Rapid Assessment Process How to
This is an guide to doing a RAP using a hypothetical site visit by Joan Ash and her team.
Before getting to site (Preparation)
Onsite help: Onsite one must find a local investigator and a sheherd. The local principal investigator helps with IRB, site inventory, cultural translation, subject recruitment The shepherd helps with introductions and logistics.
Before getting to your site you should have an:
- experienced ethnographer
- someone with knowledge of the area of study
- identification of all areas contributing to problem
Onsite (Investigation
Once on site the team does both one on one interviewing and observation and mapping at the same time. 1. One on one interviewing is what it sounds like. It is important to remember that it is not “talking” but asking opened ended questions to get the interviewees opinions and ideas without injecting ones own biases or opinions. 2. Observation and mapping is best described as
Look for assumptions, variables that compose cultures by asking: 1. What do people say/do? 2. What does this say about the assumptions they make about themselves and the world around them?