Fieldwork Procedure

FIELDWORK PROCEDURE By Shiv Bhushan M.B.A(Telecom), 2nd Semester

INTRODUCTION 1) Fieldwork involves the selection, training, supervision and evaluation of individuals who collect data in the field. 2) It is a costly and difficult step in the research process. Data collection is mostly by the interview process-by telephone or by observation. 3) Fieldwork organizations have a central location from which they can do telephone interviews nationwide maintaining a fulltime staff of interviewers who are well trained and experienced.

PROCESSES INVOLVED Telephone Interviewing 1. Video screening of questionnaire:Paper questionnaire is replaced with a video screen. This procedure has the advantage of controlling the questionnaire and having the data entered in the computer directly so that the results can be summarized.

Training Involves instruction on using the computer as well as on the project itself. Supervisor observes the work of individual interviewers on a master screen.

Contd… Personal Interviewing 1.Developing Job-specifications - Deciding on the characteristics the field-workers should have, trying to find interviewers with those characteristics. - Recruiting is often done with the help of local sources such as newspapers and educational institutions.

2.Training of field-workers - Training is usually done by mail. - Training program consists of written instructions. - Based on asking questioning, obtaining and recording accurate answers

Contd… 3. Commencement of fieldwork

- The interviewers need to be supervised. - To ensure that they are proceeding on schedule - Needs to keep control on the day-today field operations. - A verification check is made. - Work of each interviewer is then evaluated.

COMPLEXITIES IN FIELDWORK 1)

Expensive to do good-quality fieldwork in door-to- door interviewing. 2) Some errors may happens from respondent side. Errors of two type A) Intentional errors Like false hood , non response etc. B) Unintentional errors Like misunderstanding, fatigue, attention loss etc.

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