This document provides an introduction to qualitative and quantitative research techniques for humanitarian needs assessments. It discusses data sources, types of data including quantitative and qualitative information, data collection techniques, and key resources. The main points are:
- Both primary and secondary data from various sources are needed to understand the scale and nature of impact on affected populations.
- Quantitative data provides numeric information on magnitude and scale, while qualitative data helps explain how and why impacts occurred.
- During initial rapid assessments, most data comes from secondary sources due to limited field access, but primary data collection becomes more important over time.