ASSESSING RURAL NEEDS

A MANUAL FOR PRACTITIONERS

ACCION/AITEC

10-C Mt. Auburn Street

Cambridge, Mass. 02138

Jeffrey Ashe

September 1978

ACCION/AITEC is an independent, non-profit agency that has
specialized in applied research and the implementation
development programs since 1961. We currently have programs in:

Brazil

Costa Rica

Colombia

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Mexico

Guatemala

United States

"Assessing Rural Needs: A Manual for Practitioners" is based
on a system developed by AITEC and tested over two years in 860
villages as part of a contract with the Costa Rican Government .
It reflects our goals of popular participation and employment
generation through the stimulation of very small business
enterprises and small farms by providing a well structured
opportunity for villagers and small farmers to clearly articulate
their needs to the government.

The publication of this manual reflects another ACCION/AITEC
goal; to create innovative models and to disseminate them as widely
as possible.

If the questionnaire and other materials in this manual are
used or modified to mount a research program we kindly request that
we be informed so we have a record of the applications of this
research manual.

ACCION/AITEC can provide consultant services for setting
up similar studies. Please direct all inquiries to ACCION/AITEC,
10C Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, Mass. 02138 attn: Jeffrey Ashe.

John C. Hammock

Executive Director


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

PART I

The Research Project

Goals for Development

Linking Research with Action

Defining the Content of a Research Project

Developing a Research Methodology

Use of Secondary Sources of Information

Questionnaire Development and Testing

Administering the Research Project

Training

Conclusions

PART II

Questionnaire

Code Book

Table Formats

Format for County Summaries

Format for Community Profile

RURAL RESEARCH MANUAL

PROLOGUE

Planners face a problem of making decisions affecting specific small
communities without adequate information. When they try to inform themselves
about conditions in these communities, they find that collecting information
is costly and time consuming and that when made available is often unrelated
to their practical needs. A similar problem is faced at the local level;
promoters seldom ask questions that will allow the community to focus on key
economic problems; and projects that result are often little related to real
community needs. Development programs that emphasize small farmers, services
and infrastructure in small communities, rural enterprises and local
participation in the development process have created an increasing demand
for up-to-date information in the rural areas. Yet, a methodology to collect
this information rapidly and cheaply has been largely neglected. Census are
expensive, and often out of date, and offer a limited range of information;
survey research suffers from similar limitations. Techniques are well
established for feasibility studies, but these are too costly and time consuming
to detect the development needs of hundreds of small communities.

Through more than two years of technical assistance to the Costa Rican
Institute of Municipal Development (IFAM), AITEC, working jointly with that
institution, developed a low-cost, rapid system to determine conditions in
rural communities and their priority needs for development that is oriented
to policy makers. "Assessing Rural Needs, A Manual for Practitioners"
systematizes the experience gained through the IFAM/AITEC project and provides
a guide for other groups, agencies and individuals.

Based on information collected through community surveys, this system:

1. establishes basic social and economic trends such as migration,
employment, and changes in agricultural production;

2. specifies the problems faced by farmers such as marketing credit
and roads;

3. provides a comprehensive inventory of infrastructure, services,
rural enterprises, and businesses in small communities;

4. indicates the magnitude of development problems such as kilometers
of roads that need construction and improvement, the number of
villages that need water, electricity, and schools, and the needs
for rural industries;

5. establishes priorities for these types of projects between regions,
counties and communities;

6. indicates perceived community priorities for development projects,
and

7. provides a baseline against which the effectiveness of programs
can be measured by comparing the number, type and location of
projects completed compared to the needs established by the
research program.

This manual is divided into two parts; the first concerns the research
project and includes:

o clarifying development goals

o linking research to decisions about projects

o choosing variables

o approaches to data collection

o secondary sources of information

o writing and testing the questionnaire

o administering the research project, and

o training interviewers, coders and analysts.

The second part is more specific and includes:

o the questionnaire

o coding procedures

o systems for establishing priorities, and

o formats for report preparation for community profiles
and county summaries.

All research projects are different and the "cookbook" presented here
will not be usable in its entirety in another project. We feel, however,
there are enough common elements in research projects in rural areas that
focus on the problems of smaller farmers and communities to warrant the
writing of this manual. We hope this manual is used by researchers and
administrators in their efforts to develop programs in the rural areas.

THE IFAM/AITEC PROJECT

The IFAM/AITEC project was a response to IFAM's need to define problems
and specify projects in rural areas and provide loans and assistance to
municipal governments. In Costa Rica, the counties have a broad mandate to
promote the development of communities within their boundaries.

If IFAM was to provide both financial and technical assistance to the
rural counties, it faced the difficult decision of where to concentrate its
limited resources. Historically, most of IFAM's projects were located in the
county seats in the counties near the capital city. But the government and
the international lending agencies urged the funding of rural projects. Lacking
baseline information on the hundreds of small communities in these areas, IFAM
contracted AITEC to develop a system of data collection and to jointly carry
out this investigation. AITEC's participation was financed through loans from
the Agency for international Development to IFAM for the contracting of
technical assistance.

Over the two and one-half year life of the project, the IFAM/AITEC team
developed a research methodology based on group interviews with community
leaders and carried out interviews in 860 communities (all of those with a
population of more than 200). These communities are located in 56 of the 80
counties of Costa Rica, and include 96.5% of the surface area and 54% of the
population. Based on this information, the team prepared reports including:

1. community profiles on basic services.

2. county summaries of social and economic trends and
priority needs for infrastructure and basic services,

3. specialized reports on employment, roads, rural industries,
basic services, housing, health care and educational
facilities, and evaluation, and

4. a final report indicating the problems of the five
rural regions and presenting a strategy for the integrated
development of these rural areas.(1)

Showing the close relationship between the research program and decision
making, the reports have been used to:

1. orient the general policy of IFAM in the rural areas,

2. aid in the planning efforts of other government agencies,

3. provide basic information for the selection of road and
infrastructure projects;

4. provide baseline data for requests to international
agencies for the construction of farm-to-market roads
and basic services in small communities

5. justify an integrated rural development program in two
of these counties to put into effect the recommendations
in the reports; and,

(1) A translated and edited version of that report, "Rural Development in
Costa Rica," ACCION/AITEC, 1978 is available from the AITEC office in
Cambridge, Mass.

6. provide information on rural conditions to other
researchers.

In addition, national agencies for planning, economic development,
agriculture, cooperative extension, health, agrarian reform, and community
development, who have a pressing need for up-to-date information, have used
these reports extensively.

PART I

THE RESEARCH PROJECT

I. GOALS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Researchers want the findings of their studies to be used. They also
hope the projects they recommend will have a positive impact when put into
effect. To insure that research will be used implies a conscious strategy
at each step in the research process which will be detailed below. To help
insure that projects based on recommendations will have a positive impact
requires clearly articulated goals for the development process. Once goals
have been defined, the information needed to make recommendations to meet
these goals is clear.

If efforts to promote rural change are critically analyzed, we find
that for the most part these programs have:

1. favored large farms, industries and towns, thus concentrating
power and eroding the viability of the labor-absorbing
production of the poor;

2. fostered capital and energy intensive technology in the
face of unemployment and dwindling energy resources; and

3. sped migration to cities where the new migrants often
remain mired in poverty because of lack of jobs and
services.

We felt strongly that development programs should counter these trends.
It follows that information should be collected that would allow projects to
be proposed that would:

SLOW RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION BY INCREASING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
AND IMPROVING SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES
WHILE INCREASING THE VIABILITY OF EXISTING SMALLER FARMS AND
ENTERPRISES AND MAXIMIZING LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS.

Projects that encouraged this set of development priorities would, we
felt, have the greatest impact in terms of slowing migration and improving
the level of living at the lowest cost with the least dislocation of the
rural population. The wisest strategy to create more jobs and income is to
use the land already in production wore intensively given rapidly dwindling
land resources and a mushrooming rural population. It is also important to
reach smaller farms and enterprises because with their more labor-intensive
production, income is better distributed than if production were concentrated
in larger units.

To help achieve these goals would require thousands of small projects in
hundreds of small communities. A methodology was needed to determine priority
needs in these communities rapidly and at low cost.

II. LINKING RESEARCH WITH ACTION

Much research is carried out, very little is used. However important
the research or competent the researcher, findings have little chance of being
implemented without the active participation and involvement of the sponsoring
institution. It is naive to work as an isolated technician and expect that
decisions will be based on research findings. To insure the research will be
used, it is necessary to:

1. Involve key decision makers to develop a clear understanding
of why the research is being carried out, what
is to be studied, and how it is to be used. It is likely
these issues have not been thought through carefully.
Interest is developed through participation and the enthusiastic
support of these decision makers is essential
to insure findings are used.

2. All groups and agencies that may be able to use the
research should participate in the design if possible.
This will help develop a demand for the research findings.

3. Get to know middle level personnel and solicit their
opinions. As they ultimately carry out projects, the more
they understand the research and see it as directly
relevant to their tasks, the more likely they are to use
it.

4. Recognize that a large scale research effort takes resources
away from other activities and is likely to cause jealousy
and hostility.

5. Keep the findings of the research project continually in
view. Instead of preparing a single final report, prepare
simpler, smaller reports throughout the life of the study.
This will develop a continuing and increasingly sophisticated
interest in the investigation.

6. Link the investigation to decisions about specific
projects. Forging these links is difficult and time
consuming as it involves a basic reorientation in the
decision making process within the agency. Unless the
research team accomplishes this linkage, there is little
chance the research findings will be used at the operational
level.

7. An important role of the researcher is to educate. Few
agencies have thought through their projects' impact on
development. The way reports are written and presented
and the informal contacts of the research team with the
agency can help clarify or modify priorities.

III. DEFINING THE CONTENT OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT

The specific needs of the institution tempered with the researcher's
vision of the goals of the development defines the content of the investigation.
Once this has been outlined the next problem is to decide on the specific
questions that will be addressed.

A common error is to collect far more data than is used. At the same
time, only the most careful testing will insure that all the data needed is
included. The questionnaire in Part II is the product of continuing modification
throughout the project and since the project was completed. The specific
questions for each variable can be checked in part two, it is instructive
however, to indicate the kind of information that was collected. Determining
priority needs for water systems is presented as an example.

Most studies of water systems include complex calculations on the flow
of water per second, the size of piping, the adequacy of the distribution, etc.
This information, which requires a day's visit by an engineer, is needed to
determine the cost of a proposed project. To merely determine whether a
community has a priority need for water much less information is needed. We
ask first whether or not the community has a water system. If so, what
proportion of the houses have water service. A water system with insufficient
water or that functions poorly also has a priority need for improvement. We
ask the number of months water was rationed last year and how long the system
was shut down for maintenance problems. Finally, we ask if the improvement
of the water system is considered to be one of the priority needs for
development in a community and if it is, how the community is willing to
contribute to the installation of the system.

This information, which may require only a few minutes to collect, is
adequate to establish a first approximation of a priority need for this
service. More complete information would not significantly improve an ability
to establish priorities, and would greatly increase the costs of data collection,
coding, and analysis.
IV. DEVELOPING A RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

It was agreed by IFAM that the study should focus on a first approximation
of conditions and the development needs of hundreds of small communities.
Once this was decided, the first problem was to develop a research methodology
that would determine these needs at an acceptable level of accuracy while
keeping within tight budgetary constraints.

Given the need for quick results and the relatively low level of
training of those who were to carry out the investigation, the following
methodology was decided upon:

A SINGLE INTERVIEW WOULD BE COMPLETED FOR EACH
COMMUNITY THROUGH A CONVERSATION WITH A GROUP OF
LOCAL PEOPLE CONSIDERED TO "KNOW THE AREA."

Obviously, it is much faster, and therefore cheaper, to fill out a
single questionnaire with a group of people than identify a sample within a
community and locate and interview these people. This decision cut down the
time required to collect information in each community to about three hours.
Since all information was collected in a single interview, the most time
consuming part of the interview process, transportation to these isolated
communities and gathering together a group of people to be interviewed was
sharply reduced. This interview was supplemented by observations made by
the interviewer and census data and other secondary sources of information.

The most controversial part of this methodology was the collection of
all information in a single, omnibus questionnaire. Many believed that:

1. The information would not be sufficiently accurate, and
2. information would be biased in favor of an elite within
the community.

The basic hypothesis underlying the group interview is that a group of
people who have lived in a community for several years and who are locally
recognized as "those who know," have an excellent "feel" for community
problems and conditions. While in a survey the respondent is asked to
generalize about himself, his family or his farm or business, here we asked
the group to generalize about the community. A typical community group
included the teacher, large and small farmers, municipal officials, large and
small businessmen, and community and civic leaders. We found that the answers
given by the group are similar to those reported by the census of households
taken the year before. The household census and the groups we interviewed
were almost always in agreement about migration, employment, major crops and
the number of houses with basic services (the only variables where the
community survey overlapped with the census).

The criticism that the responses reflected the opinion of the elite is
also seen to be invalid, at least in the fairly homogeneous communities of the
Costa Rican countryside. As indicated before, the group responses correspond to
the census data for factual information -- migration, basic services, etc.;
they also correspond very closely to opinions in the one area where we had
comparable data -- the perception of priority community problems.

The ordering of community problems was the same in these interviews
as with a random survey of 1,500 household heads taken three years before,
with roads being the most frequently mentioned problem, followed by water,
electricity, education.

Indeed, we felt some of the data collected was more accurate when
asked of a group of knowledgeable people than if asked of a random sample of respondents.
The respondents were locally recognized as responsible and as
worthy of confidence. Also, since the interview was held in a group, a
consensus was reached and "wild" responses were avoided. Additionally,
the group was asked only to generalize about conditions within the community;
questions were not asked about one's family farm or business so there was less
temptation to distort information. This is a problem in many developing
countries since the researcher is often confused for a tax collector.

The major disadvantage of group interviews is that accuracy decreases
as the size of the community increases. We estimate that a well selected
group can give accurate responses for a community as large as 1,500 to 2,000
inhabitants. Care must be also taken to get a truly representative sample of
respondents. In Costa Rica, every effort was made to include small farmers,
businessmen and teachers in the group interviewed. This ensured that one
respondent or another would know the answers to all the questions.

V. USE OF SECONDARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Secondary sources can simplify data collection and provide a wider
range of information but these sources are often under-utilized or overlooked
and too many studies needlessly cover the same ground. The availability and
reliability of secondary sources of information varies greatly from country
to country. These are the secondary sources of information used in the
investigation in Costa Rica. It is likely similar sources will be available
in other countries:

1. Census: Data from the 1973 population, housing and
agriculture census was available when the study began.
Census data was stored on computer tapes so information
could be requested at the community, district or
county level. Census data was used to specify:

a. Existing conditions: number of inhabitants, levels
of education, employment, agricultural production,
land use and levels of basic services, etc.

b. Establish trends: e.g. between 1963 and 1973
censuses.

c. Make comparisons: between districts, counties,
regions and urban and rural areas, etc.

Census data complemented the community interviews. Community leaders
would report if employment conditions were improving or worsening and why this
was occurring; the census would indicate the percentage employed. Community
leaders could indicate if the water system was functioning or not, or if
there were maintenance problems; the census indicated the number of houses
that had piped-in water.

Although up-to-date census information is useful, it is not indispensable
for the type of reports we are discussing here and the system as presented in
Part Two assumes no secondary data will be available. It is rare to find data
as up-to-date and accurate as in Costa Rica:

2. Maps: The good maps available in Costa Rica also facilitated
the investigation. Census maps indicated the
number of houses in each community which helped us to
select the sample of communities to be studied. These
maps also indicated the existing road network which provided
a good reference point for the study of priority
needs for farm-to-market roads.

3. Population Projections: Population and age profile projections
provided a base line to calculate the number of
jobs that would need to be created in the future and
allowed us to set goals for economic development.

4. Land Use Potential: Comparing land use potential with
actual land use as reported in the census indicated the
degree to which agricultural production could potentially
be expanded and intensified.

5. Labor Requirements for Agricultural Crops: The number
of jobs in the agricultural sector that could be
created under varying land uses could be estimated
with this information.

6. Agency Reports: The location of facilities or projects
is usually adequate.

7. Other Specialized Reports: Many specialized studies
have been generally compiled in areas of interest to
the investigation such as marketing, credit, agricultural
production, or basic services.

VI. QUESTIONNAIRE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING

Once the content of investigation is specified and a research methodology
is decided upon and the availability of secondary information is determined,
the next problem is to develop and test the community questionnaire. These
guidelines can avoid many potential problems:

1. Carefully check the questionnaire with the agreed upon
content of the study and the availability of secondary
data. It may become evident that some information cannot
be collected or that the form in which it can be
collected is different from that agreed upon.

2. Avoid the temptation to add questions thus complicating
data collection and coding, and leaving less
time for report writing, which is usually more time
consuming than expected. It is usually better to
cut questions than to add them.

3. Certain questions are unsuitable for group interviews
and should be avoided:

a. specific quantities, i.e., pounds of beans produced,
numbers of industries, number of
inhabitants;

b. specialized knowledge unlikely to be shared by
a group, i.e., problems concerning specific industries,
or the type of water distribution
system;

c. information about attitudes: do the people in
this community, for example, feel that things
are getting better, worse, or staying the same.

d. Also be careful of questions that are:

o too vague
o combine two questions into one
o indicate too many choices
o are too long.

A good questionnaire should resemble a conversation -- the words used
should reflect the vocabulary of the people interviewed.

Once a draft of the questionnaire is ready, it should be tested. The
first tests should be completed by the study director; errors can usually be
detected by seeing which questions are not understood. Once a workable
questionnaire is written, it should be tested by the interviewers. Interviewers
should be quizzed concerning the problems with each question. The questionnaire
should be tested and retested until the study director is comfortable with it.

VII. ADMINISTERING THE RESEARCH PROJECT

Good administration of the project is as important as a good research
design. Good administration involves at least eight points:

1. Maintain good relations with the sponsoring agency at all
levels. Good relations determine in large part if the
research will be used or not.

2. Hire new personnel carefully even though there is considerable
time pressure. Carefully check references and
listen carefully to the opinions of the people you trust
about the suitability of candidates.

3. Reward good employees with increased responsibility.
The outstanding coder can become the supervisor of coding.
New positions can be created as responsibility is progressively
delegated and the research gets into full
swing.

4. Be well organized. Everyone should have more than enough
to do and accuracy and speed should be rewarded. Poor
organization invariably leads to low morale.

5. Keep the work interesting.

6. Work to develop a sense of what Costa Ricans call
"mistica" - a sense of mission in the research team.

7. Keep all materials meticulously organized. This will
save time in the long run.

8. Use your time wisely and delegate responsibility. While
virtually all the directors time at the beginning will
be occupied with training, setting up coding systems, and
administering personnel, these activities must rapidly
be delegated to provide time to supervise data analysis,
write reports and make presentations.

VIII. TRAINING

Good training is the foundation for accurate data and high quality
reports. Three groups must be trained: interviewers, coders, and analysts.

1. Interviewers: It is likely those available to work as
interviewers will have little experience. Those interviewers
with some experience will still need some training.
The first step of training should be combined with selection.
Interviewers should be hired for a one-month
probationary period and should be let go if they are:

a. undisciplined in the field or in the office,
b. consistently make errors,
c. write illegibly,
d. falsify data, and
e. lack a real interest or motivation for the job.

Interviewers should be high-school graduates; some
university experience is preferable.

The best training for interviewers is practice; lectures on
social science research or interviewing will not in themselves
produce good interviewers. This training sequence was found
useful in Costa Rica:

a. Introduction to how the information is to be
used and an orientation to the sponsoring institution.

b. Completion of a questionnaire with trainer taking
the role of the interviewer and respondent. Common
interviewer problems should be role-played
and discussed.

c. Division into teams of two with each trainee
taking the role alternatively of interviewer and
respondent. Interviews are then checked by trainers
and errors are discussed. Later, each trainee completes
an interview before the group with a trainer
acting as respondent.

d. Visits to nearby communities are taken to complete
interviews. Trainers should observe each interview
and interviews should be thoroughly checked
and all errors discussed.

By this time, interviewers should be ready to collect data
in the field. Interviews from each day should be checked by
field supervisors. An on-going problem is to get good responses
to open-ended questions. The need to probe and
write down complete responses should be continually emphasized.
By this time, interviewers should be ready to collect data
in the field. Interviews from each day should be checked by
field supervisors. An on-going problem is to get good responses
to open-ended questions. The need to probe and
write down complete responses should be continually emphasized.

2. Coders: Good data from the field is of little value if it is
not properly coded.

a. Like the interviewers, coders should be on probation
until they have shown their capacity to code and tabulate
rapidly and accurately. Coding is often boring
and tedious -- few people are able to code well.

b. The first task of the coders is to recheck interviews
from the field. This work should be revised until a
high level of accuracy is reached.

c. Since the questionnaire is long and complex, coding
should be broken into sections. Information for the
community profile report is simple to code and provides
training for the more complex codes of the
cantonal summary. (See Section Two for Community
Coding/Community Profile).

Coding for each new section should be thoroughly
explained by the coding supervisor or study director
and work should be carefully checked.

d. All coding should be done twice to ensure a high
level of accuracy.

e. The most able coder should be given the most complex
coding and tabulating jobs and more supervisory responsibility.

3. Analysts: Training for analysts should begin by supervising
interviews in the field. Only in this way will they thoroughly
understand the study and develop "a feel" about conditions in
rural communities. Through considerable trial and error we
found that the best use of the analysts time occurred when
the analysts were required to follow a detailed outline of
the report they were to write. Once the studies were well
outlined by the study director, the analysts were found capable
of writing good reports rapidly. All work was carefully
revised and analysts were required to rewrite their county
summaries until an acceptable level of quality was reached
and between two and four rewrites were usually required for
the first report; quality in subsequent reports improved considerably
and revisions were reduced to one or two.

IX. CONCLUSIONS

This manual is practical, and we hope, useful. Though all research projects
are different, parts of the questionnaire, the coding system, and the reports
format should be useful. The questionnaire, the coding sheets and report formats
can easily be modified to incorporate new information.

Looking over the calm order of this manual, it is easy to forget the
chaos and uncertainty of administering a major research project. Expect the
totally unexpected. Once, the jeeps needed for transporting the interviewers
were recalled for a month during the few precious months of the dry season;
another time an interview team was thrown into jail because of a misunderstanding
with one of the rural policemen. In this respect, all research projects are
unique and challenging.

The section which follows presents the questionnaire, the code book, the
formats, and the outlines of the county summaries and community profiles. By
closely following this guide it should be possible to mount a similar research
program.

QUESTIONNAIRE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE #

Date:

By:


QUESTIONNAIRE APPROVED QUESTIONNAIRE CODED

Date: Date:

By: By:

COMMUNITY QUESTIONNAIRE

Interviewer: ____________________

Community: ____________________

District: ____________________

County: ____________________

Respondents:

Name Occupation


MIGRATION

1. How many people have moved to this community in the last five years?

Many ______ Some _____ A few ______ None ______

1.1 Where do most of them come from?
Around here _______ (SPECIFY) ________________________________
From other parts of the country __________ (SPECIFY) _________

1.2 Why have they moved here?______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

2. How many have left this community to live somewhere else in the last
five years?

Many _______ Some ______ A few ______ None _____

2.1 Where do most of them go?
Near here _________ (SPECIFY) ______________________________
To other parts of the country _______ (SPECIFY) ____________
_______________________________________________________________

2.2 Why have they left here? _____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

(1) Migration "from other parts of the country" usually indicates attractiveness
of area to colonization. Emigration "to other parts" often indicates employment
opportunities have not kept pace with population increase.

EMPLOYMENT

3. How hard is it to find permanent employment here? (Not seasonal work)

Very hard _____ Hard ______ Fairly easy ____

3.1 Why? _________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

4. How many people here are looking for work and can't find it?

Many _____ Some ____ A few ____ None ___

5. Compared to five years ago, is there more work, less work, or the
the same amount of work?

More _____ Less ______ Same _____

5.1(1) Why is there (more/less) work now?(1)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

(3) & (4) deal with difficulty in finding work now; (5) establishes trends.

(1) Reasons given for more work now in Costa Rica: new farms, better
marketing, more and better roads, new industries, more access to credit,
more agricultural production (as opposed to more cattle production).
Reasons given for less work in Costa Rica: more mechanization of
agriculture, higher salaries expansion of cattle-raising at the
expense of agriculture, little work available to clear land as all
available land is in production, disappearance of non-agricultural
work.

SEASONAL MIGRATION

6. Are there people in this community who leave every year to work?
(in the harvest or some other activity)

Yes ______ No _____

6.1 How many leave? Many ________ Some ______ A few _________

6.2 Where do most of them go?
To neighboring areas? _______ (SPECIFY) ____________________
To other parts of the country? _______ (SPECIFY) ___________
_______________________________________________________________

6.3 Compared to five year ago, do more _________ less ______ or
the same number ______ leave?

SALARIES

7. What is the daily wage of an agricultural worker in this area?
_________ daily (NOT SPECIALIZED WORKERS WHO EARN MORE).

7.1 For how many hours?________

7.2 Does this include: yes no

food ______________________________________

housing ___________________________________

land for growing own food _________________

(6) A high number leaving for seasonal work "in other parts of the country,"
indicates insufficient employment generated through local production.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

8. Which is more important in this area: beef cattle, dairy
cattle or agriculture?

Type of Production Order 1, 2, 3 No significant
production
beef cattle

dairy cattle

agriculture

8.1 IF MENTIONED BEEF CATTLE: In the last five years, has the
importance of beef cattle production increased or decreased here?
Increased _____ Decreased _____ No change _________

8.1a Why has the importance of beef cattle production increased
(or decreased)?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

8.2 IF MENTIONED DAIRY PRODUCTION: In the last five years, has the
importance of dairy cattle increased or decreased here?

Increased _____ Decreased ______ No change _________

8.2a Why has the importance of dairy products increased (or
decreased)?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

(8) Indicates basic trends in production and the factors related
to these changes.

8.3 IF MENTIONED AGRICULTURE: In the last five years, has the
importance of agriculture increased or decreased here?

Increased _____ Decreased _____ No change ____

8.3a Why has the importance of agriculture increased (or
decreased)?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

9. Which are the three main crops grown near here?

9.1 Which is the most important?
the second most important? Note in 9.2
the third most important?

9.2 How much is sold commercially?

Sold Commercial
Product almost more than less than little
all half half

1.

2.

3.

(8.1a), (8.2a) & (8.3a) Reasons for increase given in Costa Rica:
more credit, more land, favorable terrain
and climate, low salaries, greater demand,
low costs in general, good prices, sufficient
labor, good roads, more technical assistance.
Reasons for decrease: Lack of credit, lack of
land, unfavoarable terrain and climate, high
salaries, less demand, high costs in general,
low prices, insufficient labor, poor roads.
inadequate technical assistance.
9.3 Are any of these crops more important now than five years ago?

yes _____ no _____

9.3a Which crop has increased most in importance? _______________
_____________________________________________________________

9.3b Why? _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________


(9.3) Indicates basic trends in production and the factors related to these
things.


10. Do you have a (name of facility) here?

IF FACILITY EXISTS:

10.1 Does (name of facility) have excess capacity, or is the size about right, or is it too
small?

10.2 Is (name of facility) in good condition or poor condition?

10.3 Is what is (stored/processed/marketed) sold maily around here, throughout the
country or abroad?

Facility(*) Number No Capacity Condition Where principally sold
Excess Adequate Lacking Good Poor Local National Export

- Municipal market

- Slaughterhouse

- Meat packing plant

- Milk cooling/storage

- Rice huller

- Grain dryer

- Coffee collecting
station

- etc.


(*) Examples of types of facilities. An exhaustive list should be developed depending on what is locally produced.

(10) With this information, an up to date listing of most all processing storage and marketing facilities can be
obtained that also indicate if these facilities are adequate for local production, their state of repair,
and whether there are oriented to the strictly local or national and international market.

11. Are any other facilities needed to process or store what is
produced here? yes _____ no _____

11.1 IF YES, SPECIFY ____________________________________________

11.1a Why? (What happens now because this facility does not
exist or needs to be expanded?) _____________________
______________________________________________________

Any others? yes ____ no _____

IF YES, SPECIFY _____________________________________

Why? ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

INDUSTRY

12. Is there a ____________________________ (saw mill, etc.) here?

MARK IN THE BOX "QUANTITY" THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES OF EACH TYPE. ASK IF
PRODUCT IS PRINCIPALLY SOLD LOCALLY (L), NATIONALLY (N) OR IS PRINCIPALLY
FOR EXPORT (EXP).

Where Product is sold principally
(*)Type of Local National Export
Industry No Quantity (L) (N) (EXP) Comments

Sawmill

Machine
shop

Box
factory

(*) Develop a comprehensive list based on types of industries
that exist in rural areas.

The following industries are commonly present in rural Costa Rica:

a. Construction materials: brick factory, concrete blocks. gravel
pit, saw mill, etc.
b. Manufacturing: foundaries, metal working shop, clothing factory,
box factory, shoe factory, etc.
c. Artisan: dress maker, tailor, show maker, jeweler, musical instruments,
etc.

13. Other than the processing facilities mentioned before, are
there any other industries that should be developed here?

yes _____ no _____

13.1 IF YES, WHICH ONES?

13.2 Why? (Resource available, urgent demand, etc.)


Industry Reason

____________________________ ________________________
________________________
________________________
____________________________ ________________________
________________________
________________________
____________________________ ________________________
________________________
________________________


(11) Provides a prelimiary listing of the priority needs for
improved processing, storage and marketing facilities.

(12) Provides comprehensive list of all industries in rural
areas. If product is sold locally, this usually indicates
a small cottage industry. Industries oriented to the
national and international markets are larger and more
sophisticated.

ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION

14. Where do People generally go to buy the things they can't buy here?

____________________ ___________________ __________________
Community District County

14.1 How do they get there?

14.2 How long does it take? (In cases of roads, specify by cargo
trucks)


Time of Transport
Access Dry season Rainy season

Paved road
Indicate surface of
Gravel road road as it enters
community

Dirt road

Path or trail

Railroad

Boat, canoe

Airplane


15. Is there scheduled (bus, rail, boat, air) service to PLACE INDICATED IN
#14? yes ______ no ______

15.1 IF YES, How often?

____ bus (or other motorized _____ daily/weekly departures
vehicle)
____ railroad _____ daily/weekly departures

____ boat _____ daily/weekly departures

____ airplane _____ daily/weekly departures


(14) Indicates spheres on influence of market towns. Could indicate where
services should be located to influence a large area.

(14.1, 14.2,) Specifies transportation and communication network.

16. Is there a public phone here? yes ____ no ____

17. Is there phone service to individual homes? yes ____ no ____

18. Is there telegraph service? yes ____ no ____

BASIC SERVICES

WATER SOURCES

19. Does drinking water here come from:
MARK ALL SOURCES INDICATED:

Sufficient amount all year?
yes no sufficient insufficient
Wells

Rivers or creeks

Irrigation ditches

Springs

Brought from other
communities in tanks

Rain water collected

Other (Specify)

(15, 16, 17, 18) Specifies transportation and communication network.

WATER SYSTEM

20. Is water piped into homes here? (A WATER SYSTEM, NOT ONE OR TWO
HOUSES) yes ____ no ____

20.1 How many homes have piped-in water?

all or almost all ______ most _____

some _____ a few ______

20.2 IF YES, Who operates the system?

community _____ municipality _____

national water service _______

21. Did all the houses have enough water last year?

yes ____ no ____

21.1 How many months was water rationed last year? _______

22. Did the water service break down last year? (due to maintenance
problems or the need for repair?) yes _____ no _____

22.1 IF THE RESPONSE Is POSITIVE, For how long? _________________

22.2 What was the problem? ___________________________________
__________________________________________________________

23. Is there a plan approved for the (construction/improvement) of the
water system? yes _____ no ______

IF THE RESPONSE IS POSITIVE,

23.1 a. Who is sponsoring it? ________________________________

b. How many houses will be served when it is completed?
all or almost all _____ most _____ some ______
few _____

c. When will it be completed? _____________________________


(20, 20.1, 21, 21.1, 22, 22.1, 23, 23.1b) are objective measures to
determine priority needs for water service. Other information
is descriptive.


ELECTRIC SERVICE

24. Does this community have electric service? yes _____ no _____

IF THE RESPONSE IS POSITIVE,

24.1 Who operates it? a. community _____

b. municipality _____

c. national electricity service _____

d. other (specify) __________________

25. How many homes have electric service? all or almost all _____

most _____ some ______ few ______

26. Is there enough electricity when the system is working well?

yes _____ no _____

27. Is the system part of a larger network ______ or is power produced
here _____ ?

27.1 IF PRODUCED IN THE COMMUNITY, is it hydroelectric ______
or diesel ______ ?

28. IF HYDROELECTRIC, Did the electric system shut down or reduce its
capacity in the last year due to lack of water? yes ____ no ____

28.1 IF THE RESPONSE IS YES, For how long? ______________________

29. Was the service reduced or shut down for maintenance or some other
problem? yes ____ no ____

29.1 IF THE RESPONSE IS YES, For how long? __________________________

29.2 What was the problem? __________________________________________


(24, 25, 26, 28, 28.1, 29, 29.1, 30, 30.1b) are objective measures to
determine priority needs for electrical service. Other information
is descriptive.

30. Is there a plan approved for the (construction/improvement) of the
electric system? yes ____ no _____

30.1 IF THE RESPONSE IS YES, a. Who is sponsoring it?
_____________________________________________________________

b. How many houses will be served

when it is completed? All or almost all ____ Most ______

Some _______ Few _____

c. When will it be completed? ________
____________________________________________________________

31. Are there public street lights? yes ______ no __________

31.1 IF YES, In the center or throughout the community?
center _____ throughout ______

SANITARY SERVICE

32. How many homes have a toilet or a latrine? All or almost all ____

Most _____ Some _____ Few _____ Very few or none ___

GARBAGE COLLECTION

33. Is there garbage collection here? yes ____ no _____

33.1 IF YES,Is garbage collected only in the center _____________
or throughout the community? _______________________________


PUBLIC STREETS


34. SPECIFY TYPE OF PUBLIC STREETS.

34.1 SPECIFY MAINTENANCE FOR EACH TYPE.

34.2 SPECIFY SURFACE OF PUBLIC STREETS MOST FOUND IN THE
CENTER OF TOWN AND OUTSIDE THE CENTER.

Type Good Regular Poor Most in Outside
(few holes) (some holes) (many holes) Center the Center

Paved

Grave

Dirt


HEALTH

35. Which health services does your community have?

(*)Health Services yes no Comments

1. Hospital

2. Clinic

3. Health post

4. Laboratory

5. Drugstore

6. Mobile health unit (arrives)

7. Ambulance (based in community)

8. Doctor

9. Dentist

10. Nurse

11. Midwife

12. Health inspector (arrives)

13. Malaria eradication team (arrives)

(*) Modify according to local conditions.
 
 
36. In case of an emergency or major illness, where do people generally
go to get help? Name of Institution ______________________________
Location _________________________________________

36.1 How much time does it take to travel to (NAME OF INSTITUTION IN
QUESTION #36? Dry season ______ Rainy season _______

36.2 How do people usually get there? ____________________________
(ON FOOT, HORSE, BUS, BOAT, AIRPLANE, RAILROAD, ETC.)

36.3 In case of an emergency is transportation available?
Always ______ Sometimes ______ Rarely _____

37. Is there a high school here? yes _____ no _____

38. Is there a grade school here? yes _____ no _____

39. Does any grade school need: yes no Name of school(s)

major repair?

an addition?

or be rebuilt?

(36, 36.1, 36.2, 36.3) Indicates sphere of influence of major health
care facilities and problems of reaching facilities.

(39) Provides preliminary listing of need to improve schools.

40. Which of these agencies worked here last year? (PUBLIC MEETING,

WORKED WITH INDIVIDUAL, STARTED PROJECT).

(*) AGENCY yes no Comments

Agricultural Extension

Cooperative Development

Social Welfare

Public Works

Agrarian Reform

Training Institute

National Purchasing Agency

Community Development Office

Municipal Development Office

(*) Examples from Costa Rica.

41. Has the municipal government completed a project here in the last two
years? yes _____ no _______

41.1 SPECIFY ____________________________________________________

(40) Indicates which governmental agencies have effectively
projected themselves into rural areas.

RECREATION

42. Does this community have a ....

FACILITY yes no

1. Plaza

2. Park

3. Sports field

4. Other athletic
areas/buildings
(SPECIFY SPORT)

5. Community meeting
hall

6. Library

7. Other recreational
facilities
(SPECIFY)

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

43. Does this community have a ....

(*) COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION yes no

School Committee

Community Development Association

etc.

(*) List types of community organizations that
exist in rural areas.

43.1 Which organization would most likely sponsor a community
betterment project? ________________________________________

43.2 Which projects were carried out by community organizations
last year? _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

AGRICULTURAL PROBLEMS

44. What are the problems of small farmers here? ______________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

(43, 43.2) Serves to educate government of the great importance of local
organizations in solving community problems.

(43.1) Specifies group to be contacted.

(44) Indicates general problems of small farmers. Later questions specify
each issue. The following problems were mentioned in Costa
Rica: High price or lack of insecticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers
and seed; lack of and high price of tools and machinery;
lack of credit; lack of economic resources; lack of land; lack of
roads; lack of/or high price of transportation; lack of technical
assistance; low prices for products; over production; lack of markets
to sell products.

CREDIT

45. In this community is there a ....

(* )Credit Source yes no

Bank

An agency of the National Production Council
that extends credit for farming

A cooperative that loans money for farming

(*) Examples from Costa Rica

46. When a small farmer here needs credit to work, where is he most
likely to get it? _________________________________________________

46.1 What other sources of credit are used for agricultural production
by small farmers here? _____________________________________

46.2 What problems does the small farmer face when he tries to
obtain credit from (SPECIFY ANSWER IN QUESTION #46)?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

46.3 What problems does the small farmer face when trying to
obtain credit from (SPECIFY ANSWER IN QUESTION #46.1)?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

(46) In Costa Rica the following sources of credit exist: Bank, Cooperatives
National Production Council, private moneylenders, large farm owners,
store owners, intermediaries.

(46.2) In Costa Rica the following types of problems were mentioned:
GUARANTEES: Difficulties in getting co-signers; lack of land
titles, etc. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES: Excessive red tape; slowness
in getting money. AVAILABILITY: Credit not available. CREDIT
SOURCES DO NOT EXIST OR SERVICE 15 TOO FAR AWAY. INTEREST: High
interest rates, etc.

MARKETING

47. IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE, SPECIFY THE THREE PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS
INDICATED IN QUESTION #9. READ THE CATEGORIES AND MARK THOSE
THAT ARE MOST USED FOR THE PRODUCT.

What system of marketing is most used here for:

Sold directly Producer
to a packer, Sold to brings
refinery, Sold to national own crop
Sold to processor, Coopera- buying to market
Product Intermediary etc. tive Agency to sell

47.1 Beef cattle

47.2 Milk

47.3

47.4

47.5

48. What problems does the small farmer have selling his products?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

LAND

49. What size are most of the farms here? Small ________ Medium ______
Large _____

50. In this community are there: (Order from the category with the most
to that with the least).

Categories yes no order

Private farms with land titles

Private farms without land titles

Farmers who only rent their land

Sharecroppers

51. Are these problems here?

(*) Aspects of Problem A problem? Intensity of the problem
yes no very serious serious light

a) Lack of land titles

b) Land owned by foreigners

c) Lack of land to cultivate

d) Land increasingly concentrated
in the hands of a small
minority

Perception of Community Problems

52. What are the important community problems here?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

(*) Could be other problems

53. Of these, which are the two most urgent problems to solve in your
community?

53.1 What help can the community give to solve these problems?

Problem Help from community
______________________ __________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
______________________ __________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________

BUSINESS

54. Which of these businesses do you have here?

Business Number

1. Supermarket

2. Small grocery store

3. Vegetable store

4. Butcher shop

5. Restaurant

6. Other eating establishments

7. Hardware store

(52, 53) These perceived community needs are combined with the objective
measures mentioned earlier (water, electricity, etc) or with the
observations on access roads to establish the priority
needs for community development.

54. continued ...

Business

8. Agricultural supply store

9. Machine shop (agricultural
and industrial)

10. Gas station

11. Construction materials/
Building supplies

12. General store

13. Clothing and fabric store

14. Furniture store

15. Barber shop

16. Shoe store (where only shores
and leather articles are
sold

17. Jewelry store

18. Beauty salon

19. Dance hall

20. Bar

21. Movie theatre

22. Pool and billiard hall

23. Book/stationery store

24. Hotel

25. Rooming house

26. Funeral home

27. Photography studio

28. Others (Specify)

(54) Number and type of business indicate size and importance of
community.

OBSERVATION

Observer ____________
Date ____________
Community ____________
District ____________
County ____________

A. Type of Population:

_____(a) Strong central nucleus - homes and businesses concentrated

in small central areas.

_____(b) Small nucleus of homes and businesses with disbursed houses.

_____(c) No nucleus of homes and businesses.

_____(d) Linear - most homes and businesses on highway or near railroad

tracks (station) but large center of shops and homes.

_____(e) Linear - small nucleus of homes and businesses.

_____(f) Linear - no nucleus of homes and businesses.

B. _____ Number of densely settled blocks. ______

Comments ____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

(A, B) Indicator of community size and community type. Other sources
of information, census data, school census, etc.
 
 
Principal Access

Observer ______________________
Date ______________________

DETERMINE FROM TALK WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS

1. Major Access to this community is from?
Community _________________
District _________________
County _________________

1.1 Time last year road closed to cargo trucks _______________

2. Information not collected:
Road impassable ______
No road access: Specify type of access

Type Time(*) (*) Time interview team
needed to arrive in
Trail community

Boat

Train

Airplane

3. Access by road

Odometer Total
Surface from to Distance

Paved

All weather gravel

Gravel

Dirt

Ruts or tracks

TOTAL

(C) Detailed information on principal road access to establish priorities.
Improved roads are the most frequently mentioned community problem, so
it is important to get good information.

4. Time: Begun ________ Ended ________ Total _______

5. Fords:

Severity Number

No difficulty

Some difficulty

Major obstacle

6. Rating:

Good (year round access with little reduction in speed)

Average (year round access possible but at reduced speed)

Poor (year round access difficult or impossible at times
greatly reduced speed)

Marginal (dangerous, access very difficult, road closed
for months each year)

7. Comments: _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

CODE BOOK

A. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRENDS

Coder __________________ Date ______________ Community ___________
Approved _______________ Date ______________ County ______________
Region ______________

Question Code

1. Many = 3; some = 2; a few = 1; none = 0.
1.1 Around here = 1; other parts = 0.
1.1 Specify location.
1.2 Responsibility of analyst.(1)
2. Many = 3; Some = 2; a few = 1; none = 0.
2.1 Near here = 1; other parts = 0.
2.1 Specify location.
2.2 Responsibility of analyst.
3. Very hard = 3; hard = 2; fairly easy = 1.
3.1 Responsibility of analyst.
4. Many = 3; Some = 2; a few = 1; none = 0.
5. More = 3; less = 2; same = 1.
5.1 Responsibility of analyst.
6. Yes = 1; no = 0.
6.1 Many = 3; some = 2; a few = 1.

(1) Analyst will analyze all open ended responses and include
analysis in county level reports.

6.2 Neighboring areas = 1; other parts = 0.
6.2 Specify location.
6.3 More = 3; less = 2; same number = 1.
7. Daily wage.
7.1 Number of hours.
7.2 Food: yes = 1; no = 0.
7.2 Housing: yes = 1; no = 0.
7.2 Land for growing own food: yes = 1; no = 0.
8 1st: beef cattle = 3; dairy cattle = 2;
agriculture = 1; no significant production = 0.
8 2nd: beef cattle = 3; dairy cattle = 2;
agriculture = 1; no significant production = 0.
8 3rd: beef cattle = 3; dairy cattle = 2;
agriculture = 1; no significant production = 0.
8.1 Increased = 3; Decreased = 2; No change = 1.
8.la Responsibility of analyst
8.2 Increased = 3; Decreased = 2; No change = 1.
8.2a Responsibility of analyst.
8.3 Increased = 3; Decreased = 2; No change = 1.
8.3a Responsibility of analyst.
9.1 Most important crop.
9.2 Almost all = 3; more than half = 2; less than
half = 1; little = 0.
9.1 Second most important crop
9.2 Almost all = 3; more than half = 2; less than
half = 1; little = 0.
9.1 Third most important crop.
9.2 Almost all = 3; more than half =2; less than
half = 1; little = 0.
9.3 yes = 1; no = 0;
9.3a Specify
9.3b Responsibility of analyst.
10
10.1 Code on tabulation form. (2)
10.2
10.3
11.1,
11.1a Responsibility of analyst.
12 Code on tabulation form.
13,
13.1, Responsibility of analyst.
13.2

B. INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES

Coder __________________ Date ______________ Community ___________
Approved _______________ Date ______________ County ______________
Region ______________

Question Code

14.
Community, District, County
14.1 Airplane = 7; boat, canoe = 6; railroad = 5
path or trail = 4; dirt road = 3; gravel road = 2;
paved road = 1.
14.2 Not at county level.(3)

(2) It has been found that certain questions such as #10 that have
a long list of alternatives are easier and more accurately
translated directly onto work sheets.

(3) Indicates data is only included at level of community profile
and is not used in county level report.

15. Yes = 1; no = 0.
15. Bus = 4; railroad = 3; boat = 2; airplane = 1.
15.1 More than 1 per day = 4; 1 per day = 3; more than 2 per
week = 2; fewer than 2 per week = 1.
16. Yes = 1; no = 0.
17. Yes = 1; no = 0.
18. Yes = 1; no = 0.
19. Not at county level.
20. yes = 1; no = 0.
20.1 All = 4; most = 3; some = 2; a few = 1.
20.2 Community = 3; muncipality = 2; national water service = 1

21. yes = 1; no = 0.
21.1 If not, indicate months.
22. yes = 1; no = 0.
22.1 Indicate.
22.2 Not in county report.
23. Yes = 1; no = 0.
23.1A Not in county report.
23.1B All = 4; most = 3; some = 2; few = 1.
23.1C Not in county report.
24. yes = 1; no = 0.
24.1 Not in county report.
25. All, most all = 4; most = 3; some = 2; few = 1.
26. yes 1; no = 0.
27. larger network = 1; power produced here = 0
27.1 hydroelectric = 1; diesel = 0.
28. not in county report.
28.1 not in county report.
29. yes = 1; no = 0.
29.1 Indicate time.
29.2 not in county report.
30. yes = 1; no = 0.
30.1a not in county report.
30.1b all, most all = 4; most = 3; some = 2; few = 1.
30.1c not in county report.
31. yes = 1; no = 0.
31.1 not in county report.
32. all, most all = 4; most = 3; some = 2; few = 1; very
few/none = 0.
33. yes = 1; no = 0.
33.1 throughout = 1; center only = 0.
34.1 In center: paved = 2; gravel = 1; dirt = 0.
34.1 Repair: good = 2; regular = 1; poor = 0.
34.2 Outside Center : paved = 2; gravel = 1; dirt = 0.
34.2 Repair: good = 2; regular = 1; poor = 0.
35. Code on tabulation sheet.
36. name/location
36.1 Time / rainy season.
36.2 Type of transportation.
36.3 Always = 3; sometimes = 2; rarely = 1.
37. yes = 1; no = 0.
38. yes = 1; no = 0.
39. Repaired: yes = 1; no = 0.
39. Addition: yes = 1; no = 0.
39. Rebuilt: yes = 1; no = 0.
40. Code on tabulation sheet.
41. Yes = 1; no = 0.
41.1 Specify.
42. Code on tabulation sheet.
43. Code on tabulation sheet.
43.1 Indicate.
43.2

Indicate

C. PROBLEMS OF SMALL FARMERS AND COMMUNITY PROBLEMS

Coder __________________ Date ______________ Community ___________
Approved _______________ Date ______________ County ______________
Region ______________

Question Code

44. Responsibility of analyst.
45. Bank: yes = 1; no = 0.
45. Production Council: yes = 1; no = 0.
45. Cooperative: yes = 1; no = 0.
46. Indicate.
46.1 Indicate.
46.2 Responsibility of analyst.
46.3 Responsibility of analyst.
47.1 Intermediary = 4; packer = 3; cooperative = 2;
national agency = 1; direct to market = 0.
47.2 Intermediary = 4; packer = 3; cooperative = 2;
national agency = 1; direct to market = 0.
47.3 Name most important crop.
47.3 Intermediary = 4; packer = 3; cooperative = 2;
national agency = 1; direct to market = 0.
47.4 Name second most important crop.
47.4 Intermediary = 4; packer = 3; cooperative = 2;
national agency = 1; direct to market = 0.
47.5 Name third most important crop.
47.5 Intermediary = 4; packer = 3; cooperative = 2;
national agency = 1; direct to market = 0.
48. Responsibility of analyst.
Question Code

49. Small = 2; Medium = 1; large = 0.
50. First: private titles = 4; private no title = 3;
rent = 2; sharecroppers = 1; no = 0.
50. Second: private titles = 4; private no title = 3;
rent = 2; sharecroppers = 1; no = 0.
50. Third: private titles = 4; private no title = 3;
rent = 2; sharecroppers = 1; no = 0.
50. Fourth: private titles = 4; private no title = 3;
rent = 2; sharecroppers = 1; no = 0.

51. a) yes = 1; no = 0.
51. Very serious = 2; not serious = 1; slight = 0.
51. b) yes = 1; no = 0.
51. Very serious = 2; not serious = 1; slight = 0.
51. c) yes = 1; no = 0.
51. Very serious = 2; not serious = 1; slight = 0.
51. d) yes = 1; no = 0.
51. Very serious = 2; not serious = 1; slight = 0.
52.

52. Indicate
Problems
52
53. Indicate.
53.1 Labor = 4; finance = 3; land = 2; tools = 1.
53. Indicate.
53.1 Labor = 4; finance = 3; land = 2; tools = 1.
54. Tabulate from questionnaire.

OBSERVATION

A. Indicate a, b, c, d, e, f.
B. Indicate number of densely settled blocks
C.1 Community.
District
County
C.1.1 Indicate time - days/months.
C.2 Not collected. Road impassible = 5; trail = 14; boat = 3;
train = 2; airplane = 1.
C.2 Indicate time.
C.3 Paved; indicate distance.
All weather gravel; indicate distance.
Gravel; indicate distance.
Dirt; indicate distance.
Ruts tracks; indicate distance.
Total distance; indicate.
C.4 Indicate total time.
C.5 Fords;no difficulty.
Fords;some difficulty.
Fords;major obstacle.
C.6 Bad = 4; average = 3; poor = 2; marginal = 1.
 
TABLE FORMATS

INTRODUCTION:

Once the questionnaire has been coded, the next step is to tabulate
the results and to prepare the tables that will permit the analysts to
write the reports. Since tabulation follows essentially the same sequence
for each question detailed instructions are prepared only for question
one. By following the same patterns the study team should be able to
develop their own tabulation sheets.

Step I

The questionnaires for the county (or district or any other unit
analysis which has been decided on) are coded.

Step II

The various responses for each question are summed and placed on
the "county tabulation sheet."

Step III

The tabulation sheets for the county are assembled and totaled
to obtain the distribution of responses at the regional level.

Step IV

The tabulation sheets at the regional level are assembled and
totaled to obtain the distribution of responses at the "area
studied level."

Step V

With all tabulation now complete the table for question #1 can
be prepared. This table will be used by the analysts to write the
report.

Depending on the specific question the data from the county will either
be compared with the region and area studied, or will be presented in the
context of the county only. Occasionally, it has been found useful
to "collapse categories" to reduce the number of alternatives. An example
of collapsed categories is presented in Table One.
After the questionnaire is tablulated and the tables are prepared,
the entire package of tables and the original questionnaires are given
to the analysts to use in the preparation of the county level reports.
The analysts adhere closely to the "county level format" presented
in the next section. The inclusion of these tables in the county
level reports is at the discretion of the analyst. Often, only the most significant
data from a table will be indicated in the text of the report.

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUESTION # 1

The Question: How many people have moved to this community in the last
five years? Many _____ Some X A few _______ None _______

Step I: CODING
(Each questionnaire in the county coded)

Question Code
1 2 Many = 3; some = 2; A few = 1; None = 0.

Step II: TABULATION AT COUNTY LEVEL:
(The number of questionnaires with each response in the county marked
on the following form)

Question 1 Tabulated JA Date 5/16/78
Approved MZ Date 5/18/78

Name of County: SAN PEDRO
(3) Many 15
(2) Some 6

TOTAL 21

(1) A few 3
(0) None 2

TOTAL 5

No data _________

TOTAL 0

Step III: TABULATION AT REGIONAL LEVEL
(The number in each county in the region that chose each response is
indicated on the "regional form."

Question 1 Tabulated JA Date 5/18/78
Approved MZ Date 5/19/78

Name of Region: NORTH PACIFIC

Many / Some Few / Some No data
County # communities # communities # communities Total

SAN PEDRO 21 5 0 26
HO JANCHA 8 10 1 19
NICOYA 18 15 0 33
CARRILLO 4 8 1 13
LANCS 2 12 1 15
Total 53 50 3 106

Step IV: TABULATION AT AREA STUDIED LEVEL
(The number each region in the area studied is indicated in the
"area studied" form.)

Question 1 Tabulated JA Date 5/25/78
Approved MZ Date 5/28/78

Area Studied:

Many / Some Few / None No data
Region # communities # communities # communities Total

NORTH PACIFIC 53 50 3 106
SOUTH PACIFIC 100 40 2 142
ATLANTIC COAST 85 31 1 117
NORTHERN PLAINS 27 80 0 107
Total 265 201 6 472

Step V: PREPARATION OF TABLE

Quantities from county, regional and area studied forms are placed
in appropriate spaces in Table I. Percentages are calculated.

Question 1 Tabulated JA Date 6/3/78
Approved MZ Date 6/8/78

TABLE I
IN-MIGRATION

Number Moving County Region Area Studied
to communities # % # % # %

Many or Some 21 81% 53 50% 265 56%
Few or None 5 19% 50 47% 261 43%
No data 0 0% 3 03% 6 01%
TOTAL 26 100% 106 100% 472 100%

In the remaining pages of this section the table formats for each
of those questions that will be included on the county level report are
presented.

Question 2 Tabulated _________ Date ________
Approved _________ Date ________

TABLE II
OUT-MIGRATION

Number Moving
out of com- County Region Area Studied
munities # % # % # %

Many of Some
Few or None
No data
TOTAL

Many questions in the questionnaire do not warrent a full table
where the responses from the county will be compared with the region and area
studied. Nevertheless this information is important within the context
of the county report so an "additional information table" is prepared.

Additional Information

Question 1.1 Around here (1) Tabulated: _________ Date ________
Other parts (0) Approved: _________ Date ________

POINT OF DEPARTURE AND DESTINATION OF MIGRANTS

Around here Number Other parts Number


(Indicate (Indicate
point of point of
departure departure
of migrants) of migrants)

Question 2.1 Around here (1)
Other parts (0)

Around here Number Other parts Number

(Indicate (Indicate
destination destination
of migrants) of migrants)

Note: No regional or area studied calculations.

Question 3 Tabulated _________ Date __________
Approved _________ Date __________

TABLE III
DIFFICULTY IN FINDING FULL
TIME EMPLOYMENT

Difficulty in County Region Area Studied
finding employment # % # % # %

Very hard
Hard
Fairly easy
No data
Total

Question 4 Tabulated __________ Date __________
Approved __________ Date __________

TABLE IV
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED

Number of County Region Area Studied
unemployed # % # % # %
Many
Some
A few
None
No data
Total
Question 5 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


Question 6, 6.1 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE V

SEASONAL MIGRATION


Number of workers
who migrate seasonally
to find employment County Region Area Studied
# % # % # %

Many

Some

Few

No data

Total


Question 6.2 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


Additional Information

DESTINATION OF SEASONAL WORKERS

Neighboring Areas _____ # Other parts _____ #



Note: Specify location in the blanks.


Question 6.3 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


Additional Information

CHANGES IN NUMBERS WHO WORK SEASONALLY

Changes #

More

Less

Same

No data

Total


Question 7,7.1,7.2 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE VI

DAILY WAGES OF AGRICULTURAL LABORERS

Wages County Region Area Studied

Average daily wage

Average hourly wage


Additional Information

BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO WAGES

Benefits yes no Total

Food

Housing

Land to grow crops



Question 8 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE VII

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF BEEF, DAIRY AND AGRICULTURE

Most Second Least No Significant No
Type of Important Important Important Production Data
Production # % # % # % # % # %

County

Beef

Dairy

Agriculture

Region

Beef

Dairy

Agriculture

Area Studied

Beef

Dairy

Agriculture


Question 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

TABLE VIII

TENDENCIES IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

OVER LAST FIVE YEARS

Type of Increased Decreased No change No data Total
Production # % # % # % # % # %

County

Beef

Dairy

Agriculture

Region

Beef

Dairy

Agriculture

Area Studied

Beef

Dairy

Agriculture


Question 9.1, 9.2 Tabulated _____ Date ____

Approved _____ Date _____

Additional Information

PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL CROPS

Crop Most Important Second Most Third Most

(List all crops
mentioned more
than once or
twice. Rank
order from most
frequently mentioned
to least
frequently mentioned)

 
Additional Information

COMMERCIAL SALES OF PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL CROPS

Amount Sold Commercially
Crop Almost all More than half Less than half Little

("Most
important" in
most communities)

("Second")

("Third")

Note: To determine which crop is "Most Important," "Second," "Third,"
using Table assign three (3) points for each time crop was mentioned
as "Most Important," two (2) points for "Second," and one
(1) for "Third;" then total.

Question 9.3 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


Additional Information

INCREASE IN IMPORTANCE OF PRINCIPAL CROPS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS

Increase in importance
Crop Number of Communities

("Most Important")

("Second")

("Third")


Question 10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

TABLE IX

FACILITIES FOR PROCESSING AND STORAGE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
Capacity Condition Where Principally Sold
Facility Number Excess Adequate Lacking Good Poor Local National International


Note: Leave sufficient space between each type of facility for tabulating the county level. Tabulations
will eventually be summed up to obtain regional and area studied totals.



Question 11, 11.1, 11.1a Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved ______ Date _____


Additional Information

AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING AND STORAGE FACILITES

PERCEIVED NEEDS

Type of Facility Communities Requesting Reasons


Question 12 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

TABLE X

OTHER RURAL INDUSTRIES

Type of Where Sold Principal Sold
Industry Number Local National International

Size of table
depends on
number of
types of
industries.

Note: Leave sufficient space between each type of industry for tabulating.
The county level tabulations will eventually be summed to obtain regional
and area studied totals.


Question 13.1, 13.2 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

Additional Information

PERCEIVED NEEDS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

Type of Industry Communities Requesting Reasons



Question C2, C3 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE XI

PRINCIPAL ACCESS

County Region Area Studied
Type of Access # % # % # %

Road

Trail

Boat

Train

Airplane

Total


Question C1.1, C3, C6 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

TABLE XII

ROAD ACCESS

County Region Area Studied
Access # % # % # %

* Surface Communities Communities Communities

Paved/all weather gravel

Gravel

Dirt/ruts or tracks

Time/Impossible to
Cargo Trucks

one week or less

two to four weeks

one month

one to two months

two to four months

four months or more

(*) Largest number of kilometers in this category.


Question C3 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE XIII
KILOMETERS
ROAD SURFACE

County Region Area Studied
Surface # % # % # %

Paved

All weather gravel

Gravel

Dirt

Ruts or tracks

Total
Question C5 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved ______ Date _____


Additional Information

FORDS

Fords # %

No difficulty

Some difficulty

Major obstacle

Total


Question 15, 15.1 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____



TABLE XIV

FREQUENCY OF SCHEDULED TRANSPORTATION

County Region Area Studied
Frequency # % # % # %

More than 1 per
day

1 per day

More than 2 per
week

Fewer than 2
per week

None

No data

Total



Question 16, 17, 18 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


Additional Information

TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH

Communications yes no

Public Telephone

Individual telephone
in homes

Telegraph


Question 20.1 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved ______ Date _____


TABLE XV

WATER SERVICE

County Region Area Studied
Number of Houses # % # % # %

All

Most

Some

A few

(*)No water system

No data

Total

(*) No water system indicates a "no" response in Question 20.


Question 24, 25 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved ______ Date _____


TABLE XVI

ELECTRICAL SERVICE

County Region Area Studied
Number of Houses # % # % # %

All or almost all

Most

Some

Few

None

No data

Total

(*) Note: No electrical system indicates a "no" response to Question 24.


Question 32 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE XVII

SANITARY SERVICE

County Region Area Studied
Number of Houses # % # % # %

All or almost all

Most

Some

Few

Very few or none

Total


Question 13, 33.1 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

TABLE XVIII

GARBAGE COLLECTION

Center Throughout
Communities with yes Only Community
garbage collection # % # % # %

County

Region

Area Studied


Question 35 Tabulated ______ Date _____

Approved ______ Date _____

Additional Information

HEALTH SERVICES

Facility Number

Hospital

(List other types
of health services)


Total


Question 36 Tabulated ____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

FACILITY MOST USED IN AN EMERGENCY

Name of Facility Location Number of Communities



Question 36.1 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE XIX

TIME TO REACH EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE FACILITY

IN RAINY SEASON

Time County Region Area Studied
# % # % # %

Less than 1 hour

1 hour to 2 hours

More than 2 hours

Total

Note: This table may be made with time categories which seem most
appropriate.


Question 36, 36.2, 36.3 Tabulated _______ Date _______

Approved _______ Date _______


Additional Information

TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION - AVAILABILITY - LOCATION

Type of Transportation Number

Foot

Horse

Bus

Boat

Airplane

Railroad

Etc.


Question 36.3 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


Emergency Availability Number

Always

Sometimes

Rarely


Question 17, 38 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE XX

EDUCATION FACILITIES

County Region Area Studied
Facility # % # % # %

Grade School

High School

None

No data

Total


Question 39 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


GRADE SCHOOL

Name of Facility Location Number of Communities

________________ ________ _____________________


Additional Information

GRADE SCHOOL CONDITION

Grade Schools that Number Names of Communities
need major repair


Grade schools that
need expansion Number Names of Communities


Grade schools that
need to be rebuilt Number Names of Communities



Question 40, 41 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


TABLE XXI

GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES

County Region Area Studied
Institution # % # % # %

Name of Institution or Agency

Example: Agricultural Extension
etc.

Municipal Government completed
a project in last year

etc.

etc.

No Data

List depends on existing governmental institutions.


Question 42, 54 Tabulated _____ Date ____

Approved _____ Date ____


TABLE XXII

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

County Region Area Studied
Facility # % # % # %

Public Facilities:
List facility #1
through #7 in
order.

*Private Facilities:
List facilities in
order of frequency.

Note: Private facilities are found in Items 19 - 22 of Question #54.


Question 43, 43.1, 43,2 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

Additional Information

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Most likely to help
Organization Number with community project.

(List organizations from most
frequently mentioned to least
frequently mentioned)

Additional Information

TYPES OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS COMPLETED IN LAST YEAR

Type of Project Number

(Order from most frequent to
least frequent.)


PROBLEMS OF SMALL FARMERS

Question 45 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

TABLE XXIII

INSTITUTIONAL SOURCES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION CREDIT

County Region Area Studied
Source # % # % # %

Bank

Agency of National Production
Council

Cooperatives that give
production loans.

No institutional source
of credit

No data

Total
Question 46, 46.1 Tabulated _________ Date ________

Approved _________ Date ________

Additional Information

SOURCES OF CREDIT USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BY SMALL FARMERS

Source of
credit most frequently other sources of credit
Source used by small farmers used by small farmers

(Order from
most frequently
mentioned to
least frequently
mentioned)

Question 47 Tabulated _________ Date _________

Approved _________ Date _________

TABLE XXIV

MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Directly Natl. Takes
Inter- to refinery Coop- Buying product Communi-
Product mediary packer, etc. erative agency to market ties

Cattle

Milk

Most important
crop

Second most
important crop

Third most
important crop

Total use of
this system.

Question 50 Tabulated ________ Date _________

Approved ________ Date _________


TABLE XXV

LAND TENURE

Second Third
Type Most Most Most Least None

Private farms with
land titles

Private farms without
titles

Farmers who only rent
their land

Sharecroppers

Question 49 Tabulated _________ Date _________

Approved _________ Date _________

Additional Information

PREDOMINATE SIZE OF FARMS

Size Communities

Small

Medium

Large

Question 51 Tabulated ________ Date ________

Approved ________ Date ________
TABLE XXVI

LAND PROBLEMS

SEVERITY
Very Not Slight Not a
Problems Serious Serious Problem Problem

Lack of land titles

Land owned by foreigners

Lack of land to cultivate

Land increasingly concentrated
in the hands of a small
minority

Question 52 Tabulated ________ Date ________

Approved ________ Date ________

TABLE XXVII

TYPES OF COMMUNITY PROBLEMS

Type of Problem Number of Communities

(*)Examples: roads
water
Electricity
Etc.

(*) Order from most frequently mentioned problem to the least frequently
mentioned.

Question 53 Tabulated _________ Date _________

Approved _________ Date _________

TABLE XXVIII

TWO MOST IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PROBLEMS

Community First Problem Second Problem

(Names of Communities)

Question 53.1 Tabulated _________ Date _________

Approved _________ Date _________

Additional Information

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE OFFERED

Type of Assistance Number of
Offered Projects

Labor

Finance

Land

Tools

ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

One of the major advantages of the research methodology outlined in
these pages is that the information can be used to establish an initial
listing of communities with priority development needs.
Based on the answers to several questions a point system is worked
out where a high number of points indicates a high priority. A step by
step procedure is presented to establish priority needs for water, electricity,
public streets, sanitary services, and access roads.

Priority Needs for Water Systems

Priorities for water systems are based on four criteria:

Points

1. Number of houses with/without piped-in
water 0 to 4

2. Months water rationed previous year 0 to 2

3. Months system shut down for maintenance
problems last year 0 to 2

4. Degree of community interest 0 to 2

Total 0 to 10

Answers from the code book are recorded on the following table and
points are calculated according to instructions.

Questions 20, 20.1; 21, 21.1 Tabulated ________ Date ________

Approved ________ Date ________

PRIORITY NEED FOR WATER SYSTEM

Houses Without
Piped- Time Time shut down Community
in Water Rationed For maintenance Interest
Code Points Code Points Time Points Points Total Priority
2 1 4 2
2 4 months months 1 8 FIRST

Instructions for Calculating Points:

Houses without piped-in water Questions 20, 20.1

Question Points

20 = 0 or 20.1 = 1 (1)Automatic First Priority
20.1 = 2 Fourth
20.1 = 3 Second
20.1 = 4 Zero

(1) If there is no water system or system reads "few houses" first priority
automatically given.

Time water rationed last year Questions 21, 21.1

(2)Time rationed Points

3 months or more 2
1 to less than three months 1
less than one month or none 0

(2) Time intervals presented as examples.

Time water system shut down for Questions 22, 22.1
maintenance

(3)Time shut down Points

3 months or more 2
1 to less than three months 1
less than one month or none 0

(3) Time intervals presented as examples.

Community Interest Questions 52, 53

Question Points

Mentioned in 52 and 53 2
Mentioned in 52 only 1
Not mentioned 0

(4)Total Priority

Points Priority

7 points or more First priority
4-6 points Second priority
3 points or less Adequate

(4) Points presented as examples only.

Question 24, 25, 26, 29, 52, 52 Tabulated ________ Date _______

Approved ________ Date _______

PRIORITY NEED FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Houses with Service
an electrical Adequate Shut down Community
service Current Reduced Interest Total Priority
Code Points Time Points Time Points
6
4 0 0 2 months 2 2 6 SECOND

Instructions for Calculating Points:

Houses without electrical service Questions 24, 25

Question Points

Question 24 = 0, 25 = 7 Automatic First Priority
25 = 2 4
25 = 3 2
25 = 4 0

Adequate Current Question 20

Question Points

26 = 1 0
26 = 0 2

(1)Shut down, reduction Question 29

Time Points

3 months or more 2
1 to less than 3 months 1
less than one month 0

(1) Time interval presented by example.

Community Interest Questions 52, 53

Question Points

Mentioned in 52, 53 2
Mentioned in 52 only 1
Not mentioned 0

(1)Total Priority

Points Priority

7 points or more First
4 to 6 points Second
3 or less Adequate

(1) Points presented as example only.

Question 34, 52, 53 Tabulated ________ Date ________

Approved ________ Date ________

PRIORITY NEED FOR PUBLIC STREET

Streets in Streets
Center of Town Outside Center Community
Type Maintenance Type Maintenance Interest Total Priority
Code Points Code Points Code Points Code Points

1 1 0 2 0 2 1 1 2 8 FIRST

Instructions for Calculating Points:

Public Streets in Center Question 34

Surface Points

Paved = 2 0
Gravel = 1 1
Dirt = 0 2

Maintenance Points

Gravel = 2 0
Regular = 1 1
Dirt = 2 2

Public Streets Outside of Center Question 34

Surface Points

Paved = 2 0
Gravel = 1 1
Dirt = 0 2

Maintenance Points

Gravel = 2 0
Regular = 1 1
Dirt = 2 2

Community Interest Questions 52, 53

Question Points

Mentioned in 52, 53 2
Mentioned in 52 only 1
Not mentioned 0

Total Priority

Points Priority

8 and more First
5 to 8 Second
4 or less Adequate

Question 32 Tabulated _________ Date _________

Approved _________ Date _________

PRIORITY NEED FOR SANITARY SERVICE

Houses with Priority
Service
Question Priority

All or most all = 4 Adequate

Most = 3 Adequate

Some = 2 Second

Few = 1 First

Very few or none = 0 First

Question C6 Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____


PRIORITY NEEDS FOR IMPROVED ACCESS ROADS

Rating Priority


Question Priority

Good = 4 Adequate

Average = 3 Adequate

Poor = 2 Second Priority

Marginal = 1 First Priority

Once tabulation is complete the data is presented on the following

tables:

Question __________ Tabulated _____ Date _____

Approved _____ Date _____

TABLE XXIX

PRIORITY NEEDS FOR BASIC SERVICES

First Priority Need

Service County Region Area Studied
# % # % # %

Access Road

Water

Electricity

Sanitary Services

Public Streets
 
 
TABLE XXX

BASIC SERVICES

Service First Priority Second Priority Adequate

Access Road

Water

Electricity

Sanitary Services

Public Streets

TABLE XXXI

NEEDS FOR BASIC SERVICES BY COMMUNITY
Sanitary
Community Access Road Water Electricity Public Streets Services

1 = First Priority

2 = Second Priority

0 = Adequate

FORMAT FOR COUNTY SUMMARIES

The section which follows, "Format for County Summaries," demonstrates
one way the data from the questionnaire can be organized to write a comprehensive
report. By following this outline closely analysts can write
a satisfactory report even though they have little experience.

The "Format" is divided into seven parts; the first three deal with
basic social and economic trends in migration, employment and, production.
What emerges is a description of conditions as they are now, how conditions
have changed in the last few years, and why these changes have occurred.
It is usually possible to link in-migration to an improving employment
situation and increased and intensified agricultural production (and vice-versa).

Part IV is a description of access roads, transportation and communication
facilities and basic services in the county compared to the region
and the area studied. Education facilities, governmental services, recreational
facilities and community organizations are also described and
compared. Part V deals with the problems faced by small farmers. The
issue addressed is the obstacles to increase agricultural production (and
by extention to improve the employment situation and to slow migration or
stimulate more immigration). Part VI presents the types of problems that
are seem by the villagers as urgent to solve and the type of assistance
they would offer for their solution.

These sections lend logically to the recommendations in Part VII.
In Part VII an integral development plan for the county is presented
starting with measures to stimulate agricultural production. Following
this community by community recommendations are made for the improvement
of access roads and basic services.

PART I

Migration

1. Perception of number of persons entering county and whether more are
entering than leaving or vice versa.

a) Using Table I, compare the percentage of communities in the
county where many or some people were entering, with the percentages
for the region and the area studied. A higher percentage
for the county would mean a comparatively attractive
situation for in-migration, and vice versa.

b) Data from Table II should be noted if the divergence from the
regional or area studied averages is striking.

2. Origin of inmigrants and destination of emigrants.

a) Note if in most communities immigrants come from nearby or
from other areas in the country. List the areas which were
most mentioned. Discuss implications. (Question 1.1)

b) Note where emigrants are going near-far, rural-urban, rural-frontier,
etc.) Discuss implications. (Question 2.1)

3. Reasons for leaving and entering.

Note frequently mentioned reasons for moving to the communities in
the country or leaving them. Cite interesting examples from the
questionnaires. (Questions 1.2, 2.2)

4. Conclusions:

Summarize: Is this an area which in general is more or less
attractive to immigrants? What are the reasons for this;
Discuss migration as an introduction to employment if this
is relevant.

PART II

Employment, Seasonal Migration and Salaries

1. Difficulty in finding employment; reasons:

a) Using Table III compare the percentage of communities in the
county where it is "hard" or "very hard" to find work with the
percentage for the region and area studied.

b) Note frequently mentioned reasons for difficulty in finding work.
Cite interesting examples from the questionnaire. (Question 3.1)

2. Unemployment:

a) Using Table IV, compare the percentage of communities in the
county where there are "some" or "many" out of work, with the
percentages for the region and area studied.

3. Employment Trends:

a) Using Figure I, compare the percentage of communities in the
county in which the job situation has worsened (fewer jobs) or
improved with the percentage for region and area studied.

b) Cite reasons and illustrative examples from the questionnaires. (Ques. 5.1)

4. Seasonal Migrations:

a) Using Table V compare the percentage of communities in the county
in which "many or some" leave for seasonal employment to percentages
for the region and area studied.

b) Indicate whether most of the workers go to areas "nearby" or to
"other areas" of the country to find seasonal employment and
where they most frequently go. (Question 6.2)

c) Indicate whether in general there is more or less seasonal
migration compared to five years ago. (Question 6.3)

5. Salaries:

a) Using Table VI compare the average of daily and hourly wages
for the county for unspecialized agricultural labor with those
of the region and area studied. Indicate ranges of hourly wages
among communities in the county.

b) Indicate whether agricultural labor generally includes food,
housing or the use of land for subsistence production. (Question 7.2)

6. Conclusions:

Summarize findings: Is the employment situation generally favorable
or unfavorable? How does it compare to the region and area studied?
How does this relate to migration, the migratory situation? Are people
forced to resort to seasonal migration because of a lack of permanent
jobs?

PART III

Agriculture and Rural Industries

1. Farm Production: Using Table VII discuss the most important types of
agricultural production. Compare with region and area studied.

2. Tendencies: Using Table VIII discuss shifts in agricultural production
over the last five years.

3. Changes in Agricultural Production: Note frequently mentioned reasons
for shifts in production. Cite interesting examples from the questionnaires.
(Questions 8.1a, 8.2a. 8.3a, 9.3b)

4. Commercial Sale of Agricultural Products: Specify major agricultural
crops, then indicate if production of principal crops is principally
subsistence or commercial. (Question 9.2)

5. Storing, Marketing, Processing Facilities and Industry: Include the
number and types of facilities available in the county, their state
of repair, capacity, and where products are sold principally. Do the
same for industry. Present Table IX and X, discussing anything of
particular significance. (Questions 11 & 13, discussed in recommendations)

6. Sum up important points in this chapter and relate to findings in
Parts I and II if significant.

PART IV

Infrastructure and Services

1. Introduce the chapter by stating that the following topics will be
discussed:

Roads, Transportation, and Communication
Basic Services
Health Services
Governmental Services
Recreational Services
Community Organizations

2. Access Roads:

a) Using Table XI compare the principal type of access in the
county compared with the region and area studied.

b) Using Table XII, indicate the surface of roads, and the time
roads are impassable to cargo trucks compared with the region
and area studied.

c) Using Table XIII, compare the percentage of Kilometers of access
roads with poor surfaces with the region and area studied.

3. Transportation and Communication

a) Using Table XIV compare frequency of transportation between
the county, region and area studied.

b) Note the number or percentage of communication with telephone
and telegraph service. (Questions 16, 17, 18)

4. Basic Services:

a) Using data from Tables XV, XVI, XVII, and XVIII, compare basic
services of water, electricity, sanitary service, and garbage
collection for the county, the region, and the area studied. It
may be useful to develop a single table or graph to point out
the most important differences.

5. Health Services:

a) Describe briefly the types of health services which exist and
their location. Note which health care facilities are most
used in an emergency and by how many communities. (Question 36)

b) Using Table XIX indicate the time required to reach emergency
health care for the county, with the region and area studied.
Indicate the type of transportation commonly used to reach these
facilities and whether or not it is available. (Questions 36.2, 36.3)

6. Educational Facilites:

a) Using Table XX, compare the percentages of communities that have
grade schools and high schools with the region and area studied.

b) List the names of communities where grade schools are considered
to need major repair, expansion or where they need to be constructed.
(Question 39)

7. Governmental Services:

Using Table XXI, indicate number of communities where each governmental
agency is working (hold a meeting, helped an individual,
constructed a project, etc.), compare with region and area studied.
Stress that this is the interviewer's perception of the governmental
agencies that were working in the community.

8. Recreational Facilities:

Using Table XXII, compare number and type of recreational facilities
with the region and area studied.

9. Community Organizations:

a) Indicate the total number of community organizations and types
of organizations which are most likely to help out with a community
(Questions 43, 43.1)

b) Indicate the types of projects completed by community organizations
in the last year. (Question 43.2)

PART V

Problems of Small Farmers

1. Introduce in order of frequency mentioned the problems of small farmers
in this area as perceived by the people interviewed. Then, proceed to
discuss in more detail. (The following discussion reflects the problems
of small farmers in Costa Rica. Other problems can be treated in a
similar manner.) (Question 45)
2. Problems in Obtaining Credit:

a) Using Table XXIII compare the percentage of communities with
institutional credit facilities with the region and area studied.

b) Discuss the sources of credit and the ones most used by farmers
for financing production.

c) Discuss frequently mentioned credit problems -- include significant
comments from the questionnaires. (Questions 46.2, 46.3)

3. Problems Related to Marketing:

a) Using Table XXI, discuss which marketing systems are most used for
various products. Note those crops where institutional systems are
used (i.e. cooperatives, national buying organization, etc.)
compared to middlemen and truckers. Discuss implications.

b) Discuss the types of marketing problems and indicate illustrative
comments from the questionnaires. (Question 48)

4. Problems Related to Land:

a) Discuss land tenure patterns and predominant farm size and their
implications. (Question 49)

b) Using Table XXVI, discuss types of land problems and their implications
for agricultural development.

5. Problems Related to Roads:

a) Note the number of communities where roads were mentioned as a
problem of small farmers and how often roads were mentioned as a
marketing problem and as a community problem. Include significant
quotes.

b) Indicate the number and percentage of communities where access is
difficult (dirt, trail or river) from Table XII.

Summarize the problems of small farmers and their implications in terms
of limiting production and profits.

PART VI

Perception of Community Problems

1. Using Table XXVII, point out most frequently mentioned community
problems.

2. Using Table XXVIII, comment on two most important community problems.

3. Discuss the help offered by the community to solve the two most
important community problems. (Question 53.1)

a) The type of help offered.

b) Indicate the importance of community participation in lowering
project costs.

PART VII

Recommendations

1. Development Plan
Present an outline of an integrated development program for the county.

2. Agricultural Development Needs

a) Base recommendations on trends and problems identified earlier in
the report.

b) Stress need for generating employment, given population increase.
 
 
3. Rural Industry Needs

a) Using information tabulated for questions 11, 11.1, 11.1a, indicate
the communities that need agricultural processing and storage
facilities and the reasons these facilities were reported. Use
data from Table IX to facilitate develop argument especially as it
relates to facilities in poor repair or with inadequate capacity.

b) Using information tabulated for Questions 13.1, 13.2 indicate the
communities that need non agricultural processing industries and the
reasons given.

4. Road and Basic Services Needs

a) Indicate briefly how priority needs were determined.

b) Using Table XXIX, compare the need for access roads and basic
services for the county with the region and the area studied.

c) Using Table XXX, summarize the needs for priority basic services
in the county.

d) Using Table XXI specify the priority road and basic service
needs of each community

5. Conclusions

Make a brief summary of the recommendations made and stress the kind
of impact their implementation would make for the development of the
county.

FORMAT FOR COMMUNITY PROFILE

This community profile format avoids the need to actually
compose reports for each community. Referring to the questionnaire
a coder simply circles the correct response in the format.
A secretary can then transfer this information directly into a
report. This avoids having to use analysts for the more routine
work and thus cuts down the cost of report preparation considerably.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Question General Profile

Obs A __________________________ is a community
(community)

/with a - which is /

Strong central nucleus of homes and businesses

concentrated in a small central area.

small nucleus of homes and businesses with

disbursed houses.

No nucleus of homes and businesses.

Linear with most homes and businesses located on

a highway or near a railroad track, but with

large center of shops and homes.

Linear with a small nucleus of homes and businesses.

Linear with no nucleus of homes and businesses.

Obs B The community has _____________ densely settled blocks.

14 The people generally go to _______________________ to

obtain needed services and to do most of their buying.

14.1 It can be reached by: /railroad, boat/canoe, airplane,

path or trail/

14.2 /dirt - gravel - paved / road / in approximately

__________________________ .

/ minutes - hours /

Question General Profile (continued...)

14.2 /all year round - during the dry season/ and in

____________________________.

14.2 /minutes - hours/ during the rainy season.

_______________________________ has the following services,
(community)

industries, and businesses:

38 a primary school

37 an / academic - agricultural - high school

45 a bank

45 an agency of the National Production Council

45 a cooperative

35 /a hospital - clinic - health post/

35 ___________________________________.

35 ___________________________________.

35 ___________________________________.

Socio-Economic Data:

Migration: During the preceding five-year period

(*)1,2 /more - fewer - approximately the same number of/

people have entered ___________________________
(community)

1,2 /than - as/ have left it to live in other communities.

(*) Compare answers to Questions 1 and 2.

Question Socio-Economic Data (continued...)

The principal reason given for more people

1,2 /entering - leaving / than

1,2 / entering - leaving / was

1.2 or _____________________________________________________

2.2 _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Employment: It is considered to be

3 /very - hard - fairly easy / to find permanent

work here because

3.1 ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Compared to five years ago, there is

5 /more - less - about the same amount of / work available

due to

5.1 _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

4 /Many - Some - A few people - virtually nobody/

/is - are/ looking for work but

/is - are/ unable to find it.
Question Agricultural Data:

49 /small - medium - large/ sized farms predominate.

8 /agriculture - and - beef cattle raising - and - dairy

farming/

/is - are/ practiced in this community of which

8 /agricultural - cattle raising - dairy farming/is

the most important activity. The three most

important agricultural crops are:

9 _______________________________________________
___________________________________________ and
______________________________________________.

Basic Services Profile:

The Water System: In _____________ there
(community_

20 is a - is no/ water system which serves

20.1 all or almost all - most - some - a few/ homes and

which is operated by the

20.2 /community - municipality - National Water Service -
__________________________________/.

During the past year

21 It was not necessary to ration the system due to lack

of water

21.1 it was necessary to ration the amount of water used

for a total of

21.1 ____________________________________________________

22 /but - and also/ it was

22 /not/ necessary to suspend the service for maintenance
or repair during a total of
22.1 ______________________________________________________.


Question The Water System (continued .... )

22.2 it was not necessary to ration, reduce or
suspend the water supply due to water shortage or
maintenance problems.

19 The source /s/ of water used
/is - are/
/wells - a river or creek - ditches - springs - water
brought in from other communities in tanks - rain - and

19 /there is/
/not/ a sufficient amount of water all year round.

19 only the /wells - river or creek - ditches - springs - water

brought in from other communities - rain -
________________________________________/

/is an - are/ adequate

sources /s/.

All year round.

23 This community currently has no plan to /improve its

construct a/ water system.

23 In _________________________ there is a plan to
(community)

/improve its - construct a /water system which will

serve /all or almost all - most - some - few - very few/ houses.


23.1a sponsored by the /community - municipality - National

Water Service - ____________________________________/,

Question Water System (continued...)

23.1c and work is scheduled to be completed on _______.

52 The _________________ /lack of a/ water system was

/not/ mentioned as a problem in the community.

/The enlargement of the - The improvement of the - The

53 construction of - The repair of the / water system

was mentioned as one of the two most needed projects

in the community, and for which they offered to give

53.1 aid in the form of

/labor - financing - materials - equipment - land -
____________________________________________/.

The Electric System:

24 __________________________/ - does not have / electric
(community)

service

25 which serves /all or almost all - most - some - few

of the houses, and which is operated by the

24.1 /community - municipality - National Electric Service
_______________________________/.

31 It /has - does not have / public street lights, /but

31.1 only in the center of town - throughout the community/.

26 The interviewees believe that there is /not/ enough

electric current available when the system is working

28 well. During the past year it was not necessary to shut

down the electric system or reduce its capacity due to

lack of water,

it was necessary to shut down the electric system due

28.1 to a lack of water or fuel for a total of ___________


Question Electric System: (continued ...)

/but - and also

29 /it was - it was not / necessary to do so for maintenance

during a total of _____________________________________.

29.2 because ___________________________________________.

It was not necessary to shut down the electric system or

reduce its capacity due to a lack of water or fuel or for

maintenance problems.

30 This community currently has no plan to

/improve its - construct an/ electric system.

30.1 In ______________________ there is a plan to /improve
(community)

the - construct an/ electric system which will serve

30.1b /all or almost all - most - some - few - very few/

houses sponsored by the

30.1a /community - municipality - National Electric Service -
 
_______________________________/.

30.1 and work is scheduled to be completed on ____________.

The

52 /lack of an / electric system was

/not/ mentioned as a problem in the community.

53 /The enlargement of the - The improvement of the

The construction of an - The repair of the / electric

system was mentioned as one of the two most needed

53.1 projects in the community, and for which they offered to

give aid in the form of

/labor - financing - materials - equipment - __________/.


Question Public Streets:

34 The public streets in the center as well as outside the

center of _______________________ are principally

paved - gravel - dirt/ and are considered to be

/well - regularly - poorly/ maintained.

34.1 The public streets in the center of _______________
(community)
are principally

paved - gravel - dirt / and are

considered to be

/well - regularly - poorly/ maintained, while the streets

34.2 outside of the center are

paved - gravel - dirt / and are

/well - regularly - poorly/ maintained.

The

52 /lack of - condition of the / public streets was

/not/ mentioned as a problem in the community.

The

53 /construction of - repair of - improvement of/

the public streets was mentioned as one of the two most

needed projects in the community, and for which they

53.1 offered to give aid in the form of

/labor - financing - materials - equipment - land

_________________________________________________/.

Question Sanitary Service and Garbage Collection:

32 /all or almost all - most - some - few - very few

or none / of the houses have latrines or toilets.

The

52 lack of / sanitary service was

/not/ mentioned as a problem in the community.

53 The expansion of sanitary services was mentioned as

one of the two most needed projects in the community,

53.1 and for which they offered to provide aid in the form of

/labor - financing - materials - equipment - __________
_______________________/.

33 There /is - is not / garbage collection service.

33.1 Garbage is collected /only in the center - throughout

the community /.

The

52 /lack of a / garbage collection service was

/not/ mentioned as a problem in the community.

The

53 /establishment of a - expansion of the - improvement

of the/ garbage collection service was mentioned as one

of the two most needed projects in the community and for

which they offered to provide aid in the form of

53.1 / financing - equipment - ____________________/.


Question Community Problems and Organizations

53 In response to the question, "Which are the two most

urgent problem to solve in your community?", the

interviewees mentioned the following:
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

53.1 For the first project they said that the community would

help in the form of:

and for the second in the form of:

53.1 For both projects they said that the community would offer

help in the form of: _____________________________________

52 They further mentioned that

/other - another / important problem

/s/ in the community

/are - is /
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

43 Of the following community organizations:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

43.1 The ___________________________________________ was considered

most likely to sponsor a project for community betterment.


Question Community Problems and Organizations: (continued ... )

43 According to the interviewees there are no community

organizations that meet regularly.

52 In addition to the problems already listed, the interviewees

also mentioned the need for the following in their

community: ____________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________.

========================================
========================================