RAPID HOUSEHOLD APPRAISAL - A METHOD FOR FACILITATING THE ANALYSIS OFHOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES

A case is made for the more widespread use of households as units of s tudy and analysis in order to better understand how and why people org anize their activities in certain ways. The value of the use of househ old livelihood strategies is explained to facilitate understanding of both individual and collective decision-making. A simple method for th e collection of household livelihood data at a community level is outl ined. The potential of this method is demonstrated by case study mater ial from work in both Java and Papua New Guinea in which work is categ orized by villagers and the proportionate importance given to work in each category by all working household members is calculated.