Behavioural Surveillance Surveys - The Wisdom of Whores

Step 10 : Pretest and adapt
survey instruments
Standardized questionnaires have been
developed for different sub-populations
among which BSS may be conducted.
Copies of these questionnaires are included
in Appendix 1, and will also be available on
the internet at http://www.fhi.org. These
questionnaires are the result of long experience
and have been widely tested in many different
settings. The use of standardized questionnaires
maximizes comparability of data across
time, population groups and geographic
regions. However, it is still essential to pretest
and adapt survey instruments for every local
setting. Often this will involve translating the
instruments into local languages and searching
for the correct local terminology to ensure that
the original meaning of the question is not
lost. It may also be necessary to conduct
qualitative research; it is certainly desirable
to involve local members of the respondent
groups who can help with the interpretation
of the questions. To help in this process,
an interviewer guide laying out the original
intent of the questions for each respondent
group should be used. An example of one
such guide is included in Appendix 2.
More information on adapting questionnaires,
securing informed consent from participants
and ensuring the quality of fieldwork is
provided in Chapter 6.
Step 11 : Train interviewers
and pilot survey procedures
Training of interviewers is an important
part of the survey process. The attitude of
interviewers can greatly influence the outcome
of a survey, especially one that asks about
illegal or stigmatized behavior. To increase
the likelihood of honest responses, interviewers
must be thoroughly trained in open and nonjudgmental
questioning techniques, and in
accurate recording of responses. The amount
of training required will vary depending on
who is carrying out the survey. Where peers
of those in the respondent group are selected
as interviewers, they may be less likely than
professional researchers to appear judgmental.
Without adequate training they may, on the
other hand, also be more prone to recording
or coding responses in a way that reflects their
own opinions or behavior.
Once interviewers have been trained, the
entire survey process should be piloted before
actual data collection begins. At this stage,
any unforeseen wrinkles can be dealt with.
Aspects of the survey process that should be
piloted include selection of survey respondents,
feasibility of completing interviews with
selected respondents, timing (ability of the
interviewers to carry out the required number
of interviews in a day), role of the supervisors
(how the supervisors will maintain quality
control), and storage and transport of completed
questionnaires.
B EHAV I OR A L S U R V EI L L A NC E SURV EY S CHAPTER 2
19