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Fieldwork Roles & Responsibilities

Adapted from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) Regional Training Workshop – Survey Techniques, Unicef

FIELDWORK TEAM

• Supervisors

• Field Editors

• Interviewers

Team Size

• The actual number of interviewers per team will depend on a number of factors– Cluster size– Questionnaire length– Envisaged workload etc.

• A team of 1 supervisor, 1 editor, 4-5 interviewers recommended

Recommendations

• Spread out data collection to 2-3 months• Do not rush data collection• Begin data entry simultaneously with data

collection• Edit questionnaires while in the field, on

location• Provide feedback to fieldwork teams early

on to correct systematic mistakes etc

Supervisors

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Senior member of the field team

• Receives assignments from and reports to the field director

• Responsible for :– the well-being and safety of team members, – the completion of the assigned workload and

the maintenance of data quality. • to make the necessary preparations for the

fieldwork,• to organise and direct the fieldwork, and • to spot-check the data collected.

ASSIGNING WORK TO INTERVIEWERS

• Make daily work assignments

• Assign interviews an interviewer can actually do (no less and no more)

• Distribute work fairly among the interviewers

• Ensure that each interviewer has all the required information and materials for completing the work

• Make sure that interviewers understand the instructions given and that they adhere to the work schedule

CREATING AND MAINTAINING MOTIVATION AND MORALE

• Essential to good quality work. • Supervisors need to make sure that

interviewers: – understand clearly what is expected of them;– are properly guided; – receive recognition for good work;– are stimulated to improve their work; – work in secure conditions.

CREATING AND MAINTAINING MOTIVATION AND MORALE

• Direct orders vs. voluntary compliance

• Be a “Leader”, not a “Boss”

• Participatory approach: Involve interviewers in decision making and maintain it

• Point out errors, in a friendly and private manner

CREATING AND MAINTAINING MOTIVATION AND MORALE

• Listen and try to resolve interviewer’s complaints

• Try to foster team spirit and group work

• Do not show preference for a particular interviewer

• Try to develop a friendly and informal atmosphere

CREATING AND MAINTAINING MOTIVATION AND MORALE

• Supervisors and editors must:– set good examples– demonstrate punctuality, enthusiasm, and

dedication – not pretend to have special privileges to work

less– Be always well prepared to maintain credibility

and authority

• Interviewer morale and motivation depend on the supervisors morale and motivation

Field Editors

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor interviewer performance:– Observe several interviews every day– Edit all completed questionnaires in the field– Conduct regular review sessions with interviewers

• Arrange for sending of questionnaires to the central office

• Maintain a suitable mechanism to monitor the flow of questionnaires

Interviewers

INTERVIEWER’S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES• Locate structures and households in the sample

and complete the questionnaires

• Check completed questionnaires

• Revisits for households and/or women/mothers/caretakers

• Assist the editor in conducting height and weight measurements of children.