fieldwork logistics

1

Fieldwork Logistics

OBJECTIVES

• The importance of logistics in supporting high quality survey results and implementation schedule

• Key logistical elements (transport, computers, supplies, etc.)

• Organization• Coordination and management

From Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) Regional Training Workshop – Survey Logistics, Unicef

Fieldwork and Office Equipment

• Office and supplies– Computers– Printers– Software– Other office supplies

• Vehicles• Electronic scales• Measuring boards• Iodine salt test kits• Fieldwork supplies


PREPARING FOR FIELDWORKrequires that field supervisors:

• Obtain sample HH lists and/or maps for each area in which his/her team will be working and discuss problems

• Become or be familiar with the area of work • Determine travel arrangements and

accommodations• Contact local authorities to inform them about the

survey


PREPARING FOR FIELDWORKrequires that field supervisors:

• Obtain all monetary advances, supplies, and equipment

• Careful preparation by the supervisor is important for – facilitating the work of the team in the field,– for maintaining interviewer morale, and – for ensuring contact with the central office


ORGANIZING FIELDWORKrequires that field supervisors:

• Assign work to interviewers• Maintain fieldwork control sheets• Make sure that assignments are carried out• Make spot checks of the household questionnaire • (with the field editor) Regularly send completed

questionnaires and progress reports to the field coordinator


ORGANIZING FIELDWORKrequires that field supervisors:

• Keep headquarters informed of the team's location• Communicate any problems to the field

coordinator• Take charge of the team vehicle• Be sure to develop a positive team spirit along

with careful planning of field activities


Collecting Materials for fieldwork: Documents

• Supervisor's and Editor's Manual• Interviewer's Manuals• Maps and household listing forms• ID cards• Letters of introduction• Questionnaires• Supervisor's Assignment Sheets• Interviewer's Assignment Sheets


Collecting Materials for fieldwork: Supplies

• Blue pens for interviewers• Red pens for the field editor and supervisor• Clipboards, briefcases• Paper clips, scissors, string, staplers, tape, etc.• Envelopes to store completed questionnaires,• First aid kit


Monetary Advances and Communications

• The supervisor should have sufficient funds • Including funds for fuel and minor vehicle repairs,

for guides, and for communication with central office.

• Advances for per diem allowances to be given directly to individual interviewers, field editors and supervisors.

• Communication system of teams with the central office: supplies, payments, return of materials, etc.


Transportation and Accommodations

• Travel arrangements and coordination – Vehicles, taxis, buses, boats, horses, etc. – Maintenance and security of the team vehicle. – Use of vehicle – The driver of the vehicle takes instructions

from the supervisor.• Food and lodging arrangements


Contacting Local Authorities

• Supervisor's responsibility to contact the regional, district, local, and village officials before starting work in an area.

• Letters of introduction will be provided, but tact and sensitivity in explaining the purpose of the survey will help win the cooperation needed to carry out the interviews.


USING MAPS TO LOCATE CLUSTERS

• Locating households in the sample • The need to visit all households selected• Maps are needed during all stages of a survey • Maps help the supervisor, editor and

interviewers to determine:– the location of sample areas, – the distance to them, and – how to reach selected households.


Using Maps to Locate Clusters• Each team will be given: general cluster maps,

household listing forms; for urban areas, sketch maps and written descriptions of the boundaries of selected areas.

• The general cluster maps may show more than one cluster .

• Each cluster is identified by a number (e.g. EA-05).


USING MAPS TO LOCATE CLUSTERS

• Symbols are used to indicate certain features on the map such as roads, footpaths, rivers, localities, boundaries, etc.

• If symbols are shown on the map, the supervisor and editor should know how to interpret them by using the legend.


USING MAPS TO LOCATE URBAN CLUSTERS

• Urban clusters should have sketch maps and written descriptions to help locate the boundaries

• Street names in urban areas will often help to locate the general area of clusters.

• Boundaries can be streets, alleys, streams, city limits, power cables, walls, trees, etc.

• Read the written description.


USING MAPS TO LOCATE RURAL CLUSTERS

• It is usually possible to locate unnamed roads or imaginary lines by inquiring among people living in the vicinity.

• While there are cases in which boundaries shown on the map no longer exist, or have changed location, do not jump to conclusions.

• If you cannot locate a cluster, go on to the next one and discuss the matter with the field coordinator


In summary…

• Prepare a detailed list of supplies and logistics items you will need

• Be sure to have the items available before the survey implementation starts

• Be “reasonably generous” in calculating survey supplies and be prepared to react rapidly if you need


fieldwork logistics

Documents

field supervisors

field editors

field coordinatortake

central office

high quality survey

office equipmentoffice

area of work

hisher team