Fieldwork Procedures Research Articles

Survey response rates in European comparative surveys: a 20-year decline irrespective of sampling frames or survey modes

AbstractThis paper assesses trends in three survey outcome rates within four prominent crossnationalcomparative surveys conducted in European countries in the 21st century: theEuropean Quality of Life Survey, the European Social Survey, the European ValuesStudy, and the International Social Survey Programme. These projects are recognisedfor their high-quality sampling and fieldwork procedures, extensive track records, andcommitment to rigorous methodological standards. The analysis is based on 753national surveys conducted on probability samples of the general population in 36European countries from 1999 to 2018. We investigated whether two essential surveycharacteristics, namely sampling frames and data collection modes, moderated thedecrease of survey outcome rates over time. To analyse these relationships, thesurvey year was included as the explanatory variable, and we applied multi-level linearregressions with surveys nested within countries. Additionally, the project name wasincorporated as a fixed factor, and the sampling frame and mode of data collectionwere control variables for the effect of time. Our study provides valuable insights intothe challenges of conducting high-quality Pan-European cross-national comparativesurveys over nearly two decades. We observed a consistent decline in survey outcomerates, irrespective of country or project. Neither the sampling frame nor the datacollection mode moderated this decline. Hence, even though personal register samplesand Face-to-Face interviews are often regarded as enhancements to overall surveyquality, their application does not effectively counter the factors causing a decline insurvey outcome rates.

Building a mosque. Reification and situated learning at the core of an immigrant community of practice

ABSTRACT This paper presents partial results of a broader investigation and focuses on describing a process of reification that took place at the heart of an immigrant community in Sant Mateu (Castelló, Spain), and that crystallised through the construction and management of a mosque. The theoretical framework draws on social learning theories, with a particular focus on situated learning and communities of practice. Regarding the method, the study follows an ethnographic, qualitative approach. We present the fieldwork procedures (participatory observation, interviews and focus groups) and analytical procedures (content analysis) followed in the research. The results recount the process this immigrant community followed to build the mosque, and the meanings for the community of the process followed and its culmination. Finally, the discussion and conclusions characterise this immigrant community as a community of practice where situated learning processes arise.

COVID-19 pandemic response in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion: methods, participation and recommendations of a longitudinal cross-border study

BackgroundComparative data collection in transborder areas can contribute to informed decision making processes when dealing with borderless health threats such as pandemics, and thus help minimize the negative health effects for its citizens. To examine the pandemic response over time and the impact of infectious disease control in a cross-border setting, a prospective longitudinal study was conducted in the border area between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the spring of 2021, a random sample of 26,925 adult citizens selected from governmental registries was invited to collect a blood sample at home for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing and to fill in an online questionnaire on attitudes and behaviour towards infection prevention measures, cross-border mobility, social network and support, COVID-19 self-reported infection(s) and symptoms, vaccination, general self-reported health and socio-demographics. In autumn 2021, participants were invited for a follow-up round. An online tool was developed to coordinate fieldwork procedures, real-time monitoring of participation and consultation of antibody test results. Furthermore, a helpdesk in all three languages for participants’ support was set up.ResultsIn the first round, 6,006 citizens in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion participated. 15.3% of the invited citizens on the Belgian side of the border participated. In the Netherlands and Germany this was respectively 27% and 23.7%. In the follow-up round 4,286 (71.4%) citizens participated for the second time. The participation rate was highest in the age group 50–69 years and lowest in > 80 in all sub regions of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion. More women participated than men. Overall, more blood samples were returned than completed questionnaires. In total, 3,344 citizens in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion completed all components of participation in both rounds.ConclusionsThe collection of comparative data can help better assess the pandemic response and the impact of infectious disease control in a cross-border area. Recommendations for a longitudinal cross-border study include a centralized online environment, mapping out potential challenges related to national regulations in the preparation phase and organizing regional coordination centres to create more familiarity and trust towards the involved organisations.

Forest inventory and its importance for sustainable forestry development

In modern forestry, comprehensive analyzes are necessary when planning and making decisions. Each decision, directly or indirectly, affects the forest, reflecting through different economic, environmental and social criteria. There is a growing number of elements that planners and decision makers need to consider. This is especially pronounced in the XXI century when forests are endangered by various harmful influences, primarily of anthropogenic origin (direct or indirect), while at the same time functional sustainability and sustainability are imposed as management imperatives. Between these extremes, planners must find such solutions that will increase the degree of forest cover, protect existing forests, improve their quality and functional capacity, while permanently satisfying the increasingly complex requirements of modern society towards forests. The starting point for their action is comprehensive and reliable information on forests at various levels, from local to global. In that sense, the forest inventory is gaining more and more importance and is rapidly developing in the methodological and technological sense, as well as in terms of merging national inventories into various regional and global associations dealing with forests. The aim of these associations is to exchange experiences and create functional databases, which would enable experts to make detailed analyzes and monitoring of forest ecosystems, and politicians, based on these expertises, to make binding decisions for member states. In the time to come, forests have been recognized as a condition for the survival of human civilization, so that forestry is increasingly taking on supranational significance. The forest inventory of BiH, ie the Republika Srpska, until the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century, had all the features of a modern inventory, based on statistical principles. The war and political circumstances after the mentioned period, the lack of finances, scientific research and personnel closely specialized in forest inventory, influenced the decades-long stagnation of the forest inventory of the Republic of Srpska. Stagnation is multidirectional with negative implications for the process of planning and decision-making in forestry, ie with negative impacts on the condition of the forests of Republika Srpska. Forest inventory for the needs of forest management, which is the basic planning document for regulating forest management in the spirit of the principle of continuity of forest management, often does not provide the prescribed accuracy of assessment for broader categories of high forests with natural regeneration at the level of forest areas. Inventory data for lower unit units (departments and sections) are burdened with large estimation errors, so that the executor of the plan at this level is left with the freedom to work, with the management plan prescribed for the management class being executed in full. Reliability and control of the implementation of plans on this concept of forest inventory are debatable. The results of forest inventory on large areas (DIŠ-1 and DIŠ-2) are incomparable due to the different concepts of samples used, improvisation of field work and poor data processing procedures, unrealistic increases in area, volume and volume increment in DIŠ-2, so that relevant conclusions about the forest fund trend over a 40-year period are impossible to draw. A number of measures are proposed in order to overcome this situation, and the RS forest inventory is methodologically, technologically and functionally improved and in line with modern European inventories. The imperative measure is to provide scientific staff specialized in forest inventory, which would deal with scientific research and professional work in this area, as well as education of staff for the needs of RS forestry. Only after that can we talk about methodological corrections of small-area and national inventory, application of modern technologies and automation of data collection, transfer and processing, creation of information system and inclusion of RS forest inventory in regional and global associations that focus on forests. Without the implementation of these and other measures, the RS forest inventory will continue to stagnate at the level of the 1980s and will be less and less able to meet the numerous demands imposed on modern forestry.

Example of applying a Health, Safety and Environment management system in cetacean research: Case study from a satellite tagging field accident

Satellite telemetry is a powerful method to study the movements and habitat use of cetaceans. The deployment of transmitters is usually conducted using remote techniques and involves close approaches to the target animals. The present study reports on an accidental collision between a female humpback whale and an inflatable boat, which occurred on 7 October 2010 off the coast of Brazil. At the time of the accident, the boat was occupied by four crew members: the tagger, the photographer, the driver and an observer. This collision resulted in head trauma and severe brain injury to the photographer. It also resulted in changes of the tagging deployment procedures and the implementation of a Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) management system. The objective of this work is to report on this accident and describe procedures adopted to assess and minimise risks. Changes and updates in deployment protocols are viewed as improvements to minimise accidents during marine mammal tagging operations. Some of these improvements were also discussed and implemented by other organisations. Accidents such as the one reported here can and should be prevented. However, when they occur, they provide an opportunity to assess and correct unanticipated deficiencies in field work procedures.

An 18-month follow-up of the Covid-19 psychology research consortium study panel: Survey design and fieldwork procedures for Wave 6.

Established in March 2020, the C19PRC Study monitors the psychological and socio-economic impact of the pandemic in the UK and other countries. This paper describes the protocol for Wave 6 (August-September 2021). The survey assessed: COVID-19 related experiences; experiences of common mental health disorders; psychological characteristics; and social and political attitudes. Adult participants from any previous wave (N=3170) were re-invited, and sample replenishment procedures helped manage attrition. Weights were calculated using a survey raking algorithm to ensure the on-going original panel (from baseline) was nationally representative in terms of gender, age, and household income, amongst other factors. 1643 adults were re-interviewed at Wave 6 (51.8% retention rate). Non-participation was higher younger adults, those born outside UK, and adults living in cities. Of the adults recruited at baseline, 54.3% (N=1100) participated in Wave 6. New respondent (N=415) entered the panel at this wave, resulting in cross-sectional sample for Wave 6 of 2058 adults. The raking procedure re-balanced the longitudinal panel to within 1.3% of population estimates for selected socio-demographic characteristics. This paper outlines the growing strength of the publicly available C19PRC Study data for COVID-19-related interdisciplinary research.

Influence of researcher experience and fieldwork intensity on the probability of brood losses in sensitive species: The case of the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio

Minimizing disturbance to animals when studying them should be a major consideration in ecological research design, especially when species are known to be sensitive to disturbances. A basic method in the study of bird reproductive ecology involves nest visits, but these can adversely affect birds’ breeding success. Appropriate fieldwork procedures are therefore highly important, especially in the case of timid and sensitive species. This study aimed to assess the impact of the method of searching for nests of Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio on the probability of these birds abandoning their broods. Our study revealed that observer experience and nest searching intensity did influence the likelihood of brood desertion by this species. Less field experience and a greater nest searching intensity caused the shrikes to abandon their nests more often. We recommend paying scrupulous attention to the behaviour of the birds when searching for nests and when looking for nests after incubation has started.

Assessing service providers’ satisfaction with the chronic diseases package provided through the National Health Insurance Fund in Sudan

Background: The prevalence and burden of chronic diseases is growing significantly with direct impact on health and financial security of population. In Sudan, there is a continuous effort to improve access for good and integrated health services but still the utilization of these services is low. Therefore, there is an urgent need to assess the availability and integration of benefit package to ensure better and effective coverage of services.Aim: This is a descriptive cross sectional based study aimed to assess the opinion of service providers about the chronic diseases package provided through the national health insurance fund.Methods: Form390 participating, data was collected via closed ended standardized questionnaires. Pre testing was done to ensure quality survey instruments and fieldwork procedures were conducted. A structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions was developed based on literature and previous studies. The questionnaire made up of 30 questions and organized in the following sections: background characteristics, medical characteristics, health professionals’ knowledge and practice related to NHIF ’chronic diseases package and perception about NHIF ‘chronic diseases package.Results: Our results showed that despite the existence of a number of issues, the National Health Insurance Fund is rather accepted amongst our respondents. Issues manifested were in regards to health education and supply issues of drugs. Conclusion: Our study concluded that, there is an obvious weakness in both training of providers and implementation of national protocols for chronic diseases. Moreover, despite the challenges of drug availability, 70% of our participants expressed positivity when questioned about the presentation of the drug package, bearing in mind the importance of reviewing the list to ensure its inclusion of new items. There is a need for training medical providers about chronic diseases with more focusing on health promotion and application of national guidelines. Additionally, integration of chronic diseases services in necessary for achieving universal health coverage.
 Keywords: national protocols for chronic diseases, national health insurance fund, health promotion

Design, content, and fieldwork procedures of the COVID-19Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study - Wave 4.

ObjectivesThis paper outlines fieldwork procedures for Wave 4 of the COVID‐19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study in the UK during November–December 2020.MethodsRespondents provided data on socio‐political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours, and mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress). In Phase 1, adults (N = 2878) were reinvited to participate. At Phase 2, new recruitment: (i) replenished the longitudinal strand to account for attrition; and (ii) oversampled from the devolved UK nations to facilitate robust between‐country analyses for core study outcomes. Weights were calculated using a survey raking algorithm to ensure the longitudinal panel was representative of the baseline sample characteristics.ResultsIn Phase 1, 1796 adults were successfully recontacted and provided full interviews at Wave 4 (62.4% retention rate). In Phase 2, 292 new respondents were recruited to replenish the panel, as well as 1779 adults from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, who were representative of the socio‐political composition of the adult populations in these nations. The raking procedure successfully re‐balanced the longitudinal panel to within 1% of population estimates for selected socio‐demographic characteristics.ConclusionThe C19PRC Study offers a unique opportunity to facilitate and stimulate interdisciplinary research addressing important public health questions relating to the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Sampling and fieldwork practices in Europe: Analysis of methodological documentation from 1,537 surveys in five cross-national projects, 1981-2017

This article addresses the comparability of sampling and fieldwork with an analysis of methodological data describing 1,537 national surveys from five major comparative cross-national survey projects in Europe carried out in the period from 1981 to 2017. We describe the variation in the quality of the survey documentation, and in the survey methodologies themselves, focusing on survey procedures with respect to: 1) sampling frames, 2) types of survey samples and sampling designs, 3) within-household selection of target persons in address-based samples, 4) fieldwork execution and 5) fieldwork outcome rates. Our results show substantial differences in sample designs and fieldwork procedures across survey projects, as well as changes within projects over time. This variation invites caution when selecting data for analysis. We conclude with recommendations regarding the use of information about the survey process to select existing survey data for comparative analyses.

Methodological Problems and Solutions for Sampling in Epidemiological SARS-CoV-2 Research Reply

Existing reporting systems and surveys give biased estimates of the true prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and the development of these rates over time. Little is known on progression of the disease in persons who are already identified as infected. Finally, the number of deaths due to the infection (not during the infection) is also unknown. We describe data requirements for epidemiological and social research and give details of the sampling and fieldwork procedures required for different types of studies.

Studies on Male Adolescent Health-Risk Behaviors in East Kassala Locality - Kassala State, Sudan

Adolescent health risk behaviors are becoming a serious health care as adolescents engage in health-compromising behaviors at a high frequency in several crucial domains. One domain involves tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. This is a cross section study covered 405 adolescents recruited randomly from Kassala locality, Kassala state, Sudan 2016, data was collected via closed ended standardized questionnaires. Pre testing was done to ensure quality survey instruments and fieldwork procedures were conducted. The fieldwork was coordinated by the Research Team Members, who will also provide the overall supervision during fieldwork to ensure quality and consistency among the teams. Ten data collectors was carrying out the fieldwork. Adolescent participating in the study showed variations in information about behavioral and psychological changes associated with adolescence, concerning the knowledge of the male adolescences regarding the associated with health changes with adolescences, about 89.5% knew those change and effects in general and 44% of them thought that the changes are physical while 25.2% thought that these changes are Psychological & emotional.

Abstract IA22: A comprehensive and integrated approach to identify factors associated with aggressive prostate cancer in African-Americans: The RESPOND Study

Abstract IA22: A comprehensive and integrated approach to identify factors associated with aggressive prostate cancer in African-Americans: The RESPOND Study

Change is the only constant - time-dependent dose rates in luminescence dating

Abstract Time-dependent changes in dose rates generally need to be considered in luminescence dating due to the dynamic character of the geosphere. Nevertheless, this aspect is rather marginally treated in the literature. The present paper describes the methodology of including temporal variations of overburden, moisture content and radionuclide activity into the calculation of dating results. Consideration of possible occurrences of variable dose rates has consequences for fieldwork procedures as well as for the choice of appropriate methods of radionuclide determination. A program code for age calculation by luminescence methods called ADELE v2017 is presented which implements several examples of temporal dose rate variations and layered structures with inhomogeneous distribution of dose rate relevant elements. The impact of variable dose rates on age data is illustrated by applying ADELE v2017 to several case studies.

The use of 360-degree videos to facilitate pre-learning and reflection on learning experiences

This study investigates the effective use of 360-degree videos recorded during student fieldwork. Typical fieldwork procedures comprise three steps: pre-learning, on-site fieldwork, and post-learning. This study aims to support mainly pre- and post-learning steps. Four fieldwork experiences were targeted in which the students recorded 360-degree videos, reflected on their experience, and presented their experiences to non-participating students by showing their 360-degree videos on a virtual reality headset. By observing these actions, the authors were able to determine some of the effects of using 360-degree videos as a learning aid, including helping students detect what they missed while on site, maintaining students' excitement and motivation after returning, and promoting pre-learning for younger students. Further practical efforts are needed to confirm such effects and pursue appropriate use of 360-degree video for fieldwork.

The use of 360-degree videos to facilitate pre-learning and reflection on learning experiences

This study investigates the effective use of 360-degree videos recorded during student fieldwork. Typical fieldwork procedures comprise three steps: pre-learning, on-site fieldwork, and post-learning. This study aims to support mainly pre- and post-learning steps. Four fieldwork experiences were targeted in which the students recorded 360-degree videos, reflected on their experience, and presented their experiences to non-participating students by showing their 360-degree videos on a virtual reality headset. By observing these actions, the authors were able to determine some of the effects of using 360-degree videos as a learning aid, including helping students detect what they missed while on site, maintaining students' excitement and motivation after returning, and promoting pre-learning for younger students. Further practical efforts are needed to confirm such effects and pursue appropriate use of 360-degree video for fieldwork.

Dilemmas of Ethics in Practice in Longitudinal Health Research: Identifying Opportunities for Widening Participation of Residents.

Background: Mechanisms for widening participation of local participants in research studies can improve governance of public health research. Research conducted in longitudinal health study areas depends on there being mutual trust and respect over time between the local residents and researchers. Ethics in practice needs consideration alongside procedural ethics. By widening participation of the experimental public—local residents and resident service providers—ethics in practice and accountability are strengthened.Methods: The study was undertaken in a longitudinal health study area in rural South Africa using multiple qualitative methods. The sample included 35 individual and five group interviews with resident local leaders and service providers, 24 individual and eight group interviews with residents of the study area, and ten researchers' reflections on two critical incidents from ethnographic field notes on dilemmas of ethics in practice. The interviews were all audio-recorded (besides one where consent to record was not given) and then transcribed verbatim and translated from Shangaan into English. Thematic analysis was conducted.Results: Residents requested the reporting back of personal screening test results from research studies, and raised informed consent issues. Researchers recognized the importance of mechanisms to increase their accountability to residents throughout the research process, and the complexity of informed consent and fieldwork procedures within research studies.Conclusion: This study elicited the views of residents and researchers in a longitudinal health study area to seek guidance on how to strengthen participation in research governance. Three strategies were identified by participants to widen participation of the experimental public. Firstly, increasing study budgets so that individual screening test results could be personally delivered back to participants. Secondly, more rigorous field staff training in informed consent and study procedures with ongoing monitoring and supervision from researchers. Thirdly, increased earlier involvement of residents in research protocol development through study advisory groups. Additional strategies include deeper involvement of Community Advisory Groups and more focused dissemination of research results to specific audiences. In general, there is a need to identify strategies for increased accountability of researchers and participatory governance through involvement of the experimental public in all aspects of longitudinal public health research as part of the ethics in practice and democratization of science.

An experimental soundscape study, combining binaural recordings, in situ questionnaires and behavioral mapping

In 2014 and, more recently, in 2018 the ISO norms on soundscape were released with the aim of providing a conceptual framework and standardized data collection methods for the international community of scientists and professionals with an interest on soundscape. This paper presents a research study conducted in the summer of 2018 in a Berlin public square where, following the ISO norms on soundscape, methods were applied to further investigate the findings of the “Beyond the Noise: Open Source Soundscapes” project, i.e., the everyday quiet areas as identified by the participants in the project. First, the paper introduces the research questions originated from the previous study. Second, it outlines the fieldwork procedure and methods, consisting in binaural measurements made in parallel to in situ questionnaires and behavioral mapping. Third, it discusses the initial results and limitations of the study. In conclusion it argues the soundscape approach potential within urban design and planning, illustrating how the results were partially exploited to design a bottom-up master plan proposal so as to improve the public square’s soundscape and reduce noise pollution.

Zróżnicowanie praktyk sondażowych w międzykrajowych badaniach porównawczych na podstawie archiwizacji 1537 surveyów zrealizowanych w krajach europejskich w latach 1981–2017

W artykule scharakteryzowano procedury doboru oraz terenowej realizacji prób sondażowych w międzykrajowych badaniach porównawczych. Podstawą analiz była metodologiczna archiwizacja 1537 surveyów – zrealizowanych w latach 1981–2017 na reprezentatywnych próbach populacji obywateli państw europejskich. Pod uwagę wzięto pięć wiodących programów porównawczych, w tym: Eurobarometer & Candidate Countries Eurobarometer, European Quality of Life Survey, European Social Survey, European Values Study, International Social Survey Programme. Autor wyszedł od ogólnej charakterystyki projektów, by następnie przedstawić szczegółowy zakres archiwizacji krajowych surveyów oraz opisać międzyprojektowe oraz wzdłuż czasowe różnice w jakości dokumentacji procedur badawczych. Główną część analiz poświęcono opisowi między- oraz wewnątrzprojektowych różnic w zakresie: 1) sposobów definiowania populacji docelowych, 2) rodzajów operatów doboru prób badawczych, 3) typów prób sondażowych i schematów losowania jednostek, 4) procedur wewnątrzzespołowej selekcji respondentów docelowych w adresowych próbach osób, 5) procedur terenowych (w tym: czasu trwania badania, zastosowanych technik badawczych, stosowania substytucji jednostek niedostępnych innymi respondentami, listów zapowiednich, gratyfikacji respondentów, konwersji odmów oraz procedur kontrolnych), a także 6) raportowania o wskaźnikach terenowej realizacji prób badawczych.

Revealing the thermal environmental quality of the high-density residential tall building from the Brazilian bioclimatic modernism: The case-study of Copan building

Looking back to the glorious years of Brazilian modernism between 1930 and 1964, the country´s architectural heritage reveals an environmental design approach still relevant to buildings of today. In this context, the COPAN building (1966), located in São Paulo (latitude 23°S), is one of the most iconic buildings of its time with 1.160 residential units encompassing various types of studio flats (called in Portuguese “kitnets”) as well as one, two and three bedroom apartments distributed across six blocks of independent vertical circulation accesses. This naturally ventilated tall building is recognized by its massive concrete curvilinear structure of 140 m high, shaded towards the north and northwest orientations by horizontal concrete brise-soleis and opened with a single glazed curtain wall on the south and southeast orientations. The thermal performance of the Copan building was investigated by means of fieldwork and analytical procedures. The fieldwork included measurements in loco of environmental variables in four residential units, during warm and cooler periods of the year (2016) and interviews with a sample of 100 occupants, this was followed by thermal dynamic computer simulations performed with the Thermal Analysis Simulation Software (TAS). The adaptive comfort model defined in ASHRAE 55-2013 was adopted as the performance criteria for analytical studies. One of the main conclusions of these technical studies was about the combined effect of thermal inertia, external shading and controlled natural ventilation resulting in steady thermal conditions, with air temperatures oscillating between 24 °C and 26 °C when external temperatures reach as high as 32 °C in a typical warm afternoon.