Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys Survey Design Workshop

1. Multiple Indicator Cluster SurveysSurvey Design Workshop How to Customize MICS4 Questionnaires to Countries MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

2. Session Objectives • To review criteria that should be used to determine the content of country surveys • To understand the basic rules that need to be followed during the customization/adaptation process MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

3. Customization/Adaptation • Necessary for at least two basic reasons: • No single country is expected or recommended to use all of the modules in standard questionnaires • No single standard questionnaire can accurately represent all human experience around the globe MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

4. Customization: The Basic Rule • Customize to country needs, but do not compromise global comparability MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

5. Translation • To major languages • Customization of Modules, Questions and Response Categories • Addition • Deletion • Change/Revise MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

6. Customizing Content (to Exclude) • Relevance • Exclude topics which are not relevant – malaria related modules in non-endemic countries, female genital mutilation/cutting • Applicability • Use of the child mortality module in low mortality settings • Overall size of questionnaires • Optimum size – curb your enthusiasm MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

7. Customizing Content (to Exclude) • Priorities • Decide on priorities • Intention • How the data will be used • Technical considerations • Availability of data from other sources, recent or expected, quality of data from other sources

8. Customizing Content (to Add) • Adding modules/questions not part of MICS • Overall size is always an issue • Use only well tested, validated questions or modules • Need to know indicators, tabulation, analysis and use beforehand • Ensure that the add-on modules/topics are relevant, easily harmonized, comply with the methodology

9. Adapting / Customizing Questionnaires • First, decide on the indicators • Identify modules which collect necessary data on numerators and denominators of your indicators • Once modules are selected assess the length of questionnaires – for obvious reasons do not overload the questionnaires MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

10. Adapting / Customizing Questionnaires • Remember that the inclusion/exclusion of one module or question might influence another; • Check for all skips MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

11. Customisation Rules • Retain the same question numbers even if questions within the module have been excluded. • This is to assist the stage of data processing and for having datasets which are globally comparable. • It will also prevent skip pattern problems • It does not matter if the numbering is not completely sequential. MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

12. Customisation Rules • If extra questions are added, do not assign new numbers that are already being used in the model questionnaire • If new questions are included, assign them new numbers – if necessary, use A, B, C etc, such as HA4A, HA4B to be inserted between HA4 and HA5 • Retain Latin characters in question numbers MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

13. Customisation Rules • Understand what response categories are attempting to capture • Country-specific response categories may be already there, under a different terminology • Use the pretest to see • if changes have affected the flow of the questionnaires • if response categories are comprehensive • if translated questionnaires are working MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

14. Customisation Rules • Be cautious about changing the ordering of modules • If not absolutely necessary, do not change ordering of modules or questions MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

15. Customisation Rules • It is very important that the eligibility criteria, usually expressed in age ranges, not be changed. • Changes may result in the inability to measure the indicator • Change can only be done to capture a wider group, e.g. asking questions about age group 2-14 rather than 2-9 MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

16. Technical support • Share your questionnaires and plans with the Regional Office and UNICEF HQ • The process to do this will be discussed during the workshop MICS4 Survey Design Workshop