12 > Next Generation Myanmar CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY The Next Generation Myanmar study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods to collect data on youth opinion. Survey questions, in-depth interviews and group discussions documented young people’s views on each of the topics identified in the literature review. Along the process, the research team were in dialogue with a task force of youth leaders and practitioners, who provided critical insights to the study. The survey’s findings informed subsequent key informant interviews and focus group discussions, held in various locations across Myanmar in October and November 2018. These in-person meetings allowed the research team to complement the survey’s quantitative data with rich qualitative information about critical issues affecting youth today. A total of eight focus group discussions and 18 in-depth interviews were held. The study first involved a household survey of individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 across the country.15 A total of 2,473 individuals were surveyed between August and October 2018. The survey aimed to achieve a sample that would allow analysis of the data disaggregated by gender, age, education, income, religion and other critical demographics. The sample was drawn through a multi-stage stratified, clustered sample design. While it aimed to achieve national representativeness, it is inevitable in a country as diverse and geographically distinct as Myanmar that at lower levels, specific communities (e.g. religious or ethnic) are not represented. Youth from open-conflict areas were under-sampled, mostly because of the randomised sampling employed. The perspectives of youth in conflict zones was nonetheless sought through key informant interviews and focus group discussions held in Yangon and other places. The findings of the survey were also reviewed in five policy workshops that were conducted in different parts of the country during November 2018. During these workshops, participants reflected on the emerging findings of the study and devised policy recommendations based on them. In addition to the 2,473 individuals who were surveyed for this study, around 200 young people from all over the country have contributed to this report. 15 For a more detailed account of the methodology, please see the Appendix. > W hile this study defines youth as young people aged 18 to 30 years old, many organisations in Myanmar use wider age ranges. In some cases, researchers in this study interviewed members of youth organisations open to youth aged 15 to 35, the same range as the Myanmar government’s official youth policy. In rare cases, qualitative data collected from these interviews is included in this report, recognising that people aged 30 to 35 are often considered youth by many in Myanmar. See the Demographics section in the Appendix (page 50).