Water to Market Post-Harvest Processing 2010-2011

Four main interviewers and one reserve interviewer were trained for the survey Topics in training included sample verification, quality control checks on completed materials, and coding. Interviewers were trained to understand the study, build cooperation and basic interviewing skills, and to fill in the questionnaires. Separate teams were designated for sample verification, quality control, and aligning coding with the code-book developed for the survey. The survey fielding approach was based on grouping of the sample units by their geographical location. Field trips were organized depending on the number of units in each marz. Interviews generally took place at respondents' homes or places of work. All the interviewers were coordinated and guided by the field coordinator. Interviews were conducted in Armenian, and responses were translated to English. Fieldwork consisted of two stages. The first stage of fieldwork, which spanned the first two weeks, was comprised of day-to-day reporting performed by the field coordinators. Reporting was performed on a daily basis in order to ensure the quality of sample implementation and questionnaires, and to prevent possible problems with instruments and sample. During this period, 15 regular debriefs with MCA-Armenia were held to address all issues related to survey implementation. At the second stage the coordinators gave mandatory reports on weekly basis to the Team Leader (TL) and the Senior Researcher (SR) (and in case of problems, coordinators contacted the research team immediately). A fieldwork interim report was submitted to the client. Issues encountered during data collection: All of the interviewers in many cases had a subjective impression that respondents had been informed beforehand about the survey and its goals, and in some cases they even knew what kind of questions they would be asked. Some interviewees contacted ACDI/VOCA or USDA/CARD by phone during the interviews to clarify some details (e.g. year of beginning collaboration with them). For calculation of such cases, all the interviewers were instructed to write down on the last page of the questionnaire their evaluation of respondents' sincerity and other comments by the end of the interview.