By Jhon Louie B Sabal

Three departments under the Social Sciences cluster of the College of Arts and Sciences of Xavier University collaborated on a workshop on alternative techniques and methods in data gathering on September 15.

The departments of Economics, History/International Studies/Political Science, and Sociology and Anthropology taught research students other means of collecting data apart from the usual household survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions.

Research techniques and methods shared included Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) using pairwise, Venn diagram and spot mapping by Roderico Dumaug Jr of the IS Dept, stakeholder analysis by Catherine Almaden of the Economics Dept and inputs on quantitative and qualitative techniques by Don Antonio Velez, chairperson of the Sociology Dept.

After the inputs, the students participated in the World Café method for their workshop facilitated by History/IS/PolSci Dept chairperson Manilee Pañares. The students were divided into six thematic groups representing the different research tools and were asked to act as policymakers, urban residents, academicians, businessmen, religious leaders, government officials, civic group representatives and celebrities. Each group had to transfer from one table to another to have a first-hand encounter with the different research tools.

Economics Dept chair Ma Kresna Navarro encouraged the students to reverberate their learning from the workshop with their peers.

The Social Sciences cluster wants to make research fun and enticing to students and, at the same time, equip them with the skills they will need when they immerse in the community. This way, data gathering can be done efficiently and productively by the students.

Research is a focal thrust of XU providing students with opportunities to engage in several research courses and activities. This workshop served as part of the annual faculty lecture series of the three departments.