1 Survey Design & Writing

Survey design and writing: a golden rule Different research objectives would lead to different survey instruments For every question ask yourself: –Why am I asking this question? –How will the responses be analysed? –How will the result contribute to my understanding of the phenomenon in question? And if the answer is ‘I don’t know’ or ‘it would be interesting to know’ – think again 2

4 Main Elements to Design 1. Defining Your Research Objective 2. Deciding Which Modules to Include 3. Drafting Each Module to Ensure it Meets Objectives 4. Coordinating Modules and Designing Layout  In practice, there is movement back and forth between steps. For example, in drafting module (step 3), you might decide to reconsider objectives. In coordinating modules (step 4) you might find overlap in questions and decide to remove or modify questions from step 3. 3

4 1. Defining Your Research Objective

Why is this survey being done? What are the major questions to answer What do you want to know/measure? –If it’s the impact of a programme, then the ToC should be considered –For example, are you interested to know the level of household savings in a given population? Or is the primary focus to know the variety of savings instruments used, or the variety of savings instruments available? –Different research objectives would lead to different survey instruments. List all indicators for what you intend to measure –Assess based on feasibility, time, cost and importance –Use participatory approach to develop indicators (existing instruments, peers, experts, beneficiaries) 5

1. Defining Your Research Objective IssuePossible focus Could poverty affect the reasons What is the household’s level of consumption? Does past experience with formal financial institutions affect the reasons Has this household ever borrowed from institution in past, if yes, when? If no, have they ever attempted to? Could caste affect the reasons What are the differences between household members Could educational level and attainment affect the reasons Could occupation affect the reason, or regularity of cash flows Could financial literacy have to do with itWhat is level of literacy – can we test this? Etc… 6 Example research objective… “To explore the usage of financial institutions by the urban poor”