STUDY ON SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES IN
BANGLADESH
A METHODOLOGICAL REPORT
Prepared for: Shin Joho Centre, Tokyo, Japan
Prepared by: SIRIUS Marketing and Social Research Ltd., Dhaka,
Bangladesh
BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Client
Shin Joho Centre is a research organisation authorised by the Japanese
Government in 1972, specialising in opinion and market research.
The Endeavour
Shin Joho Centre joined a multi nation survey in Central and South Asian
countries and thus would like to commission a survey in Bangladesh among a
nationally representative sample size on social, political and international issues.
This survey is to be conducted on behalf of the Japanese Govt.
The Client commissioned us, SIRIUS Marketing and Social Research Ltd. to
submit a proposal for such a survey.
Research Objectives
The key objective of this research were to understand the opinion of the adult
Bangladeshis within the age group 20-59 years on various issues related to
social, economic, political and international aspects.
SAMPLING METHODOLOGY, COVERAGE AND SPREAD
Bangladesh-A country rich in diversity
Bangladesh in spite of its ethnic homogeneity has diverse socio-economic and
cultural practices across various regions of the country. Though the total area of
the country is small, the population is very dense and grows at a feverishly high
rate enhancing the diversity within sampling units and hence also in public
opinion thus posing a challenge to select a sample which would be truly
representative of the population.
To represent the country and its multi-cultural constituents we adopted a multi
stage cluster sampling which will ensure that all the regions within the country as
well as the administrative units like metros, other municipal towns, non-municipal
towns and rural areas are represented adequately in the process detailed below.
Sampling Methodology
1. Selection of survey centres
We covered all the 6 Divisions as per the Census published by the Bangladesh
Bureau of Statistics (BBS):
- Dhaka
- Chittagong
- Khulna
- Rajshahi
- Sylhet
- Barisal
Further, each Division was sampled by four strata as defined by the Census:
-
Divisional Head Quarter (DHQ)
Other Municipal Center (OMC)
Non Municipal Center (NMC)
Rural
Selection of DHQ
All the DHQ towns within each division get automatically selected, thus the cities
of Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal were covered in the
survey. The sample size varies from metro to metro as Dhaka being the country
capital had the highest sample size followed by Chittagong that is the next most
important city in Bangladesh. This sample skew was needed to capture the
cosmopolitan nature of these towns will be later on corrected through weighting.
Selection of OMC, NMC and Rural areas
OMC - Other Municipal Towns
NMC - Non Municipal Towns or Thanas
Rural - Villages
All centers of the specific type were listed within a Division based on their total
population in a descending order; subsequently, the pre decided number of
centers was selected using the PPS [probability proportionate to size] method.
Given that we selected a small number of each centre type within a Division, post
the PPS we plotted the selected locations on a map to ensure that there is
adequate geographical spread within the Division.
For the villages, all villages of each selected thana were arranged in descending
order of population and the required number of villages were selected from each
thana using the PPS method.
The above method gave geographical spread and proper representation of areas
within a region and of different sized villages.
2. Selection of households in the survey centres
In each survey centre, we selected starting points or starting addresses, where
the interviewers start contacting households.
In DHQs and other MC towns, starting addresses were selected from the
electoral rolls by using the circular systematic sampling method. [However, for
centers for which electoral roll could not be obtained or not available, the center
was divided into blocks based on the natural cluster of households and the
required number of starting address will be selected by the team leader.]
In each NMC town and rural centre, the team leader purposively chose starting
addresses. The centre was divided into blocks on natural cluster of households
and the required number of starting addresses was selected. Care was taken
during this selection that all clusters/ groupings of the town or village were
covered.
In each selected starting address, 6 consecutive households were contacted by
using both the ‘Right Hand Rule’ and the ‘Left Hand Rule’. A cluster size of 6 has
been proved to very effective for smaller sample sizes in Bangladesh in earlier
surveys. This systematic procedure eliminates interviewer bias in household
selection and facilitates back checking of interviews.
Quota
The only quota which we set out is a 50:50 split in gender and thus, we selected
male respondents from households using the Left Hand Rule while female
respondents were selected from households using the Right Hand Rule. This
ensured that both the genders were represented around each starting address.
3. Selection of respondents
Out of 6 households contacted around a starting address, names and ages of all
adults (20 to 59 years) were listed. Male interviewers listed the male members in
a particular household while female interviewers listed the female members in a
particular household. This interviewing pattern had to be maintained in
Bangladesh as due to cultural taboo, it is difficult for males to interview females
and vice-versa. Then all adults were numbered in descending order of their ages.
One member was chosen as respondent in each household with the help of
KISH selection chart.
Sample Size and Coverage
A total sample size of 1008 spread as given below
Dhaka
Chittagong
Rajshahi
Khulna
Sylhet
Barisal
Total
Metro
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
Dhaka
Chittagong
Rajshahi
Khulna
Sylhet
Barisal
Total
Metro
96
72
48
48
0
0
264
Dhaka
Chittagong
Rajshahi
Khulna
Sylhet
Barisal
Total
Metro
16
12
8
8
0
0
44
Center Distribution
OMC
NMC
Rural
Total
2
2
4
9
2
2
4
9
2
2
4
9
2
2
4
9
2
2
4
9
2
2
4
9
12
12
24
54
Sample Distribution
OMC
NMC
Rural
Total
48
72
36
252
36
36
36
180
36
72
36
192
48
36
36
168
36
36
36
108
36
36
36
108
240
288
216
1008
No. of Starting Addresses
OMC
NMC
Rural
Total
8
12
6
42
6
6
6
30
6
12
6
32
8
6
6
28
6
6
6
18
6
6
6
18
40
48
36
168
Sample to Universe Ratio- Sample Size 1008
Dhaka
Chittagong
Rajshahi
Khulna
Sylhet
Barisal
Total
Proportion of Universe - Region x Center Type
HQ
OMC
NMC
Rural
Total
0.003%
0.002%
0.003%
0.000%
0.001%
0.006%
0.004%
0.003%
0.000%
0.001%
0.021%
0.002%
0.009%
0.000%
0.001%
0.010%
0.007%
0.006%
0.001%
0.002%
0.000%
0.017%
0.021%
0.001%
0.003%
0.000%
0.011%
0.016%
0.001%
0.003%
0.005%
0.004%
0.005%
0.000%
0.002%
4. Weighting
During analysis, the data was weighted in line with the universe distribution of
adults in the age 20 to 59 years at the following levels:
-
Division
Center Type- Metro/OMC/NMC/Rural
Age group
Gender
This was based on the universe estimates as obtained from the 2001 Census
and projected to 2004 based on annual growth rate. However, the age and
centre type distribution was as per the 1991 Census (as the 2001 Census
distribution on these parameters is not available).
Additionally the data was projected to the universe of 20 to 59 years adult
population of Bangladesh.
FIELD INTERVIEWING, QUALITY CONTROL
The methodology we will follow is face to face interviews with the target group.
SIRIUS conducts all fieldwork through an in house Field team that is both
competent and experienced in handling large research projects across the
country.
The Field team working on this project was briefed by the concerned Research
Executive as well as the Field Manager and Field Executive in charge of the
project through a 2-3 day classroom training season. The training session
covered the basic sampling process, selection of individual respondents,
questionnaire and handling of cards/stimuli to be used during the course of the
study. A team of freelance Interviewers were used for the project. The
interviewing team was supervised by both Field Executives and freelance
Supervisors in field.
The quality control norms that we will follow as in other research studies is given
below



Post the briefing session, there was mock call sessions to ensure that the
Field Interviewers have understood the selection criteria and
administration of the questionnaire to perfection
All Interviewers were accompanied either by Field Supervisors or Field
Executives for the first few interviews in field
The Quality Control report is given in next page
Centre
Type
DHQ
OMC
OMC
NMC
NMC
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
DHQ
OMC
OMC
NMC
NMC
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
DHQ
OMC
OMC
NMC
NMC
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
DHQ
OMC
OMC
NMC
NMC
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
OMC
OMC
NMC
NMC
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
OMC
OMC
Survey Centre
Dhaka Metro
Mymensingh Sadar
Manikgonj Sadar
Fulbaria
Kaliakair
Sukhabashpur
Baghaia Kandi
Kalyanpur
Bishnupur
Chittagong Metro
Comilla Sadar
Matlab Sadar
Begumgonj
Faridgonj
Anderchar
Paschim Sulukia
Haripur
Parikot
Khulna Metro
Jhenidah Sadar
Darsana
Shyamnagar
Kaligonj
Hardi
Mochainagar
Rajpur
Jugihati
Rajshahi Metro
Sirajgonj Sadar
Santhia
Jaldhaka
Niamatpur
Nilphamari Bazar
Gorgram
Kadihat
Padampur
Sunamgonj Sadar
Kulaura Sadar
Baniachong
Balagonj
Darga Mahallah
Mostafapur
Indangar TG
Sarampur
Bhola Sadar
Bakergonj Sadar
Region/Division
Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka
Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong
Khulna
Khulna
Khulna
Khulna
Khulna
Khulna
Khulna
Khulna
Khulna
Rajshahi
Rajshahi
Rajshahi
Rajshahi
Rajshahi
Rajshahi
Rajshahi
Rajshahi
Rajshahi
Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet
Barisal
Barisal
Sample
96
24
24
36
36
9
9
9
9
72
18
18
18
18
9
9
9
9
48
24
24
18
18
9
9
9
9
48
18
18
36
36
9
9
9
9
18
18
18
18
9
9
9
9
18
18
Accompanied/Spot
Checked
Back checked
18
5
7
9
8
3
2
42
12
12
17
21
4
6
4
26
8
8
6
6
4
4
4
4
33
5
9
8
6
4
5
4
4
2
5
4
2
0
2
2
2
14
4
6
6
5
4
4
3
6
5
4
5
3
3
30
13
16
10
13
0
7
7
6
22
12
6
16
16
5
4
3
12
10
8
10
4
5
3
4
5
6
3
8
7
NMC
NMC
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
Total
Bauphal
Hizla
Gulisakhali
Purba Krishna nagar
Bakshi Char
Paschim Bhutardia
Barisal
Barisal
Barisal
Barisal
Barisal
Barisal
18
18
9
9
9
9
1008
5
4
3
9
8
5
3
5
247
475
The above table indicates that means more than 70% of the interviews were
quality checked.
Fieldwork Time
Fieldwork Dates
27.09.2005 to 10.10.2005