Liberia
Liberia’s civil war between 1989 and 2003 left hundreds of thousands dead, and many more affected by the extreme violence that ravaged the country. The wars ultimately ended with the exile of then president Charles Taylor, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2003, and the establishment of the National Transitional Government of Liberia, leading to elections in 2005.
Navigating Liberia's Path to Peace
Rebuilding Liberia, shattered by war and internal division, is a monumental task. The nation strives to establish a functional government, overhaul security and justice, and revive its economy and society. Ethnic strife fueled the conflict, necessitating a concerted effort to restore trust and unity. With Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's historic presidency in 2005, Liberia embarked on a journey of recovery, aided by international support. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission addressed wartime grievances.
As Liberia approaches the 2011 election, challenges persist despite progress. This study, drawing from extensive consultations and a nationwide survey, sheds light on peacebuilding priorities, security perceptions, and dispute resolution mechanisms at both national and county levels, essential for a successful transition to peace.
Methodology
Survey Sampling and Ethics in Liberia
Respondents were selected for the survey via a standard random multi-stage cluster sampling method. Enumerated Areas (EAs), defined by the Liberian government for census purposes, were randomly chosen in proportion to population size, totaling 260 across the country. Within each EA, 16 households were selected using the EPI method. Interviewers, assigned by gender, approached households and randomly chose one eligible adult for the interview.
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Despite 9% non-participation, 94% of approached households were interviewed. The study was approved by UC Berkeley's Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, granted permission by Liberia's Ministry of Internal Affairs, and obtained local authorities' consent at each site.
Research Instruments
Interviewers utilized a standardized questionnaire featuring 16 sections, covering demographics, socio-economic status, health, security, and more. Developed by a seasoned research team in consultation with local experts and organizations, questions were open-ended, ensuring comprehensive responses. Response options, tested during pilot interviews, aided coding. Translated into Liberian English for accessibility, the questionnaire underwent rigorous validation, including back-translation and pilot surveys.
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Implemented via Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) using KoBo, this streamlined data entry, minimizing errors. With daily synchronization, researchers monitored data quality, ensuring completeness and accuracy throughout the collection process.
Data Collection and Analysis
Data collection took place over six weeks, from November 1 to December 13, 2010. Ten teams of four individuals (two men and two women per team) implemented the study under the guidance of the lead researchers and field supervisors. The interviewers were Liberian university students or professionals with research experience. Prior to collecting the data they participated in a seven-day training workshop that explained the objectives and content of the study, survey and interview techniques, use of the PDA, troubleshooting, and solving technical problems. The training included mock interviews and pilot-testing with randomly selected individuals at non-sampled sites.
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At the survey sites, the research plan required each interviewer to conduct four interviews per day. They conducted the interviews one-on-one, anonymously, and in a confidential setting. At the end of each day of data collection, the supervisor of each research team electronically aggregated the data and sent it to a central database. Once the data collection was completed, the database was imported into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16 for data analyses. All results presented here account for the complex sampling methodology and weight factors.
Limitations
The present study was developed and implemented carefully to ensure that the results would accurately represent the views and opinions of the adult Liberian population. We must, however, acknowledge some limitations. First, the sample was designed rigorously to be representative of the adult population resident of Liberia, resulting in a large sample size of 4,501 respondents. However some selected individuals could not be interviewed for various reasons (see sample section). It is uncertain how respondents who could not be interviewed differ from the sampled individuals, but we designed the sampling approach to reduce any potential selection bias. Results are valid for the Liberian population only at the time of the survey. Opinions may change over time.
Second, the study relies on a self-reported method of data collection, including key informant interviews and a population-based survey. A number of factors may have affected the quality and validity of the data collected, such as inaccurate recall of past events, misunderstanding of the questions or concepts, reactivity to the interviewer due to the sensitive nature of the questions, or intentional misreporting (i.e., for socially unacceptable answers). We minimized such risks through careful development of the questionnaire to make the questions sufficiently clear and reduce potential bias (see “Research Instruments”). The interviewers conducted the interviews anonymously, and all interviewers underwent rigorous training on data collection and interview techniques.
