analyse how extreme weather events have affected them over time, especially in relation to health and social well being.
Transect walk:
A transect walk is a structured walk through an area. It will be carried out with local coresearchers as guides, referring to GIS maps generated through spatial mapping On the walk, researchers will ask questions about how the community uses available spaces, living conditions and how these shape risks and vulnerabilities to extreme weather events, and the condition, social and geographic accessibility of health services.