Course Details
Hard-to-Reach: Applied Research Methods with Hidden, Marginal and Excluded Populations

Contents

• Outline and Objectives
• Course Structure and Program
• Fees
• Accommodation
• Instructor
• Contact

Course Outline

Focusing on Hard-to-Reach populations, the course introduces research methods in conducting research, both qualitative and quantitative, on marginal, hidden and excluded populations. It will cover research on topics such as migrants, refugees, displaced people, children and adolescents, sex workers, homeless, LGBT, victims of violence, conflicts, or trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and drug users, as well as topics proposed by participants.

The course is designed to bring together academics (Researchers, PhD, and master’s students) and practitioners (from NGOs, UN, and Government Agencies), creating a unique opportunity for experience sharing and methodological cross-fertilization.

Course Objectives

The course aims to enable participants to undertake empirical research with marginal and hidden populations and seeks to encourage participants to develop methodological strategies for the collection and analysis of such data.

The course will provide tools to address key issues such as the lack of known sampling frames, the difficulties in reaching the target group, the concepts of impact, attribution, and contribution, and the political dimension of research findings. Topics include estimation and sampling techniques, participatory research, evidence-based policy versus policy-based evidence, innovation, crowdsourcing, and the use of technology, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, and ethical considerations when conducting research with hidden and marginalized populations.

Course Prerequisites

Basic knowledge in research methods and design. An interest in the topic and some practical research experience, or an acquaintance with applied research, would be helpful. Participants should complete an online course on Research Ethics prior to the beginning of the course.

Provisional Structure

This intensive full-time course is structured in morning and afternoon sessions. Participants will be encouraged to present their past, ongoing, or future work to be used and discussed during the course. Combining both taught and practical sessions, the main emphasis of the course is on acquiring practical skills in doing research.

Program

DAY 1: Concepts, Questions, and Action

• Hard-to-reach populations: concepts, definitions, data collection implications
• Applied research and basic research: linkages, opposition, challenges, and opportunities
• Evidence-Based Policy vs Policy-Based Evidence
• Research methods: surveys, questionnaires design, online data collection, stakeholder analysis

DAY 2-3: Quantitative Methods

• The quest of assessing the magnitude: sampling and estimation
• Cluster sampling and adaptive cluster sampling
• Capture and recapture techniques
• Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS)
• Social network analysis applied to hard-to-reach populations

DAY 4: Qualitative Methods, Participation, and Research Ethics

• Participatory research
• Innovation and the use of technology: SMS, crowdsourcing, and mapping
• Ethical considerations in doing research with marginal populations
• Combining research methods

Tuition Fees

• UNICEF/NGO – £950.00
• Commercial – £1,100.00

If you are not sure which option applies to you, contact Melanie Sawers at melanie.sawers@nuffield.ox.ac.uk.

The fee does not include accommodation, food, or travel costs, but all essential material for the course.

Instructor

Andrea Rossi is the former Director of the Harvard Measurement and Human Rights Programme at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and currently works as Senior Advisor on Social Policy and Economic Analysis for the United Nations in East Asia. He has extensive experience in applied research methodology and teaching Research Methods with Hidden and Marginal Populations.

Contact

For queries related to the event, please contact Melanie Sawers at melanie.sawers@nuffield.ox.ac.uk.

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Accommodation

Accommodation is available from Oxford Colleges and also from Oxford area hotels and hostels. Participants are responsible for arranging this individually. It is highly recommended that students book their accommodation as early as possible since College accommodation is in high demand during the summer period.

• University Rooms
• Experience Oxfordshire
• Oxford City

It is highly recommended that students book their accommodation as early as possible since College accommodation is in high demand during the summer period. Please also note that travel costs are not covered by the tuition fee. As with accommodation, participants have to make travel arrangements individually.