 |
Information
for Managers of LSMS Surveys:
Manuals, Abstracts, and Basic Information Documents |
The survey process requires the development of a series of
documents other than the questionnaire. It may be useful for
those writing such documents to refer to existing examples. DECRG
maintains archives of documents related to each stage of LSMS
surveys. These are available by sending e-mail or mail (address ) to LSMS.
Describe briefly what you need and state what languages the
survey planners can read. We will send a few examples that might
be the most pertinent models for that case. Most materials are
available in the language of the country where the survey was
conducted, some are available in English as well. In addition to
questionnaires, we have three other types of documents available,
as described below.
- Manuals for Field Staff
Manuals for field staff are important in ensuring the
quality of field work and the resulting data. LSMS
manuals explain in detail the tasks of each field worker,
and contain explicit standards for some quality control
procedures, for example, the number of interviews to be
observed or verified by supervisors. Definitions of key
terms and of variables not coded in the questionnaire may
occur here as well.
- Abstracts
The abstract is the first, summary output of survey
results. It often serves an important advertising
function in demonstrating that a data set is available
for further analysis. Abstracts vary in: i) the use of
constructed variables such as household income or
consumption; ii) the use of graphs, charts, and multiple
fonts; iii) the intended audience.
- Survey Documentation
In order for potential analysts to acquire and make use
of survey data, adequate documentation must be prepared.
It should explain the content of the questionnaires, the
design of the sample, the structure of the data sets, and
how any constructed variables placed in public use files
were constructed. Examples from LSMS surveys are
available here.
Revised 08/21/97
