Hiring and Training Supervisors and Enumerators

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Hiring and Training Supervisors and Enumerators

The enumerators must be able to read and understand the enumerator's manual and learn to work with aerial photography and maps. A short quiz can be devised on reading comprehension, ability with arithmetic, and aptitude for learning to use maps and photography. Generally, qualified people from each locality of the survey area who have worked in other types of agricultural surveys will make the best enumerators.

Supervisors should be hired and trained before the enumerators. The training for supervisors should be intense and demanding. Topics covered would be mostly the same as for enumerators. The supervisors must also attend and assist with enumerator training.

Enumerator training should be carried out in a pleasant area without distractions with proper seating and teaching facilities. Show enumerators that they are expected to learn by checking and criticizing their work. Commence training with more enumerators than will actually be needed so that unsuitable students can be dismissed from training. Also, reserve enumerators will be needed due to losses during the survey through illness, etc. The following list of subjects to be covered in enumerator training is not exhaustive, but outlines the type of coverage in the course. The training and the actual work will be similar to that in any other agricultural survey except for learning how to work with the photography and using the segment as a guide for the application of the questionnaire. Make sure that the enumerators understand the importance of obtaining a response for each question on the questionnaire from every reporting unit (tract or holding) in the sample.

1. Purpose of the Survey - In order to explain this to the respondents the enumerator must understand and believe in the purpose of the survey, and how the survey will be beneficial to the respondent and the country.

2. Responsibilities as Enumerators

3. Interviewing Techniques

4. Definitions and Sampling Procedure- One of the first questions a respondent will ask is " why did you pick me for this?" and his neighbor will ask "why didn't you pick me?" An understanding of the sampling frame and sample selection process allows the interviewer a means of answering these questions.

5. Enumeration Procedures and Use of Maps and Photography

6. Questionnaire in Detail (line by line)

7. Practice Interviews (role playing)- This should include both acting as interviewer and recording answers on the questionnaire from a simulated interview. The filled out questionnaires must be checked and errors pointed out.

8. Field Practice- This is usually carried out near the location of the training school at cooperative households, chosen and notified in advance. The trainees should work in teams and each person needs to have the opportunity to do an interview.

9. Critique of Field Practice- The teams can do a critique of their own members. Supervisors should have an opportunity to make comments. An overall evaluation could be presented by the survey supervisor.

10. Administrative Procedures- The enumerators need to know how, when and where they will be paid and the records that must be turned in to receive per diem etc. Enumerators should know how to contact supervisors in case of difficulty and extraneous events affecting the enumeration.

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