Before starting with IDinsight, I had only limited managerial experience–mostly managing field managers and survey teams. I certainly had not given much thought to management or how to do it in a meaningful way, beyond a general sense of wanting to get good work out of my team as well as keep them happy. NorContinueContinue reading “The art of managing direct reports”
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Checking-in during “field” work
It is not easy to transition from ‘researcher doing-the-data-collection‘ to supervisor of this sort of work, sending someone else to do the work. Especially, when that is part of the reasons you got into the business in the first place–perhaps especially for qual researchers (?). . Even though I check-in by phone at least onceContinueContinue reading “Checking-in during “field” work”
A small research agenda on political understanding in the U.S: a proposal
From recent reading, like Strangers in their own land and The politics of resentment, three key themes keep coming up. To me, these themes suggest a possible research or journalistic agenda. The themes are: An overestimation of how many people work for the government in different forms and at different levels, how competently and efficientlyContinueContinue reading “A small research agenda on political understanding in the U.S: a proposal”
Packard on History of Global Health: devastating first chapter (we need to do better)
While i intend to write more about Packard’s new book (delightfully if uncomfortably subtitled, interventions into the lives of others) once i am through with it, a paragraph in the opening chapter seemed both so important and accurate as to merit sharing immediately — particularly given the lessons it may hold for the Universal Health CoverageContinueContinue reading “Packard on History of Global Health: devastating first chapter (we need to do better)”
A hospital is no place to be sick (delhi summer illness 5)
While i have given some account of my symptoms in earlier posts, it seems useful to give a quick recap to contextualize why I found the hospital space so difficult to navigate. And let’s be clear from the outset: I am an extremely privileged patient in Delhi. I am physically inclined to get good serviceContinueContinue reading “A hospital is no place to be sick (delhi summer illness 5)”
Things to report about focus group data collection for social science reporting
For better or for worse, focus group discussions are a common way of gathering qualitative information in the social sciences, as a standalone activity or used in parallel or sequentially with other types of research activities. My general sense is that focus groups are used far too often when one-on-one interviews [do not use FGDsContinueContinue reading “Things to report about focus group data collection for social science reporting”
Inverted quarantines, mosquitoes & the common man in Delhi
This post has been some time in the making, ever since Raul Pacheco-Vega introduced me to Andrew Szasz’s concept of an ‘inverted quarantine,’ defined further below, and fabulous Manpreet Singh and I started kicking around how the idea applied to our lives in Delhi. This week, a few events, including a desperate effort to stayContinueContinue reading “Inverted quarantines, mosquitoes & the common man in Delhi”
Emoji from docs & coming home (Delhi summer illness 3)
One of the most interesting things I have noticed over this illness episode, though it’s been present throughout my three years in Delhi, is how accessible doctors are expected to be here – and how easy it is to fall into a habit of WhatsApp-ing (now officially a verb?) with your doctor (and sometimes gettingContinueContinue reading “Emoji from docs & coming home (Delhi summer illness 3)”
Going viral in Delhi / is diagnosis a luxury (Delhi summer illness 2)
In this post, I continue to try to make research and observational hay out of my own illness in Delhi (starting here). As a quick re-cap, there was a week of severe, arthritic joint pain and weakness, which started to let up slightly right when the rash and fever kicked in. Those were mercifully short-lived,ContinueContinue reading “Going viral in Delhi / is diagnosis a luxury (Delhi summer illness 2)”
With great equipoise comes great responsibility?
I had the pleasure of giving two talks through a 3ie seminar series over the past few weeks, in London (chaired by the wonderful Daniel Philips) and in Delhi (chaired by the great Stuti Tripathi and ably discussed by the always-exciting Colin Bangay). I was also able to present at the London School of HygieneContinueContinue reading “With great equipoise comes great responsibility?”
Heather E. Lanthorn 