Advances in Mixed Method Poverty Research: Lessons Learned in a Colombian Case Study EDNA BAUTISTA HERNÁNDEZ MARÍA FERNANDA TORRES 1st of July, 2013
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Research Context: Grounding poverty studies in the local The longer I live the more convinced am I that—except in purely abstract problems— the statistical side must never be separated even for an instant from the nonstatistical. —ALFRED MARSHALL, English economist, 1906
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) MPI is a methodology presented by Alkire and Foster (2007, 2011) that conceptualizes poverty as multiple deprivations that are simultaneosly experienced. National Planning Department in Colombia uses MPI to develop and monitor social policies according to departments. Used to identify who is poor, aggregate across poor people, and measures incidence, intensity and depth of poverty.
MPI
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Quantitative Approach Database with local representation (Sisbén): – Socio-demographic variables Housing Household composition Health, education and occupation Information for a small municipality (Villapinzón) composed of data from 16,158 respondents (99.9% have low socio- economic status).
Quantitative Approach Index calculation: – Multidimensional headcount ratio: H = q/n Where: q= number of people that suffers deprivations in at least K dimensions n= total population – Adjusted Headcount Ratio: Mo= H*A A: Average intensity of deprivation. Average share of deprivations among the poor
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Qualitative Approach Data Collection Techniques ObjectiveParticipants Pre-study Visits Phase 1 Identify Participants.Seven families prioritized by ‘Red Unidos’. The key Administration Officials. Participant Observation Phase 2 Observe, identify and gather information on the experiences of the dimensions of poverty. Rural family: seven members. Focus Groups Phase 3 Identify and collect information on perceived poverty programs and analyze some variables on the dimensions of MPI. Three focus groups: Adults, ‘Red Unidos’ officials and teenagers. Interviews Phase 4 Identify the importance of the issue of poverty and improvement programs that are implemented in the municipality. Interviews with policy makers within the municipality.
Rural family. August, Colombia.
Data analysis: Coding Methodology Data transcription and analysis Coding scheme – Codes: 14 codes: MPI, other variables 5 program evaluation codes
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Incidence of poverty in poor people Source: Authors' calculations with Sisbén information
Officials Teenagers Adults
Mixed Method Ranking Process PriorityQuantitative resultsQualitative results 1 Informal employment rateHave a job 2 Low educational achievementSubstantial material walls 3 Educational lagOvercrowding 4 No access to the health-care systemAccess to health, nutrition and care 5 Without early childhoodservicesHaving a bath and sewer system 6 Critical OvercrowdingLiteracy
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Lessons learned from findings We found three variables that demonstrate the importance of mixed methods – Child labor – Overcrowding – Teenage pregnancy
Lessons learned from findings: Child labor
"(...) In our grade there is a child that works with leather, right? Sometimes he does not go to school, why? Because he’s working.“ Girl, Colombia, One afternoon after school, Colombia, 2012.
Lessons learned from findings: Overcrowding
Lessons learned from results: Overcrowding Playing in our room, Colombia, "(...) I live with six other people in my room, okay? I share my bed with my brother.“ Girl, Colombia, 2012
Lessons learned from results: Teenage pregnancy
Lessons learned from findings: Teenage pregnancy "(...) I got pregnant when I was 14 years old (...) I wanted to leave my home, my grandfather used to beat me a lot.“ Mother, Colombia, Julian, Colombia, 2012.
Presentation overview Research Context Methodology – Multidimensional Poverty Index in Colombia – Quantitative approach – Qualitative approach Mixed Approach Ranking Process Lessons learned – Findings – Research Design and Methodology
Lessons learned Research team – Travel – Background Timing – The research schedule matters – Frequent feedback between researchers Research design – Context matters – Previous research design is key
Lessons learned (cont.) Grounding in policy-making -Requires both statistics and voices of the people involved -Ranking quantitative/qualitative -Integration of macro- and localized vision of poverty
Lessons learned (cont.) As poverty in developing countries has multiple dimensions and dynamics, a mixed method approach is crucial for its understanding.
How would you integrate your findings? For more information and detailed results: