6.3.2. Survey administration

Once the questionnaire is ready, the next step is to conduct the actual survey with the help of enumerators.

After preparing the questionnaire, the next crucial step in collecting household data is the actual execution of the survey. This involves training individuals known as enumerators, who will administer the survey. Enumerators are responsible for reaching out to households and gathering the needed information as outlined in the questionnaire.

Imagine preparing for a big school project. Once you've created your survey questions, you need a team to go out and collect responses from students. Just like how you would brief your team about the project, enumerators receive training on how to conduct the survey properly.

Enumerators has to be trained first by briefing them about the details of the survey and how to conduct the survey.

Training the enumerators is essential for ensuring they understand the survey's objectives and procedures. They need to learn how to approach households, explain the survey purpose, and fill out the questionnaire accurately. This training helps them handle any questions or concerns respondents might have.

Think of it like training for a sports team. Just as players must practice and understand the game rules before competing, enumerators must be prepared to effectively carry out the survey before they begin interacting with the public.

They will be given random household addresses and the questionnaire set. They have to first get permission to be surveyed from the household.

Once trained, enumerators receive a list of randomly selected addresses to visit. Before starting the survey, they must obtain permission from the household members to conduct it. This respect for privacy is crucial in building trust and ensuring participation.

Imagine you're part of a school project where you need to interview classmates. You would first ask if they are willing to be interviewed and explain what it’s about. Similarly, enumerators must seek consent before proceeding with the survey.

They may select a typical working day for the survey and ask the members of the household about the details required in the questionnaire.

Enumerators usually opt for a typical weekday to ensure that they gather realistic data about travel behavior. They ask household members about their travel activities from the previous day. This helps in capturing accurate travel patterns.

If you were collecting data on how students commute to school, it makes sense to survey them on a regular school day rather than during holiday breaks. This ensures the information reflects their usual travel habits.

They may take care that each member of the household should answer about their own travel details, except for children below 12 years.

Each household member, particularly those older than twelve, is encouraged to provide their own travel information. This ensures that the data accurately represents individual travel choices. However, for very young children, these details are generally omitted or handled by the parent or guardian.

Think of it like completing a family survey where everyone, except very young children, shares their food preferences. Parents represent younger kids, but their older siblings express their choices directly.

Since the actual survey may take place any time during the day, the respondents are required to answer the question about the travel details of the previous day.

While surveys can occur at different times, the respondents are asked to recall their travel activities from the previous day. This period is commonly used to ensure accurate reporting of trips made, as individuals often may better remember recent travel compared to trips taken several days prior.

Consider how you might reflect on your meals from yesterday when asked, rather than trying to remember what you ate last week. The same applies when recalling travel; recent journeys are typically easier to remember.

There are many methods of the administration of the survey and some of them are discussed below:

The survey can be conducted using various methods, including telephonic interviews, mail-back questionnaires, and face-to-face conversations. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, and the choice often depends on factors like accessibility and social norms.

Think of different ways to ask a friend to borrow a book. You could call them, send them a text message, or visit them in person. Each method has its benefits, and choosing the right one can affect how willing they are to lend you the book.

1. Telephonic: The enumerator may use telephone to fix an appointment and then conduct detailed telephonic interview.

In this method, enumerators use the telephone to set up appointments for interviews. This approach is particularly popular in regions with high telephone usage, allowing for greater convenience and flexibility.

It's like making an appointment with your teacher to discuss your grades over the phone. It allows for a more personal touch and can be done conveniently from home.

2. Mail back: The enumerator drops the questionnaire to the respondent and asks them to fill the details and mail them back with required information.

In a mail-back survey, enumerators send the questionnaire to respondents, who fill it out at their own convenience and return it through the mail. This method requires careful questionnaire design to ensure clarity and ease of understanding.

It’s like sending a birthday invitation. You expect your friends to fill out a response card and mail it back to confirm their attendance. The ease of filling it out at home can encourage them to respond.

3. Face-to-face: In this method, the enumerator visits the home of the respondent and asks the questions and fills up the questionnaire by himself.

In face-to-face surveys, enumerators directly visit households to conduct interviews. While this method may be seen as intrusive in developed areas, it is often effective in securing responses from less educated populations where personal interaction is valued.

Consider how a classmate might approach you to ask questions about a group project in person—this direct interaction can often lead to more thorough understanding and engagement.

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