Training

Designing and Implementing Multi-topic Household Surveys: Generating Policy Relevant Data. This course is one module of the multi-module course, Poverty and Inequality Analysis, which is offered annually by the Research Group of the World Bank. This course is open to World Bank staff and to the staff of other development agencies. The course lasts 2 to 2.5 days and is held at World Bank headquarters in Washington DC. The course covers the major aspects of the survey cycle - deciding whether an LSMS-type survey is needed; questionnaires; sampling; field work; data entry, management and documentation; the production of an abstract and data dissemination; ways of fostering data analysis. The course is usually held in March.

Sampling for Surveys. This course is one module of the multi-module course, Poverty and Inequality Analysis, which is offered annually by the Research Group of the World Bank. This course is open to World Bank staff and to the staff of other development agencies. The course lasts 2 and is held at World Bank headquarters in Washington DC. The course covers issues related to survey sample design. The course is usually held in late January/early February.

An integral part of the LSMS-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture program is the Workshops that are held for participants to promote exchanges of information among the country participants, and to disseminate information to donors and other interested parties.

Designing and Implementing Household Surveys. This course provides a broad overview of the uses of surveys, how they are designed and implemented and new innovations in surveys. It highlights areas relevant for impact evaluation. It was presented on March 31, 2009 in Cairo, Egypt as part of the Pre-conference Workshop for the conference Perspectives on Impact Evaluation: Approaches to Assessing Development Effectiveness.

Conference on Survey Design and Measurement in Development Economics.  This two day conference included seven sessions, each touching on a unique aspect of measurement. Scholars discussed topics including the reliability of recall and self-reported data, as well as methods for improvement such as the use of diaries and Personalized Digital Assistants (PDAs). Potential improvements in data quality, the speed of data delivery, and cost-effectiveness through alternative methods of survey were explored; the use of electronic questionnaires was examined and compared to traditional paper surveys. Sampling methods to reduce attrition in panel data and more effective follow-up strategies were evaluated, as well.