General Interviewing Techniques and Issues in Data Collection Management

Duration: 40 hours (5 days)

Number of Participants: 15-20

Pre-requisite: Master’s degree in social science or any other relevant discipline. Background in social science research will be an asset.

Instructors:

Dr. Dirgha Ghimire, Research Associate Professor, University of Michigan  

Ms. Indra Chaudhary, Study Manager, ISER-N

Mr. Prem Prakash Pandit, Senior Research Officer, ISER-N

Course Description

This course is designed for supervisors and managers of survey data collection operations with responsibility for training interviewers and monitoring data collection activities.  The course starts with the theoretical context for standardized interviewing–how interviewers contribute to bias and variance in survey estimates and techniques for reducing such error.  A two-day “train the trainer” component is included on how to train interviewers on General Interviewing Techniques (GIT).  The purpose of GIT is to standardize the data collection process in several areas relating to respondent interaction and survey implementation including: contacting households, introducing the study to respondents, building rapport and gaining cooperation, asking questions, providing clarification, probing responses, giving feedback, and recording responses.  The final two days of training cover interviewer management issues, such as interviewer hiring, training, and certification as well as production monitoring and quality control.  An overview of issues related to the transition from paper to computerized data collection and a demonstration of systems used for computerized data collection and management is also included.

This interactive course uses a combination of lecture, in class exercises, group exercises and individual participation. Individual consultation will be provided to assist participants with the assignments leading to a grant proposal. Assignments throughout the week should be emailed or handed in a shard copy the day they are due. Feedback will be provided in a timely manner to aid in future assignments.

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

  • Understand standard approach of interviewing technique.
  • Learn about the interviewer management issues on survey.