Voices from the barrio: oral testimony and informal housing processes

Abstract

Empirical studies of low-income housing areas frequently rely on questionnaires to record the dwelling and social circumstances of the residents. Such quantitative methods are well documented in the literature and the data produced is relatively straightforward to analyse, but through a focus on aggregate data the actions and experiences of individuals are excluded. In contrast qualitative approaches can be used to explore the less visible and tangible aspects of housing through direct engagement with residents and individuals. This methodologically focused paper explains the theory and practice of collecting oral testimonies and attempts to demonstrate the potential advantages through a detailed analysis of examples recorded in informal settlements in Colombia.

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