Difference between revisions of "Field Management"
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Field management is the process of planning, monitoring and overseeing [[Primary Data Collection | primary data collection]] activities. Correct and careful management of fieldwork activities and field staff is essential to completing data collection on time, on budget, without missing observations, and at high quality. Without direct | Field management is the process of planning, monitoring and overseeing [[Primary Data Collection | primary data collection]] activities. Correct and careful management of fieldwork activities and field staff is essential to completing '''data collection''' on time, on [[Survey Budget|budget]], without missing observations, and at high quality. Without direct and usually intensive supervision of these critical aspects, unknown errors can enter the [[Master Dataset|dataset]]. If these errors are made systematically by the data collection team, they can induce biases of unknown size and direction into the estimates of program effects for even the best-executed interventions. | ||
== Read First == | == Read First == | ||
* Field management is a key piece of any evaluation; it ensures timely, consistent and accurate data collection. | * Field management is a key piece of any evaluation; it ensures timely, consistent and accurate [[Primary Data Collection|data collection]]. | ||
* Insufficient supervision of field management aspects can result into systematic errors in the dataset and biased estimators. | * Insufficient supervision of field management aspects can result into systematic errors in the [[Master Dataset|dataset]] and biased estimators. | ||
== Aspects of Field Management == | == Aspects of Field Management == | ||
Field management activities can be divided into three broad areas: | Field management activities can be divided into three broad areas: | ||
# '''Fieldwork organization''': planning all details of fieldwork, defining how the [[Survey Pilot|survey]] will be implemented, and [[Questionnaire Design|piloting questionnaires]], and field protocols. | |||
# '''Field staff management''': selection, training, and supervision of field staff, including [[Enumerator Training|enumerators]], contractors and [[Survey Firm|survey firms]]. | |||
# [[Data Quality Assurance Plan|Data Quality Assurance]]: designing protocols and quality control methods to [[Monitoring Data Quality|monitor]] ongoing [[Primary Data Collection|data collection]] and ensure data consistency and quality. | |||
== Guidelines == | == Guidelines == | ||
The following steps are essential to ensure good field management: | The following steps are essential to ensure good field management: | ||
# Developing clear, detailed [[Survey Protocols]] | |||
# Conducting a comprehensive [[Survey Pilot]], selecting field staff, and [[Enumerator Training | training enumerators]] | |||
# Creating a [[Data Quality Assurance Plan]] | |||
# Conducting [[Back Checks]] | |||
# [[Monitoring Data Quality]] while [[Primary Data Collection|data collection]] is ongoing | |||
== Additional Resources == | == Additional Resources == | ||
*DIME | *DIME Analytics (World Bank), [http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website01542/WEB/IMAGES/SURVEY.PDF Planning for, Preparing, and Monitoring Household Surveys] | ||
* [[Preparing for Data Collection]] | * [[Preparing for Data Collection]] | ||
* [[Preparing for the survey checklist]] | * [[Preparing for the survey checklist]] | ||
* [[Random | * [[Monitoring_Data_Quality#Random_audio_audits|Random audio audits]] | ||
* [[Checklist: Preparing for a Survey Pilot]] | * [[Checklist: Preparing for a Survey Pilot]] | ||
* [[Field Coordinator]] | * [[Field Coordinator]] | ||
* [[Piloting Survey Protocols]] | * [[Checklist:_Piloting_Survey_Protocols|Piloting Survey Protocols]] | ||
* [[Structuring a Survey Pilot]] | * [[Structuring a Survey Pilot]] | ||
* [[Survey Budget]] | * [[Survey Budget]] | ||
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* [[Survey Pilot Participants]] | * [[Survey Pilot Participants]] | ||
* [[Survey Protocols]] | * [[Survey Protocols]] | ||
* [[Timeline of Survey Pilot]] | * [[Survey_Pilot#Timeline|Timeline of Survey Pilot]] | ||
* [[Training Guidelines: Content and Structure]] | * [[Training Guidelines: Content and Structure]] | ||
[[Category: Research Design]] | [[Category: Research Design]] | ||
[[Category: Field Management]] | [[Category: Field Management]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:01, 8 August 2023
Field management is the process of planning, monitoring and overseeing primary data collection activities. Correct and careful management of fieldwork activities and field staff is essential to completing data collection on time, on budget, without missing observations, and at high quality. Without direct and usually intensive supervision of these critical aspects, unknown errors can enter the dataset. If these errors are made systematically by the data collection team, they can induce biases of unknown size and direction into the estimates of program effects for even the best-executed interventions.
Read First
- Field management is a key piece of any evaluation; it ensures timely, consistent and accurate data collection.
- Insufficient supervision of field management aspects can result into systematic errors in the dataset and biased estimators.
Aspects of Field Management
Field management activities can be divided into three broad areas:
- Fieldwork organization: planning all details of fieldwork, defining how the survey will be implemented, and piloting questionnaires, and field protocols.
- Field staff management: selection, training, and supervision of field staff, including enumerators, contractors and survey firms.
- Data Quality Assurance: designing protocols and quality control methods to monitor ongoing data collection and ensure data consistency and quality.
Guidelines
The following steps are essential to ensure good field management:
- Developing clear, detailed Survey Protocols
- Conducting a comprehensive Survey Pilot, selecting field staff, and training enumerators
- Creating a Data Quality Assurance Plan
- Conducting Back Checks
- Monitoring Data Quality while data collection is ongoing
Additional Resources
- DIME Analytics (World Bank), Planning for, Preparing, and Monitoring Household Surveys
- Preparing for Data Collection
- Preparing for the survey checklist
- Random audio audits
- Checklist: Preparing for a Survey Pilot
- Field Coordinator
- Piloting Survey Protocols
- Structuring a Survey Pilot
- Survey Budget
- Survey Firm Procurement
- Survey Firm TOR
- Survey Pilot Participants
- Survey Protocols
- Timeline of Survey Pilot
- Training Guidelines: Content and Structure