Project Description

The qualitative study conducted in 2016 accompanied a quantitative survey to: (a) assess the socio-economic and living conditions of a representative sample of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Northern Iraq, specifically related to housing, income generation, migration, household gender dynamics and community organization; (b) understand the socio-economic implications on the host communities; and (c) identify strategies that Syrian refugees are developing for community governance, and to support Syrian refugees and host communities in the immediate and longer term.

The specific purpose of the qualitative fieldwork was to gather data on issues that were difficult to capture in a quantitative survey due to the sensitive or complex nature of the questions. For instance, in a context where refugee populations may not have access to formal labor markets, and host communities feel the pressure of enhanced competition for jobs, a qualitative study was considered useful to provide a deeper understanding of informal labor markets and risky coping strategies. Similarly, questions on household stress and gender dynamics were included in the qualitative component.

Assignment: Situational Analysis

Monica Biradavolu was hired as a consultant on the qualitative component. She worked with her co-researcher, Daniel Masterson, PhD candidate in Political Science at Yale University.

• Designed the study including the research questions, site selection, sampling and recruitment framework, methodology, data management, and analysis plans
• Developed focus group discussion guides and semi-structured interview guides
• Developed study protocols
• Developed training materials and trained field staff
• Analyzed data
• Produced reports