Training Issues

1. Training Issues Adapted from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) Regional Training Workshop – Field Staff & Training Issues, Unicef

2. OBJECTIVES • Administrative and Logistic Aspects of Training • Content of a Training Course • Preparation for Field Work

3. Administrative and Logistic Aspects of Training • Trainers • Training Duration • Size of Training Class • Materials for Training

4. Trainers • Senior survey staff conduct training • Trainer of trainers, i.e. pretest • At least two trainers for classroom and practice

5. Training Duration • Approximately 2 weeks for pretest and 3 weeks for main survey. • Supervisors and editors • No more than 8 hours per day • Daily evaluation by trainers • Discipline of training by trainers

6. Size of Training Class • The smaller the better • Train more than needed (one fifth more) • Data processing personnel

7. Materials for Training • Location with adequate space and light, minimum noise and large board to write on • Sufficient printed questionnaires and manuals • It is useful to have overhead projectors (computer and /or transparencies) • Sample vaccination cards and ORS packages for illustration and practice interviews • Other materials: pens, markers, control sheets, sample maps and household listings forms, etc.

8. How to build morale: involvement, trust and positive reinforcement • Encourage trainees to ask questions • Ask candidates questions • Ask trainees to read aloud • Avoid pointing out individual trainee’s errors • Emphasise cooperation • Be willing to accept criticism • Invite a high official to open a close the training course • Issue certificates of course completion, print T-shirts.

9. Techniques of training Lecturing and practice: • Demonstration interview • Front-of-class interview • Mock interviews • Demonstration interview with real respondent • Field practice interview(discussion and editing)

10. Content of Training Course • Agenda for interviewer training. • No more than 8 hours • Some modules require more time than others • Schedule practices later in the day • Role of supervisors during interviewer training • Assist during practices in classroom and in the field • Involve in editing questionnaires

11. Content of Training Course • Supervisors and editors training • Start with them during the pretest • Smaller group ==> more practice in less time • Use last two days of training for supervisors and editors • Anthropometry • Sample implementation and cartography

12. Fieldwork Preparation • Document sample by cluster, region, etc. and by survey team • Draw-up a tentative itinerary for each team • Identify personnel for data processing team • Secure rooms for data processing unit • Define transportation strategy • Obtain other needed materials

13. Evaluation and testing of trainees • Observational and Written tests • One after the questionnaires are introduced • One towards the end of training • Quizzes • Objectives of the evaluation • Identify general difficulties • Identify elements of the instruments requiring revision • Establish basis for decision-making • Types of tests (use training experience; easy questions; intentional errors)