Paint by number: how mixed methods research enriches quantitative data with qualitative stories to tell us more in fragile, complex environments

Economists often rely heavily on quantitative data to draw conclusions and test models. Quantitative analysis is important. It allows us to look at complex sets of factors to identify causal and contributing factors. Yet, household level data is messy, especially in conflict-affected environments. When we engage in qualitative or mixed methods research, we have a chance to see the people behind the numbers, to add a layer of richness to the story, and to have a more nuanced understanding of people’s lived experiences and how that impacts their behavior and decision-making. In this section Dena Bunnel, former Nuru staff in northeast Nigeria and PhD candidate focusing on rural resilience and conflict, will discuss the use of mixed methods in Nuru Nigeria’s impact evaluation, particularly the use of focus group discussions to draw out the stories of a community in recovery. She will also discuss how using the local language and local enumerators can elicit more detailed and accurate stories. In closing, she will preview her research to identify the impact of agricultural development interventions on community recovery in conflict-affected regions, building on the five-year mixed methods evaluation in Nigeria and stories collected from two years on the ground in Nigeria.