Assessing recall bias in post-conflict food security and resilience study in south Wollo zone, Ethiopia

Conflict undermines food security resilience by disrupting the food system while data collection is often constrained during conflict periods despite the need for longitudinal studies for decision making. In such a situation, retrospective data collection that is collected post-conflict is an option. However, recall data lack reliability due to the impact of recall bias. Therefore, statistical methods can be deployed to check reliability of retrospective data for statistical inference. This research integrated a complementary study using flashbulb memory test by including questions regarding a well-known event and assessed recall bias in food security study.•We collected retrospective data from respondents on household resilience to food insecurity of conflict affected households in South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia.•By including a set question related to a known event, conflict exposure and control variables (age, gender and education), we demonstrated how the flashbulb memory test can be used to identify potential recall bias.Conflict exposure and the control variables were not statistically significant on logistic regression for this study which assured that recall bias did not affect the food security and resilience study. We conclude that data can be collected during post-conflict and its statistical reliability can be assessed using the flashbulb memory test and through Common Method Bias (CMB) statistical tests.