Approach

RESEARCH APPROACH The IITC research approach is characterized by close-in observation of people, behavior, and organizations through on-site methods. This approach, derived from the ethnographic methods of anthropology, emphasizes studying behavior in its natural context, not in a laboratory or clinical setting.

These observations use disciplined methods – participant observation, interviews, focus groups, case studies, narrative analysis, content analysis, network mapping, visual description – supplemented, if appropriate to the problem, with statistical surveys and documentary analysis. Our emphasis, however, is permitting the research subjects to speak for themselves, and to represent their situation as accurately and authentically as possible.

These on-site methods are supported by a variety of research tools, including interview protocols, rapid assessment, digital recording and others.

The result is rapid, reproducible research results that are accurate, timely, and useful to our research partners.