World Values Survey 2005, Wave 5

To test the questionnaire and the fieldwork arrangement, a pilot survey was conducted in around end December 2004 on an effective sample of 16 respondents aged 18 and over. We pre-tested with a more complete version of the 2000 questionnaire. Respondents found the questionnaire rather lengthy and showed depleting motivation to complete the survey. We deleted some questions that were deemed too taxing (e.g. V145A to 145F) and some seen as not quite relevant to the local context (e.g. V177 to V181, V197 to V203). The resultant questionnaire is much based on the earlier versions used in the Mainland China and Taiwan survey, with some additions and variations to suit the Hong Kong context. A multi-wave, multi-contact approach2, which aimed at increasing the proportion of respondents who were willing to co-operate in the survey and the chance of contacting the households, was adopted in data collection. This approach is briefly summarized below:
Before data collection:

a) Before the interview took place, a notification letter was sent to the living quarters sampled, about a week before the start of data collection, explaining the purposes of the survey and re-assuring the respondents that data collected in the survey will be kept strictly confidential;

b) An enquiry hotline telephone number and a contact person was also included to enable the respondents to clarify any questions they may have on the survey, or to make appointment on the preferred survey time;

During data collection:

c) To facilitate verification of identity of the interviewers, the interviewers brought along with them their interviewer identity card issued by Policy 21 Ltd. of the University of Hong Kong. If in doubt, the respondents could call Policy 21 hotline to re-confirm the identity of interviewers. If the respondents were not free for an interview, the interviewers would make an appointment to come back at a time convenient to the householders;

d) If the respondents sampled were not present in the household, which was not uncommon, the interviewers would call back at another time. The interviewers were required to make at least 5 call backs, if the first visit was not successful, at different times of the day and different days of the week, to minimize non-contact. Very often, an interviewer had to call 3 4 times in order to complete on successful interview;

e) In case a refusal was encountered, the fieldwork managers would take over the case. The manager usually would re-assign the case to another interviewer. Occasionally, he/she would accompany the interviewer to make a second attempt. Depending on individual circumstances, sometimes the field managers would take over the case. This arrangement had helped for quality control purposes and in minimizing non-response.