Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys Survey Design Workshop

MICS4 Survey Design Workshop

Multiple Indicator Cluster SurveysSurvey Design Workshop

How to Customize MICS4 Questionnaires to Countries

Session Objectives

1. To review criteria that should be used to determine the content of country surveys

2. To understand the basic rules that need to be followed during the customization/adaptation process


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


Customization: The Basic Rule

• Customize to country needs, but do not compromise global comparability


• Translation– To major languages

• Customization of Modules, Questions and Response Categories – Addition– Deletion– Change/Revise


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


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

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

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


Adapting / Customizing Questionnaires

• Remember that the inclusion/exclusion of one module or question might influence another;

• Check for all skips


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.


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


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


Customisation Rules• Be cautious about changing the ordering of modules

• If not absolutely necessary, do not change ordering of modules or questions


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


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


Documents

Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys Survey Design Workshop