The Banyan Tree : A Textbook for
Holistic Health Practioners
SOCIAL
ANALYSIS FOR HOLISTIC HEALTH
SOME OTHER
METHODS OF SOCIAL ANALYSIS We present below
some other methods of doing a social analysis. We urge
the reader to keep in mind the basic framework and
principles of social analysis presented in the earlier
sections of this chapter.
Model 1 Keep in Mind : If
you prod at people like things, they wont let you
know them.
Visit your target
area, and make a rough assessment of the area :
a. Housing
situation
b. Economic
standard
c. Health of
the people and nitritional standard
d. Education
availability and standard
e. Employment
f. Religious
groups
g.
Entertainment.
Arrange some meetings
with the village leaders, or target area leaders.
Try to gain their cooperation and explain the
purpose of your work.
Develop a
questionnaire according to your needs. Choose the
communication language. Select your interviewers
and train them. Do home visits and fill-up the
questionnaire.
Sort out the
collected data.
Explain the outcome
to the target group
Draw conclusions
Set up an action plan.
Follow up, by periodic evaluation.
Model 2 This is a very
simple approach, which can be used very effectively with
some small groups, which want to explore their local
social reality. You simply move through the following ten
questions :
What do you notice
about our situation here today? What are people
experiencing?
What changes have
occured in the past 20 years? What have been the
most important events?
What influences does
money have in our situation? Why?
Who makes the most
important decisions around here? Why?
What are the most
important traditions of the people?
What are the most
important relationships people have here? Why?
What do people want
most in life? Why?
What will things be
like in ten years if they keep going in the same
way?Why?
What are the most
important causes of the way things are today?
Why?
This site would be best viewed on a Netscape 4.0 Gold or above and Microsoft IE 4.0 or above with screen settings of 800 x 600 and true colors option checked.