So we've agreed on specifics of our project and we are happy with the Batch and Exhaust process. We have 2000 surveys to complete and...we would like the surveys completed in 2-3 days. When analysis time comes around will we be analysing a random spread of the population?
No
No
No
No
No!
If we expect fieldwork to be undertaken in the quickest turnaround time possible we will not gain the same age/gender/location spread as we would achieve if given weeks (not days) to undertake the same project. There may be a valid reason for this limited timeframe (like the client has a radio/TV advertisement occurring soon and they need the fieldwork undertaken prior to the marketing campaign) but we can't expect the quality of data or the spread of demographics/firmographics to be meaningful for analysis.
So generally speaking this approach is a BIG mistake!!
Why?
Well in a nutshell we CANNOT get a true RANDOM spread of the population regardless of sample size in any less than 7-10 days.
For our field team to run the project effectively these are the steps they MUST take:
1. Organise sample into Batches;
2. Brief All Staff on the Project;
3. Put their largest team on the Project for the first 20-30% of the project target (so 400-600 for N=2000 in this case). The interviewers work through the Batches, appointment setting, removing invalid numbers etc. Then the team is reduced to a manageable size of the top performers;
4. When 80-90% of the project is complete the number of interviewers is reduced even further and Refusal Converters are introduced into the mix. Refusal Converters (RCs) are interviewers who are more specialised in overcoming soft refusals. The process works by re-introducing soft refusals into the sample for RCs to contact and try to convert to a survey. This will enable an overall boost of response rate.
5. When the project is complete you should see the vast majority of sample has been exhausted (an average of 3- 5 dials dials per sample record) and the only refusals remaining should be HARD REFUSALS.
Thanks for Reading,
U :)
