Table 2 Summary of methods
From: On the unraveling of ‘revitalization of local health traditions’ in India: an ethnographic inquiry
Method | Sample and field procedure |
|---|---|
a) narrative synthesis of policies | 22 policy documents at the national level as well as key international policies that were contemporaneous to or are reflected in the terms and concepts used in national policies. |
b) stakeholder landscaping | Visits to and interactions with organisations and agencies in all three states, both referred to and indicated in publicly available policy documents on LHT, and as nominated by those interviewed |
c) key informant interviews with NGO staff | Interviews carried out with 18 NGO representatives involved with the revitalisation agenda as indicated in policy documents or as referred by prior key informants |
d) observations | Participant observations in meetings of 6 national, regional, and state-level healers associations and conclaves, as well as 5 scientific conferences, seminars and meetings |
e) focus group discussions | 3 discussions with convenience samples of healers at aforementioned conclaves to discuss what they do, why they attend these meetings and what they feel ought to be done to improve their situation |
f) in depth interviews | Interviews carried out with 51 healers and 15 of their patients, 20 government representatives of AYUSH department as well as AYUSH research councils at the state level, 15 academicians/researchers involved with documentation efforts or broader research/writing/advocacy on LHT in the popular media or academic literature |
g) interactive dialogue | 1.5 day long interaction involving 36 of the aforementioned stakeholders in a direct conversation with each other on themes emanating from earlier fieldwork, i.e. a) documentation, b) linkages between LHT and AYUSH, c) recognition and legitimacy and d) ways forward for research, advocacy and policy. |
h) case studies of healers | Repeated interviews carried out to develop case studies of 10 (6 menn and 4 women) healers to more deeply understand their experience in light of themes emerging from the dialogue. Care was taken to ensure diversity in gender, years of experience and representation of both those present and absent from dialogue |