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The power of the interviewer: a qualitative perspective on African survey data collection

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  • Randall, Sara
  • Coast, Ernestina
  • Compaore, Natacha
  • Antoine, Philippe

Abstract

BACKGROUND African censuses and surveys remain dependent on interviewers for data collection. Data quality is assured through training and supervision. Many survey concepts are difficult to translate into African languages and some, such as “household”, may have multiple criteria which are not fulfilled by everyone, leading interviewers to prioritise different criteria. Some questions introduce unfamiliar ideas which require considerable negotiation by interviewers to obtain acceptable answers. OBJECTIVE To identify key stages in the data collection process and domains where interviewer judgement and interviewer-respondent social dynamics play a substantial role in determining who is included in household surveys, and in shaping responses to questions. METHODS We analyse published definitions, enumerator manuals and qualitative interview data with households, interviewers, supervisors, trainers, survey organisers and analysts along the chain of data production and use in Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal and Burkina Faso. RESULTS Despite comprehensive training manuals and definitions, interviewers influence who is included and excluded from surveys. Interviewer versatility needs to include both persuasive social skills and an ability to follow precise wording. In Africa, where survey concepts are often different from local concepts and where interviewers are socio-economically distant from respondents, these persuasive social skills are required throughout the interview process with unknown impact on the data produced. Language diversity is a major barrier to harmonisation. CONCLUSIONS To improve survey data validity more effort should be made to understand the influence of interviewers on data in low income settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Randall, Sara & Coast, Ernestina & Compaore, Natacha & Antoine, Philippe, 2013. "The power of the interviewer: a qualitative perspective on African survey data collection," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 48277, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
  • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:48277
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/48277/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexander Weinreb & Mariano Sana, 2009. "The Effects of Questionnaire Translation on Demographic Data and Analysis," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 28(4), pages 429-454, August.
    2. Annelies G. Blom & Edith D. de Leeuw & Joop J. Hox, 2010. "Interviewer Effects on Nonresponse," MEA discussion paper series 10202, Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (MEA) at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy.
    3. Simona Bignami & Georges Reniers & Alexander A. Weinreb, 2003. "An Assessment of the KDICP and MDICP Data Quality," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 1(2), pages 31-76.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rodriguez-Segura, Daniel & Schueler, Beth E., 2023. "Assessors influence results: Evidence on enumerator effects and educational impact evaluations," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Sara Randall & Ernestina Coast, 2016. "The quality of demographic data on older Africans," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 34(5), pages 143-174.
    3. Sara Randall & Ernestina Coast & Philippe Antoine & Natacha Compaore & Fatou-Binetou Dial & Alexandra Fanghanel & Sadio Ba Gning & Bilampoa Gnoumou Thiombiano & Valérie Golaz & Stephen Ojiambo Wander, 2015. "UN Census “Households†and Local Interpretations in Africa Since Independence," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(2), pages 21582440155, June.
    4. Rao, Lakshman Nagraj & Gentile, Elisabetta & Pipon, Dave & Roque, Jude David & Thuy, Vu Thi Thu, 2020. "The impact of computer-assisted personal interviewing on survey duration, quality, and cost: Evidence from the Viet Nam Labor Force Survey," GLO Discussion Paper Series 605, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    survey; interview; power; interviewer; definition; household; Sub-Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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