Methodology

Abstract

This chapter outlines the methodology that guides the empirical approach of this investigation. The research aim is to understand public policies against prenatal sex selection, their evolution and impact on sex ratio imbalances in selected Asian countries by providing a qualitative and qualitative assessment. Three countries and three distinct localities within those countries (Northwestern India, Northern Vietnam and Southeastern part of South Korea) were chosen to serve as case studies for the comparative analysis. This chapter first describes the research methodology used for comparing systems of great diversity making use of the Most Different Systems Design (MDSD). It then highlights the country selection criteria and describes the qualitative and quantitative data that has been employed throughout the investigation. The qualitative data draws from policy files, over 100 key informant interviews, and participant observation during political rallies, which was gathered during field research in South Korea, India and Vietnam. The quantitative analysis is based on secondary demographic data obtained from the national statistic bureaus in the three countries to assess policy impact via a difference-in-difference analysis comparing pre-and post intervention periods in target and control areas. The chapter also describes the research sites, data analysis, data quality and comparability before closing with a short summary.

Annex 1: Event calendar. Field research in Vietnam, India and South Korea, October 2014 – April 2015

Country/Hosts	Dates	Activities
Vietnam Institute for Population and Social Studies	03.10.14	Participation in talk show & arts performance on SRB imbalance, UNFPA and DOPFP of Hai Duong Province, Hai Duong City.
	09.10.14	Dissemination workshop on the joint program between MOLISA & MOH on “Promoting gender equality to address SRB imbalance,” Hanoi.
	21.10.14	Conduction of interviews during communication event on SRB imbalances, UNFPA, MOLISA, VFU, VWU, GOPFP-MOH, Hanoi.
	07.11.14	Participation in “Sharing International & National Experience in Harnessing Opportunities from Demographic Changes for Socio-Economic Development and Implications for Vietnam,” UNFPA, Vinh Yen City.
	11.11.14	Participation in the 2nd National Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health, UNFPA, Hanoi.
	12.–13.11.14	Field research in Ninh Binh Province during training for service providers, UNFPA, GOPFP-MOH, DOPFP of Hai Duong Province, Nin Binh City.
	24.–25.11.14	Field research in Hai Duong and interviews with medical personnel, facilitated by UNFPA Vietnam, Hai Duong City.
India Heinrich Böll Foundation, Center for Social Research	24.12.14	Participation in “My Strength, My Daughter: Symposium on PC&PNDT Act,” CSR funded by German Embassy, Gurugram.
	6.–12.01.15	Field research in Maharashtra facilitated by Prof. T.V. Sekher, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and Pune.
	13.–18.01.15	Field research in Punjab and Haryana facilitated by Parminder Singh, Civil Servant, Chandigarh, Patiala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.
	11.02.15	Field research in Haryana facilitated by CSR and district officials, Gurugram.
	16.02.15	Participation in Indian Women Press Conference on “Implement Supreme Court Ruling – Banning Online Sex-determination Ads”, New Delhi.
South Korea Seoul National University	26.02.15	Meeting with Dr. Nam-Hoon Cho, Senior Government Advisor, KIHASA Research Fellow, and key informant on Korean population policies, Seoul.
	04.03.15	Field visits to private clinics and public hospitals to interview medical personnel, Seoul.
	06.03.15	Meeting with Heeran Chun, Demographer at Jungwon University and researcher on sex selection in South Korea, Goesan.
	08.03.15	Participation and conduction of interviews during International Women’s Day, Award Ceremony, Korean Women’s Association United, Seoul.
	19.03.–05.04.15	Field research in North/South Gyeongsang, facilitated by Planned Parenthood Federation of Korea (PPFK), Daegu and Busan.