ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses mapping an important method of data gathering that has a variety of uses. One of the first activities for a newly initiated formative research project can be a series of social mapping sessions. This activity consists of gathering small groups of local people at an NGO, a women's group, other settings and asking each group to draw a map of the local community in order to show the locations of key features, landmarks, social services, and other information. If the research is about schools and education reform, the local map-makers can be asked to mark all of the locations of government and private schools, areas of ethnic minorities with language learning problems, and other salient features. If the research is focused on health, mapping can show locations of clinics, doctors, hospitals, and other health providers. It is useful to find out the locations of different ethnic groups, occupational categories, local organizations and other socio-cultural and economic features.
