Enumerator Training

Read First

By the end of the Enumerator Training, all field staff should be familiar with the Survey Protocols and all survey instruments. The Enumerator Training is typically organized by the Survey Firm or agency responsible for data collection. Best practice is to have a Supervisor Training first, which functions as a Training-of-Trainers, as the supervisors can then help lead the Enumerator Training. Always train more enumerators than will be required for the field work, and at the end of the Training choose the top performers (based on performance on pop quizzes, participation in Training, and interview(s) completed during the Field Testing.

Guidelines

Enumerator Manual

The Enumerator Manual should be the basis for the enumerator training. It is designed as a resource for field teams to consult as questions or issues arise during data collection. The manual should include the following:

1. Brief overview of study objectives
2. All Survey Protocols
3. Roles and responsibilities of field staff
4. Definitions of key terms
5. Instructions for using (and troubleshooting) tablets
6. Questionnaire conventions
7. Module-by-module description of Questionnaire Content

The Enumerator Manual is typically developed by the Field Coordinator, with input from the research team and the survey firm (or other data collection partner).

Agenda for enumerator training

Use the Enumerator Manual as the guide for structuring the training agenda. A typical agenda includes:

1. Introductions & Overview of Study (0.5 days)
2. Review of Survey Protocols (0.5 - 2 days)
3. Review of Questionnaire (paper version) (2.5-4 days)
   1. This is done module-by-module. Each question is read aloud and discussed. At the end of each module, a mock interview.
4. Introduction to tablets to be used for data collection (0.5 - 1 days)
5. Review of Questionnaire (electronic version) (2-3 days)
6. Mock interviews in-classroom (1-2 days)
7. Field testing (1-2 days
8. Final team selection and logistics (1 day)

Structure for Training

The training should be highly interactive. Pop quizzes at the beginning of each day are a good way to keep people's attention, and to catch any comprehension gaps in real time.

Classroom training should include both large and small group sessions. Ensure that every participant practices all survey components (introductions, consent, survey modules) in front of others and receives feedback.

Duration of Training

Allocate plenty of time for training! Survey Firms often push for short training, but rushing the training will only cause problems and delays later on.

For a typical complex, multi-module household surveys, 10 days is a good estimate for minimum training time. Exact duration will depend on the complexity of the survey instrument, level of education of the enumerators, and number of people being trained.

Tips and reminders

Include both classroom training and field testing.

Do train more enumerators than will ultimately be needed. Let the full group know in the beginning their selection into the final team will depend on their performance. Use objective measures of performance, such as participation in Training, scores on quizzes, and feedback from the Field Testing, so the final selection is transparent.

Allow for anonymous questions.

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This article is part of the topic Enumerator Training

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