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The
Quality of the Teamwork Determines the Quality of the RAP
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Selecting Members*
Team Size*
Continuity of members*
The role of the insider and special considerations*
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RAP is premised on teamwork
and the success of RAP depends upon the quality of the teamwork. The assumption is that
the RAP team will be together most of the time and will work together
in data collection and analysis, including the preparation of the
report. Team members must bring
to the team different perspectives and expertise. Several sets of eyes
and ears and constant team interaction are essential for getting
the most from the very short time in the field. Teames should spend as
much or more time talking with each other and trying to make sense
out of what was being observed as they were on observing new things. The ability of RAP to
begin the process of achieving an emic
understanding of a situation in a short time requires the use of
a team of researchers, with at least one team member an insider. Even when the rest of
the RAP team has gone on to other things, the insiders continue
to be called upon to clarify results, resolve pending issues, and
help organize local responses to the results. Teamwork to some extent
depends upon team leadership. The five most critical responsibilities
of the team leader are (1) providing orientation, (2) keeping activity
focused and responsive to changing conditions, (3) maintaining morale,
(4) team building, and (5) ensuring that administrative support
is provided. |
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Team interviewing requires the active participation of all team members. Intensive team interviewing is not based on sequential interviewing by members of the team, but on joint interviewing. The individual being interviewed must not feel that a gang of tag-team interviewers is attacking them. When a respondent is not comfortable with a group, one member of the team should do the interview. Team members need to carefully listen to the questions by other team members and politely interrupt when appropriate. Prior agreement by the team on which team members will take the lead on specific topics is useful, but should not be interpreted as assigning topics exclusively to only one person.
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Maintained by
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