Why focus on hard-to-reach groups?
The problem of engaging diverse groups is of special concern to the research and data collection field, as these groups are exposed to a higher risk of discrimination. A number of European institutions reports, and recommendations highlighted the need to develop strategies to ensure representativeness of equality data, and to develop an intersectional approach to data collection. This includes designing innovative ways of gathering data on the experience of groups that may be hard to reach through general sample-based population surveys.
National equality bodies are equipped to play a crucial role in developing a suitable and effective range of outreach strategies to enable engagement with diverse groups. However, they face many hurdles including underreporting and much stronger outreach is needed to capture the experience of hard-to-reach groups and ensure representativeness of equality data.
What did we learn at this event?
- By introducing the topic and exploring how to define hard-to-reach populations and identify which groups in equality bodies’ work are hard-to-reach more specifically, the participants got a better idea of the existing terminology, concepts and discover possible gaps and opportunities.
- Specific issues regarding equality data were also discussed during the training. Certain challenges and considerations were recurrent in the discussions, particularly relating to measuring discrimination and reliability and comparability over time of data. Engaging exchanges on multiple and intersectional discrimination took place. Sharing insights on how to carry out background research and preparation using methods to include hard to reach groups in surveys was particularly fruitful.
- Key insights on fieldwork preparation as well as data collection were shared. Participants got a better understanding of the challenges, and how to reach out to respondents, in addition to tailoring the data collection avoiding bias. Furthermore, certain issues on safety, privacy and data protection were greatly analysed.
- The participants shared their experience on ways national equality bodies conducting research developed effective strategies to engage with affected communities and provided examples of concrete ways to collaborate were thus developed.