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Data collection techniques

Research is as good as good is the field work. The most advanced statistical analysis methods will not help if data collected during the field work is low-quality. That is why in PBS  we always paid a lot of attention which is reflected in Interviewers Work Quality Control Certificate in all possible areas. 

In PBS we are ready to answer four categories of questions, which should be asked by the client of research company: (1) research planning, (2) field work control, (3) interviewers, (4) quality control.

1. Research planning

• Is there sufficient attention paid to interview stage of the project in comparison with other stages of the project?
• What kind of materials will be presented to respondents (questionnaire, paper pages, records) and who makes (designs) them?
• Does the person writing questionnaire have personal experience as an interviewer and will there be questionnaire test?
• Are the instructions for interviewers  clear and who prepared them?
• Are the suggested sample selection methods realizable in field work?
• Are interviewers informed and how about sample selection procedure and possible difficulties and solutions?
• Are there any control procedures in order to controls sample selection?

2. Field work control

• How field work department is managed and how it is reflected in interviewers’ work?
• Do the interviewers contact field work coordinating supervisors and if yes – to what extent?
• How field work is supervised and how are managed difficulties appearing during field work?
• How interviewers’ training is organized and what kind of materials are used?

3. Interviewers

• Who are the interviewers and how interviewers’ net was developed?
• How did the initial recruitment look like?
• How are they trained?
• How often do  the interviewers get the opportunity to meet their supervisors?
• Do they know about the range and depth of control over their work?
• On what conditions are they employed, how are they paid, do they get paid on time?
• Do they work for the company on regular basis?
• How do they identify themselves as interviewers for this particular company?

4. Quality control

• How on-going control is done over interviewers’ field work?
• How are solved issues appearing during routine work?
• How and to what extent questionnaires are edited, after the field work and how doubts are solved?
• Does the company have certificates from independent organizations? (like Interviewers Work Quality Control Certificate managed by Polish Association of Public Opinion and Marketing Research Firms).