The use of survey data to study migration–environment relationships in developing countries: alternative approaches to data collection

Abstract

Growing interest in the environmental aspects of migration is not matched by research on their interrelationships, due partly to the lack of adequate data sets on the two together. Focusing on the microlevel, we describe the data required to effectively investigate these interrelationships. Data sources are discussed, be collected, focusing on household surveys and remote sensing. The main section of the paper describes three alternative approaches to data collection: (a) using existing population and environmental data from different sources, illustrated by Burkina Faso; (b) adding questions to a survey developed for another purpose, illustrated for Guatemala using a DHS survey; and (c) designing a new survey specifically to collect both migration and environmental data to investigate interrelationships, illustrated by Ecuador. Methods used and summary findings are described, followed by a discussion of their advantages and limitations. We conclude with recommendations as to effective use of each approach as research on migration–environment linkages moves forward.

Measuring the environmental dimensions of human migration: The demographer's toolkit

“…More nuanced and direct measures of environmental effects can be combined with demographic data, either through their measurement in the survey or census itself or by merging environmental and other contextual variables with demographic data (Bilsborrow and Henry 2012). These options broaden the potential set of explanations for migration by situating a household within a set of environmental, political, economic, and social arrangements.…”

“…Leading scholars in this field note that advances in the quality and quantity of empirical research on environmental factors driving migration depend on increased collection of quantitative data (Bilsborrow and Henry 2012; Piguet 2010); adoption of sophisticated statistical modeling approaches (Kniveton, Schmidt-Verkerk, Smith, and Black 2008: 7); and greater collaboration between environmental and migration researchers (Kniveton, Schmidt-Verkerk, Smith, and Black 2008: 57; McLeman 2014). We agree, and hope to promote such interdisciplinary collaborations between environmental and population scientists.…”

Migration and global environmental change: methodological lessons from mountain areas of the global South

“…From an empirical point of view, most quantitative studies on migration and the environment in mountain areas have taken two approaches: either using existing population and environmental data from different sources or designing a new survey to collect them through a case study approach (Bilsborrow and Henry, 2012). A good application of the first approach is provided by the Chitwan Valley Family Study (CVFS) in the Terai belt of Nepal (situated at the foothill of the Himalaya).…”

Living with drought: a study of spatial mobility in semi-arid Northeast Brazil

“…Consistent with the literature on the relationship between migration and the environment (Bilsborrow and Henry 2012;Jäger, Frühmann, Günberger and Vag 2009), a structured household survey coupled with key informant interviews and field observations were the key strategies for primary data collection. As mentioned above, the application of a new toolkit designed for this research also featured in this stage of the research.…”

“…Ezra and Kiros 2001;Kniverton, Schmidt-Verkerk and Blacksmith 2008). At the other end of the spectrum is the application of micro-level approaches based principally on longitudinal data or retrospective household surveys (Bilsborrow and Henry 2012) and analysed using logistic regression, event history, multi-level and agent-based models (e.g. Henry, Schoumaker and Beauchemin 2004;Smith 2014).…”