Pre Fieldwork
Briefing
- Researcher briefs the Field leaders in each location over the telephone
- Areas discussed include project objectives, methodology, sampling approach, quotas (if any), special protocols required, timeline and quality controls.
- Questionnaire is briefed in detail including screening criteria, main questionnaire and showcard usage.
Field Preparation
- Sampling frame determined including interview areas, starting points as well as contact sheet design, depending on nature of project
- Questionnaires & show cards printed. Samples (if any) and incentives organized.
Interviewer Briefing
- Conducted by Field Manger / Project Manager.
- The briefing covers research methodology, complete questionnaire, show card use, and other requirements of project.
- Mock calls: Mock interviews conducted right after the interviewer briefing – within office.
- For CLT exercise – Researcher travels to brief the team.
Accompaniment
- All interviewers participating in a project will be accompanied & observed for at least 2 interview amongst their first 10 interviews within the first 4 days of fieldwork.
- Observers are experienced supervisor or team leaders
Field Management
Supervisor meets interviewers every 2-3 days, in some cases daily, for:
- (1) Delivery of completed questionnaires, & field feedback (also based on researcher feedback)
- (2) Exchange of blank questionnaires, call sheets, incentives or to set quotas.
- (3) Control fieldwork quota & sample.
Quality Control During Fieldwork
Back-Checking
- All Interviewers’ work is back-checked to confirm the quality.
- Back-checks are regularly performed by the Supervisor at the beginning, middle or end of fieldwork.
- Minimum 30% of the interviews are back-checked.
- The % of back-checks are significantly more in case we see any irregularities for a particular interviewer.
Centralized QC Unit
- Questionnaires from all field locations are further back- checked from our QC facility in Delhi.
- These back-check calls are done over the phone and includes English, Hindi and regional languages.
- Also, the QC checks is 25% of the entire sample.
POST FIELDWORK
Data Generation
- Tables are generated as per researcher’s analysis plan
- Thorough checking of all the tables for its filters, bases, weighted figures etc.
- Thorough checking of output by team manager in case of complicated data
Data Cleaning
- Here data cleaners ensure 1. zero logical
- Analyst re-checks the cleaned data
2. punching errors
Data Entry
- Data entry and data punching is done by our experienced vendors
Coding
- A detailed code list is prepared by our researcher
- Coding team develops codes for open end responses
- These open end responses are checked randomly by our researchers
Scrutiny
- 100% scrutiny of the questionnaires: 1. For completion
2. For logic and
3. For other specific checks related to project