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Table 2.2: ALCS 2013-14 male Shura questionnaire modules subject matter modules in bold
Male Shura questionnaire modules Community identification
Process monitoring
Community access and access to facilities Community projects
Community development priorities
2.4 Pilot training and pilot survey
In order to validate the survey instrument, as well as training and field procedures, these were tested prior to the start of the fieldwork. The questionnaires were translated into Dari and Pashto, and were subjected
to a pre-test by CSO staff. After this, a full pilot was conducted in July 2013. To this end four survey teams of five persons each two interview couples and one supervisor were selected to participate in an eight-day
training and subsequent field test. The pilot teams were distributed over two provinces Kabul and Parwan, each with a purposely-selected
urban and rural cluster. Following a sampling procedure similar to the one in the main survey, within each of the four clusters 12 households were sampled and the resulting 48 households were effectively
interviewed. Changes in contents and wording were made to the questionnaire and manuals, based on the experience gained from the training and fieldwork.
2.5 Training and selection of field staff
Following a screening procedure based on a review of around one thousand written applications from all 34 provinces and subsequent written tests and interviews, 177 candidates were invited to participate in the
training prior to the start of the full survey. This group consisted of two candidate interviewer couples of one male and one female interviewer, and one candidate supervisor per province. The field teams of Kabul
and Herat deviated from this general arrangement see section 2.7. In the second half of August 2013, a training of trainers was provided by experts of the technical assistance
and ALCS key staff to CSO trainers. The training of field staff itself was de-centrally conducted in Kabul, Balkh and Herat, each over a period of three weeks in the period September-November 2013. This approach
was preferred over one central training as it avoided travel problems of trainees and improved attendance during the training. The curriculum consisted of instructions in interview techniques, field procedures and
logistics, a step-by-step review of questionnaire contents, practical exercises and examples, in-class mock interviews and field practice in interviewing and supervision.
As follow-up to the main training preceding the fieldwork, in seven locations quarterly refresher re-trainings for the field staff were organised. The aim of these re-trainings was to feed back the lessons learned after
each quarter of data collection and initial data analysis, discuss relevant issues, provide additional training, transfer new field supplies and strengthen working relations and coordination between provincial offices,
regional supervisors, field supervisors and Headquarters staff.
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After completion of the survey, a final series of regional debriefings was organised for field staff in order to obtain their views on possible improvements in field procedures and questionnaire design and contents.
This feedback has been incorporated in the development of the next survey round in 2016.
2.6 Sampling design
