SURVEYSPRESENTED BY:

DR SANJAYA KUMAR SAHOOAIIH&PH,KOLKATA

SURVEYS:• To view in detail,especially to inspect, examine or appraise in order to

ascertain the condition/situation.• Surveys constitute the basic tool of research in communities. • Surveys mainly concerned with groups or populations rather than individuals.

Outcome of surveys represents the sum total of the group and cannot reflect each individual’s concern or interest.• There are many types of survey such as social surveys, Gallup polls, utilisation

surveys, morbidity survey etc.• In health sector 3 basic types of survey conducted: --Health survey --Morbidity survey --Utilization survey

Surveys in the health sector

Health surveyStudying a population or a particular

segment of population in order to asses its health problems or to detect condition to

which preventive measures may be applied.

Morbidity surveyIt is a specific survey dealing with only one

element in the full range of possible components of a health survey

Utilization surveyIt demonstrate how many people are utilising

services provided by specific facilities.

USES OF SURVEY:To assess the magnitude of a specific disease condition or health related events in specified community

or well-defined geographical area.

To guide planning of national,regional or local health programs.

To evaluate control activities or national health programs.

To study community perceptions and attitude related to health and disease.

To evaluate degree of utilisation of health care facilities.

To provide data for planning and evaluation of community intervention and health educational activity.

To suggest and test hypotheses on health related events and diseases condition.

Surveys are useful for research,training,planning and evaluation.

PLANNING FOR SURVEY:

Surveys shouldn’t be undertaken unless there are compelling reasons as large scale surveys are expensive propositions.

One should be reasonably sure that the information that is being sought is not available from any source.

Meticulous planning therefore required to obviate several problems that may crop up at a later stage.

Therefore certain questions should be answered during the planning process

Why is the survey being undertaken?

Where will it be carried out?

Who all will be covered by survey?

When will the survey be carried out?

What instruments will be used?

What will be the survey schedule?How is the data to be analysed?

If these problems are addressed at the planning stage,unnecessary hurdles will be avoided during the execution of the survey.

Essential prerequisites for survey:• The following must be fulfilled before starting of a survey:

1. Permission from the appropriate administrative authority should be obtained.

2. Objectives of the survey should be defined beforehand, precise and clear.

3. The community leader should be explained all aspects of the survey and their

cooperation solicited.

4. Community health surveys should always be planned with the intent of carrying

out an appropriate action program like examination and referral or treatment of

minor ailments.

• Contd..

5. The members of the community should preferably be told the

subsequent plan of action or follow-up activities after completion of survey.

6. As much background data as possible should be collected regarding the

community like demographic profile, health facilities available, leaders etc.

7. The available resources should be carefully scrutinised. This include

money, manpower materials and time.

In our discussion we will mainly focus on data collection instruments.

SURVEY INSTRUMENTS:

Data collection instruments: 1.Observation

2.Questionnaires and schedules3.Interview

Projective techniques

Supplementary diagnostic instruments :

such as hemoglobinometer, infantometer, microscope, ECG and X-ray machines, etc.

OBSERVATION

Types of Observation

• Participant vs Non-participant observation

• Structured vs. Unstructured observation

• Observer is an eavesdropper• Someone who attempts to observe people without interacting

with them• Without their knowledge that they are being observed• Used most routinely by psychologists studying children and

animals.

Non Participant Observation:

• Observer participates actively, for an extended period of time• May require observer to live or work in that area• Assumes that observer will become accepted member of the

group or community• Historically field research has been associated most strongly

with participant observation.

Participant Observation:

Levels of participation:Both types of observation are poles of a continuum.At one extreme is the participant observer who becomes completely absorbed in the group under observationAt the other is the non-participant who tries to remain aloof from it.

Unstructured Observation

• Early phase of the research• May become specific to when and where to observe, what specific aspects of the

setting or behavior to observe, and how to make and record observations• How to do unstructured observation• Take a notebook and pen• Note down when you see something interesting.• Write down theories as you form them.• Don’t jump to conclusions straight away.• Look for more evidence.• Ask people to confirm things

Structured Observation

• Greater control of sampling• Measurement of error• Permits stronger generalizations and checks on reliability and validity• This is more like a survey, where every respondent is asked the same set of

questions. But in this case, questions are not asked. Instead, particular types of behavior are looked for and counted.

• Advantages:Do not depend on recall of memoryA good deal of information we can gather.• Disadvantages:Language barrierCultural barrierAn individual’s belief and perception cannot be adequately represented.May consume a lot of time.Not everything is amenable to observation. e.g.,sexual behaviour cannot be

observed.Though it is possible to observe particular people or families, even if they

agree to your presence, the fact that you are observing them can make them behave differently from normal, and you are never sure that they would do the same things if they were not being observed.

QUESTIONNAIRES AND SCHEDULES

INTERVIEWS :• This is a very popular method of data collection.

• This involves juxtaposition of the interviewer and the interviewee.

• If the interviewee doesn’t understand a question , it can be explained to him and if more details are desired , additional queries can be posed.

• INTERVIEWING IS AN ART.

“ WHAT TO BE ASKED AND HOW TO PROCEED” are crucial to the success of this method.

Types of Interview:There are two types of interviewing formats :• (a) Structured interview : The format and order of investigation is set out right at the beginning.

• (b) Unstructured : This consists of only an open ended questionnaire with everything else left to the discretion of the interviewer, e.g. a journalist’s interview.

Advantages:

- Can be conducted irrespective of the literacy level of the interviewee.

- Complex psychological problems are better addressed by interviews.

Disadvantages:

- Lack of confidentiality and trust.

- The interviewee may be fall ill at ease because of the presence of the

interrogator.

As an interviewer, develop a personality which shows that you

have a sincerity of purpose, straight - forwardness, politeness,

proper attire and a clear, non - shaky voice.

Practice the confidence to deal with awkward replies like “what is the catch in this question”, “why don’t you take somebody else for

your research”, etc.

Take necessary administrative sanctions for conducting interviews

from relevant authorities like Principal of School, Government Officers, Superintendent of the

hospital etc.

Secure a proper appointment from the subject. Try and take a time when the respondent is likely to

have the least commitments; e.g. school games time for children,

weekend holidays for office going personnel, midday for house wives

etc.

Try and find a place for the interview that is comfortable,

has optimum privacy and there are no barriers to communication

Do not forget to carry your identity card / introductory

letter issued to you from your department

Steps before Starting an Interview:

TECHNIQUE OF INTERVIEW:

1. Establishing contacts:2. Starting an interview3. Securing rapport4. Recall5. Probe question6. Encouragement7. Guiding the interview8. Recording9. Closing the interview10. report

Projective Methods:

The major use is in the field of psychiatry.

The framed question is designed to act as a stimulus to elicit

more complex emotional information. The stimuli are capable of

eliciting varied responses and the responses are interpreted as

indicative of the respondents personality.