Research Design
Similar to other countries, as Bangladesh has been affected by COVID-19, the impacts more or less have been profound on people from all social strata. Many have been suffering economically, from food crises, and a crisis of health and medical service provision. Many academics, institutes, etc. have been engaged in researches to understand the different perspective of society and its people in relation to the pandemic. Interestingly, the experience of marginalised groups has received very little attention.
This study conceptualises marginalisation as both a process, and a condition, that prevents individuals or groups from full participation in social, economic and political life. Marginalised population would mean those groups who have no influence over the ways in which the responses to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 are crafted and implemented and hence, be ‘passive’ or ‘coerced’ receptors of policies and response measures. This study emphasises on the heterogeneity of marginalisation and differences in experience of different groups as a process of marginalisation.
With this backdrop, the research considers five characteristics of marginalisation, amongst many, to determine the specific marginalised groups to be investigated namely – a) Economic opportunities, b) Ethnic and religious background, c) Living in remote areas with low access to health and other services, d) Gender, and e) Disabilities. The five marginalised group identified with these characteristics are – a) Ethnic and religious minorities, b) Rural poor, c) Urban slum dwellers, d) Female headed household and e) Households having persons with disabilities.
Research Methods
This study has adopted a mixed-methods approach to create an information data-loop and explore the patterns around emerging granularities to inform and influence public policies, and state responses on COVID-19 related relief, recovery and resilience measures. To collect quantitative data the study employs survey questionnaire and for qualitative exploration focus group discussion (FGD) is being conducted.
To guide development of the survey instrument and critical variables, a desk research and qualitative exploration was undertaken. The desk research found that the marginalised groups have been impacted in a myriad of ways, but most importantly, the limitations revolve around a restraint on people’s access to livelihoods and a series of social impacts that bring further long-term consequences. The government’s responses to the pandemic, have been top down and reactive in nature. However, this approach of a top-down response has resulted in new problems. The research thus far, establishes a necessity to delve deeper into more nuanced and contextual settings to identify the need for each case and not devise policy based on a depiction of all people as a monolithic group.
Data Collection Tools
A representative sample survey at the household level under panel setting (three surveys in three quarters in a year) is being conducted. Study design and devising the survey tools along with checklists for qualitative data collection through focus group discussions (FGDs) has been developed in the design phase of the project. Qualitative exploration helps to identify and narrate the scenarios which are not possible to cover through the perception-based survey. Overall, these approaches served as the amplifier of the voice of the marginalised population for responsive and inclusive policy formulation. Geographical dispersion of the survey was maintained to diversify the sample. Under panel survey at household level, feedback/response has solicited over a digital platform using customised and user-friendly mobile phone apps and the qualitative data collection was commenced by a group of trained qualitative facilitators and co-researchers of this study.
Data Analysis and Presentation
The public facing web-based dashboard reports the findings and trends through data analytics and info-graphics. Descriptive and analytical statistics have been used in analysing quantitative data while qualitative data helped us explain and further clarify some of the significant trends, changes, perceptions, and their overall experiences.
Data analysis was also done in two phases. The first phase was to prepare the summary statistics of the complete dataset. In the second phase, the questions were organised according to different themes with a view to have a proper understanding of the circumstances. Making sense out of the data, comparing to qualitative analysis was also done in this phase. The research team was responsible for performing the data analysis, following a pre-designed tabulation format.