Water Prices in CEE and CIS Countries. Volume I: Main Text

Appendix 6
Generic Briefing Notes

Introduction

This survey is being undertaken by ____ [consultant] for ___.[client]

This research is part of a project ____ [describe project aims]

The first part of the research was ___ [describe qualitative phase] to examine their attitudes towards water services in ___ [city] as well as willingness to pay for improvements.

The next stage was a pilot. A few changes were made to the questionnaire as a result of these pilot interviews. We are now about to commence the main phase of # interviews with ___[city] residents.

Recruitment

It is important that the sample of residents represents the population of ___[city]. ____[Insert description of random sampling methodology].

The recruitment questionnaire will explore who is responsible for paying the cold water and wastewater bill. This is the person we want to interview. If they refuse ___ [describe replacement method]. If it is not convenient for the person to be interviewed then, or the person responsible for paying the water bill is not there, arrange a date and time for the interview.

If there is no one there call back up to three times at different times and days.

Main Questionnaire

Attach the recruitment questionnaire to the main questionnaire for the same respondent. It is important that these are kept together.

Read the introductions and all questions exactly as written. If the respondent starts talking about other things or gives very long and complicated answers politely but firmly repeat the questions and ask for a precise answer.

Interviewer instructions are in Upper case bold. These instructions should not be read out to respondents.

The answer to some questions have instructions for jumping to another question, for instance, Go to Q10.

To fill in the answers to the questions, circle the numbers in the right hand margin or write on the dotted lines. All questions should be asked, unless there are jumps.

If you are unsure how to answer a question or the respondent gives an answer that is not in the questionnaire, write neatly what answer they gave.

Stated preference game

This is the most important part of the questionnaire and therefore we need to make sure that it is done perfectly.

Read out the introduction to the respondent. The stated preference presents # pairs of options concerned with cold water ['and wastewater' if appropriate] services. For each pair we would like the respondent to choose which they prefer. They might not like either, but we would still like them to say which they prefer. Each of the pairs is different.

Let the respondents see the options, one pair at a time. Make sure the respondent understands what to do. Take your time. Don't rush the respondent.

All questionnaires must be returned to ____ by ____[date].

Quality Control

_____ [company] will randomly check 10% of each interviewer's work by telephone to find out whether you were polite and courteous, to find out whether you asked all the questions and, of course, to find out whether you undertook the interview at all! This is a standard quality control that we always use for our research.

Good luck!