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Conduct a field interview for an official statistics survey
Level
4
Credits
8
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe the design,
reasons and procedures for an official statistics survey; prepare a field
interview plan to collect data for an official statistics survey; conduct
interviews for an official statistics survey; and prepare and complete
questionnaire data for post-interview processing.
Subfield
Public Sector Services
Domain
Public Sector Core Skills
Status
Draft
Status date
21 May 2010
Date version published
21 May 2010
Planned review date
31 December 2014
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
The Skills Organisation (Trading name of the Public
Sector Industry Training Organisation)
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0121
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
Definitions
Official Statistics are defined in the Statistics Act 1975 as statistics derived by
Government Departments from
(a)
statistical surveys as defined in the Statistics Act, and
(b)
administrative and registration records, and other forms and papers the
statistical analyses of which are published regularly, or are planned to be
published regularly, or could reasonably be published regularly.
Official statistics provide:
 information for government, government departments, local authorities and
businesses to use in making policy decisions;
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
measures of New Zealand's economic, social and environmental situation for the
general public, government, local authorities and businesses.
Organisational requirements refer to instructions to staff on policy and procedures
which are documented in memo or manual format and are available in the
workplace.
Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) – New Zealand is divided into 18,800 small geographic
areas called PSUs. On average, a PSU contains 70 households. The only areas of
New Zealand not included in PSUs are offshore islands (except Waiheke).
PSU equipment is the collective term used in the Official Statistics System to refer to
equipment such an enumeration list, a PSU generic map, a street range, or a
summary sheet.
Questionnaire structure refers to any modules of an official statistics questionnaire,
the layout, topics and routing.
Survey Components – Surveys often contain several components. Examples
include multiple questionnaires and other collection instruments such as diaries.
Field Interview refers to a face-to-face interview with a respondent to collect data for
a survey.
2
Legislation relevant to this standard includes: the Statistics Act 1975, Privacy Act
1993, Trespass Act 1980, Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Official
Information Act 1982.
3
Range
One official statistics survey, which must include a minimum of five interviews.
4
This unit standard must be assessed in a non-simulated workplace environment. It
has been designed for State Sector agencies who undertake the collection of official
statistics data.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Describe the design, reasons and procedures for an official statistics survey.
Performance criteria
1.1
The design of the survey is described.
Range
1.2
The reasons for the survey are described.
Range
1.3
includes – questionnaire structure, survey components, sample
design, collection mode, frequency.
reasons include but are not limited to – objectives of the survey,
role of the organisation, needs of the data users.
Collection procedures are described in accordance with organisational
requirements.
Range
collection procedures include but are not limited to – eligibility
rules, survey specific rules for collection, survey timeframes.
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Element 2
Prepare a field interview plan to collect data for an official statistics survey.
Performance criteria
2.1
PSU information is reviewed to ensure the most effective route is established to
develop a field interview plan for the allocated workload.
Range
2.2
The selected survey respondents are contacted, appointments are confirmed,
and barriers are identified, mitigated and reported in accordance with
organisational requirements.
Range
2.3
time, travel, cost.
barriers may include but are not limited to – refusal to participate,
illness, location, language, incorrect selection for survey.
Resources are assembled according to organisational requirements.
Range
resources include – laptop or equivalent collection tool with
questionnaires, identification, survey specific information for
respondents.
Resources may also include but are not limited to – PSU
equipment, showcards, cue cards, pens, pads.
Element 3
Conduct interviews for an official statistics survey.
Performance criteria
3.1
Formal introduction and conclusion procedures are conducted by the
interviewer in accordance with organisational requirements.
Range
3.2
introductions include – show of identification, professional
greeting, introduction of self and organisation, articulation of
purpose of survey and timeframes.
Conclusion procedures include – thanking respondents, providing
information about further action or follow-up if required.
An appropriate attitude towards respondents is demonstrated.
Range
appropriate attitude – neutral, non-directive, non-judgemental.
3.3
Survey questions are read as worded and at an appropriate pace for each
respondent.
3.4
Non-directive probing is conducted by the interviewer when clarification or more
information is required from a respondent.
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3.5
Verbal and non-verbal feedback is provided to respondents as appropriate and
must be neutral.
3.6
Respondent’s answers are recorded accurately.
3.7
Resources are accounted for before vacating the premises.
3.8
Required number of interviews is completed in the day, at the scheduled time,
and at the correct address.
Element 4
Prepare and complete questionnaire data for post-interview processing.
Performance criteria
4.1
Respondent’s information is secured in accordance with relevant legislation and
organisational requirements.
4.2
Administrative work is completed and records are updated in accordance with
organisational requirements.
Range
4.3
administrative work may include but is not limited to – updating
enumeration lists, time-sheet and mileage recording.
Survey questionnaires and other administrative work are dispatched for
processing in accordance with organisational requirements.
Range
promptly, securely, accurately, complete.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact The Skills Organisation info@skills.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes
to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016