Mobile phone survey methods for measuring social discrimination!
— Research, Social Hierarchy — 1 min read
Authors: Payal Hathi, Nazar Khalid, Nidhi Khurana, Amit Thorat, Diane Coffey
Published in: Institutions Grantee Report
Abstract:
The Social Attitudes Research, India (SARI) project is among the first to study prejudice and discrimination in India using a low-cost mobile phone survey. We collect representative data on explicit prejudice and discrimination against women, Dalits, and Muslims. We also measure public attitudes about social policies.
In collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), r.i.c.e has come out with a report that explores the promise of using mobile phone surveys to conduct research on social attitudes in India.
Our experience suggests that they are a valuable tool for measuring social attitudes and social progress.These uncomfortable but important problems are not discussed deeply enough today, as many people assume that economic progress will automatically bring social progress. Accurately measuring the extent of the problem may open up space for more frank discussions about social inequality in India, and the need for social policies to address it.