Social research and assessment
Since research is imperative in informing policy decisions, programme development and project implementation, our research component’s primary aim is the delivery of quality products based on reliable and valid data. A strong focus on comprehensive conceptualisation, appropriate research methodology and quality control measures during both fieldwork and data capturing processes all work towards this principle.
Our expertise within the research component relates to the following aspects:
- Conceptualisation/ defining of the research scope
- Defining the research Design
- Defining the research methodology
- Compiling the Fieldwork plan and fieldwork management
- Database design/ data capturing and management
- Report writing
- Workshops to facilitate discussions on processes and report with clients/role-players
Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring and evaluation are essential processes in policy, programme and project implementation and management. In short Monitoring and Evaluation allows the agent of implementation to establish if (i) are we doing the right things and (ii) are we doing it in the right way? Answers to these two questions are essential to ensure the validity, focus and method of implementation.
More formally put, evaluation refers to the act of assessment or appraisal of the outcome of an interventionist activity or series of coherent activities that were planned to change the state of affairs within a specific situation. To evaluate the outcome and impact of programmes initiated, supported, coordinated and/or implemented by an agent (and its partners), is to determine if the programmes that were supposed to be implemented have resulted in the intended changes among the target populations as planned and anticipated. The management process of doing this is called monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
Social Risk assessment
Amongst scholars and researcher there is a growing recognition of the impact of social risk in social development interventions and initiatives. Social risks include aspects such as poverty, minority status and race and/or ethnicity as well as social isolation, and limited community resources. The current South African context, and not unique to the global experience, is characterised by exceptionally high and escalating unemployment levels, poor educational outcomes, a lack of housing opportunities, an absence or inadequate delivery of basic services as well as an unequal access to available resources.
It is essential to acknowledge the potential destabilising social impact of these societal conditions and work towards mitigating such risks by targeted and effective development programmes and inititiatives. Behavioural and demographic data are powerful indicators of such social risk factors and if studied and applied strategically have the ability to guide and direct strategic development inititiatives in mitigating such risks and also in predicting and managing the outcomes and consequences of such risks.
Training
The primary aim of this component is to invest in the skills base of all organisations, institutions and individuals that work in, or with, the research sphere in sharing our experiences and expertise. Target groups for training include students (higher education) and public sector such as government departments, private sector and broader civil society. Currently Soreaso offers an enumerator (fieldwork) course accredited with the University of Stellenbosch with the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology.
The focus of the training component fall within the following themes:
- Research methodology
- Research project management
- Fieldwork plan development
- Fieldworker training
- Ethics
- Survey and other research questionnaires
- Data quality assurance
- Questionnaire design
- Fieldwork training
- Fieldwork management
- Data
- Field staff
- Data capturing(IT dataset development)
- Training on SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)
- Development studies