Microsoft Word research method fm doc

Step 2:
Calculate the number of interviews that can be carried out per person per day
Step 3:
Calculate the number of days needed to carry out the interviews. For example: 
• 
you need to do 200 interviews,
• 
your research team of 5 people can do 5 x 4 = 20 interviews per day,
• 
you will need 200:20 = 10 days for the interviews.
Step 4:
Calculate the time needed for the other parts of the study, (for example, 10 days) 
Step 5:
Determine how much time you can devote to the study.
If the team has fewer days for fieldwork than the required, they would need additional 
research assistants to help complete this part of the study. 
 

---

Research methodology 
53
Note:
It is always advisable to slightly overestimate the period needed for data collection to allow 
for unforeseen delays. 
WHEN should the data be collected? 
The type of data to be collected and the demands of the project will determine the actual time 
needed for the data to be collected. Consideration should be given to: 
• 
availability of research team members and research assistants,
• 
the appropriate season(s) to conduct the field work (if the problem is season-related or 
if data collection would be difficult during certain periods),
• 
accessibility and availability of the sampled population, and
• 
public holidays and vacation periods. 
 
II. Ensuring quality 
It is extremely important that the data we collect are of good quality, that is, reliable and valid. 
Otherwise we will come up with false or misleading conclusions. 
Measures
to help ensure good quality of data: 
• 
Prepare a field work manual for the research team as a whole,
including:
— Guidelines on sampling procedures and what to do if respondents are not 
available or refuse to co-operate, 
— A clear explanation of the purpose and procedures of the study which should be 
used to introduce each interview, and 
— Instruction sheets on how to ask certain questions and how to record the 
answers. 
•