MAP RESEARCH PROJECT: ONLINE ACTIVITIES FROM SEPTEMBER to DECEMBER 2020

01/24/2021 00:00:00

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From September to December 2020, MAP research project had 2 activities: baseline research and a workshop for MAP manual adaptation. During the pandemic, also due to the implementation of the large scale social restriction (PSBB) in Jakarta, the biggest challenge that the MAP research team faced was the data collection process for the baseline study. Taking into serious consideration of the situation in Jakarta and the policies enforced by the DKI Jakarta government, the majority of the data collection was done online.

 

There were several challenges in doing the data collection online, for example: instability of internet connection, adapting oneselves to online application to do the interviews. The research team prepared themselves by reading and rehearsing the interviews guidance, but being flexible to the choice of online applications that their participants were most comfortable with such as Whatsapp and Zoom. All the participants were given financial compensation for the cost of their internet connection and mobile phone charges. Though there were some technical issues, the data collection was completed. Similar technical issues were found during the preparation for MAP manual adaptation workshop. The workshop was initially planned to be held on-site, instead it had to be done online. Fortunately, the online workshop went well.

 

To conduct both research activities, the Baseline research team and the MAP team routinely had a fortnightly online meeting, where they discussed any issues and try to find the best solutions to implement the MAP research project amids all the unforeseen situation and government restrictions. The MAP baseline research team also had the opportunity to share their experience in doing its baseline study in Indonesia to other MAP teams from the UK, Kyrgyszstan, Rwanda, and Nepal.